Large group of devotees assembled for ground breaking around the
proposed Shird Sai Temple in Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia: Devotees from all around Atlanta and neighboring cities gathered in Suwanee, Georgia at 700 James Burgess Road, Suwanee, to witness the auspicious groundbreaking ceremony for North America Shirdi Sai temple, which will also be the first Hindu temple in north side of Atlanta.

The three day ground breaking ceremonies started on Friday, February 15th, 2008 at 7:30 in the morning with Ganapati puja, sila puja (laying of bricks by devotees) and included other rituals of Yantradhivasam, Kalasa stapana, Vastu Santi homam. On 17th the day of the main event Sankusthapana and Nidhi Kumbhastapana amidst the chanting "Sainatha maharaj ki jai" by devotees Sankustapana and nidhi kumbhastapana were held followed by kalasa aradhana, kalsa abhishekam, arati, mantrapushpam and maha poornahti. Sri Gopal Bhattar, head priest of Hindu temple of Atlanta, Riverdale conducted all rituals of three day ground breaking ceremonies accompanied by Srinivas, Ravi of Shirdi temple priests and Phani Kumar of Hindu temple. Couple of thousand devotees witnessed these celebrations. Pouring showers brought divine blessings after the Sankustapna and Nidhi Kumbhastapana.

 

Three day rituals led by Sri Gopal Bhattar,head priest of Hindu temple of Atlanta, Riverdale and assisted by Srinivas, Ravi of Sai Temple and Phani Kumar of Hindu temple

NASSTA was founded on April 2001 and opened its doors to devotees on October 15, 2002. NASSTA acquired 13.5 acres of land in Suwanee, a suburb of Atlanta, GA. Phase 1 scope of work includes a 13,500 sq. ft. permanent temple building that consist of sanctum sanctorum, prayer hall on the 2nd floor and kitchen, dining Hall, office, library and other utility rooms on the 1st floor. The estimated project cost for phase 1 is approximately $4.0 million and is scheduled to be completed by October 2008. The temple is procuring Baba statue (Vigraha) from world renowned Baba Shilpi Mr. Rajiv Talim, grandson of Sri Balaji Vasant Talim, sculptor of Baba statue that is consecrated at Shirdi Sai Sansthan, Shirdi. Shirdi Sai Temple of Atlanta is one of the most visited and going to be one of the largest Baba temples in United States.

Phase 2 scope is to include a multi-purpose hall, additional parking and plaza development. Phase 3 project scope consists of priest quarters and a meditation hall.

Late Sri Krishna Tadikamalla of International Farmer’s market and Sri Sunkara Ranga Rao, founder president of the temple, who came up with the idea of having Shirdi Sai temple for devotees deserve commendation. And all the devout families who supported temple all these years deserve commendation.