Making Home at the Śrī Rājarājeśwarī Pīṭham

Bibliographic Data

ID20039979
AuthorsCorinne G Dempsey (corresponding author)
Year2005
Pages191-208
Publication date2005-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeCHAPTER
VenueThe Goddess lives in upstate New York (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherOxford University PressNew York (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/0195187296.003.0010
OpenAlexW2476636010
ISBN9780195187298
LanguageEN
References cited60

This chapter brings “home” the image of the temple most commonly invoked by inner core members, all of whom have been unmoored, at some level, from their cultural or religious heritage. Although seemingly mundane, the temple as “home” is a concept many devotees hold most sacred; it is where participants ultimately find comfort, security, and rest. The chapter begins by describing the challenges of an evolving temple, one that has moved from an intimate, homey, one-and-a-half car garage setting to its current public space. It includes testimonials shared by inner core participants that recount their discovery and eventual dedication to Aiya as guru. Also recounted are the different ways in which these participants construe the temple as home. The chapter finishes by featuring Aiya’s wife, Amma, an understated yet steady presence at the temple, whose no-nonsense homing influence is a force without which Aiya’s spiritual pyrotechnics could never get off the ground

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