Hindu Temple
Shri Mandir
Hindu Temple Society of San Diego

Shri Mandir
The Hindu Mandir Society of San Diego
9474 Black Mountain Road, #L
San Diego, California 92126
(858) 566-5644

About the Temple

The Shri Mandir ("Temple of Auspiciousness") is a small temple run by members of the local Hindu community. It is located in a store front in a shopping mall off Black Mountain Road, Mira Mesa.

The temple is run by a board of trustees from various Hindu (and Jain) denominations. It is therefore what might be called an "ecumenical" Hindu-Jain temple, in that it has no special sectarian affiliation. On the altars there are images of Hindu deities and Jain teachers. At the rear of the shrine, there is a separate altar for the Navagrahas, or the "Nine (nava) Celestial Bodies (graha)," deities connected with Hindu astrology.

The priests of this temple are Pandit Rajagopalan, Pandit Shrikanthachar, and Pandit Trivedi. They are usually addressed as "Panditji." (Pandit means "learned person" and ji is an honorific suffix.). From about 6:30-7:30 each evening (check Mandir web site for current schedule), one of the priests conducts the evening puja service, which invokes the blessings of the divine upon the assembled worshipers.   The routine is slightly different each day, according to the temple's liturgical schedule, and often their are special festival observances (see temple web site).

The service is conducted almost entirely by the priest, though the worshippers often participate by reciting scriptural passages or other sacred texts. Sometimes worshipers ask the priest to say special prayers for their particular intentions; usually they make a special donation for this service. At the end of the service, the priest will perform the arati ceremony, which involves waving a camphor flame in a metal burner before the altar. He then carries it around the room, and the devotees pass their hands over it quickly and "take" the light into their eyes and hearts. The priest usually then distributes some prasad, blessed sweets and/or holy water, which the devotees accept in their right hands. The devotees will bow at some point toward the end; students may remain standing respectfully if they don't wish to participate in the bowing.

Hindus are accustomed to leave a monetary donation when they visit temples, for the upkeep of the facility and the salary of the priest. Students may leave a small donation if they wish.

Evening services are held every day beginning at 6:30 p.m.. Weekends, there are generally activities going on throughout the day from around 10 a.m.

Directions

Take Interstate 163 north, merging with Interstate 15. Exit I-15 at Miramar Road (north of Miramar Way). Go left (west) on Miramar Road about 3/4 mile to Black Mountain Road. Take a right (north) on Black Mountain Road and then turn left at your first opportunity into the shopping mall. You'll see several Indian stores, plus a fancy restaurant called "Ashoka the Great." The Temple is in the rear of the mall, on the same side as Ashoka the Great.  The Madras Cafe is on the other (north) side of the mall.

Etiquette Guidelines and Dress Code

Please dress conservatively and respectfully. Especially, do not wear shorts or short skirts. Be prepared to sit cross-legged on the floor, but please do not sit stretching your legs out in front of you.

Please read the Etiquette Guidelines and Dress Code page.
This is important!

Updated: September 3, 2007