The first Hindu Temple outside of the Dublin region was officially opened in Monksland in recent times.
In excess of 100 persons joined the local Hindu community to celebrate opening day with the Murugan Temple hosting its Maha Kumbabishekam (first day prayer ) on June 9.
Amongst those in attendance was Mayor of Athlone, Cllr Aengus O’Rourke, Cllr Frankie Keena and Cllr Emer Kelly as well as those from multiple nationalities who arrived to the Temple from across Ireland.
The establishment of a Midlands temple to facilitate members of the Hindu community outside of Dublin became very necessary as the Hindu community is one which is growing in Ireland with 13,729 members recorded by the CSO in 2016 and as results of the recent census will confirm an updated figure, it is estimated that the number of practitioners of the Hindu religion in this country is in excess of approximately 17,000 people.
The Temple was established in 2019 but like so many other official openings and events over the last two years opening celebrations were delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Ireland Murugan Temple will be a centre for all religious and cultural activities and events to promote the teachings, scriptures and philosophies of Hinduism and the Hindu religion. The central Midlands location of the Temple will ensure a more accessible and local centre for worship, social service, education and teaching for the Hindu community in the Athlone and beyond.
While the primary function of the Temple is the offering of weekly Hindu prayer services, Pooja, and spiritual support a key function of the Temple will also be to act as a centre of inter-religious connection and understanding. It is important that in an increasingly multi-faith and pluralist Ireland that the Temple will have a role in promoting mutual respect, understanding, tolerance and harmony with other churches, faiths and community groups.
The doors of the Temple will always open in welcome to visitors from other church groups and faiths. The Ireland Murugan Temple will also have a role as a community centre promoting the arts, conducting social, literary, and cultural events like yoga and meditation.
The Temple was established primarily to serve Lord Murugan and His devotees but it will also be a refuge for spiritual and emotional comfort to all those who might come to the Temple in search of it.
The basic principle is to open the Temple and make it a place of welcome and refuge to all who wish to come and pray, regardless of wealth or status, social background or creed.
The Temple hours of worship every Saturday evening are from 5pm to 7pm. This time of worship will enable and sustain spiritual comfort to all who seek it. It will help to revive and recall the happy times of religious harmony that all once shared and experienced wherever their homeland.
