Balaji Temple of San Jose
San Jose, California (South Bay, Silicon Valley), USA
- Deities
- Balaji (Venkateswara/Vishnu), Mahalakshmi, Sai Baba of Shirdi, Panduranga
- Traditions
- vaishnava
- Worship status
- active
- Address
- 5004 N 1st St, Alviso, San Jose, CA 95002.
- Coordinates
- 37.4237, -121.9654
- Darshan hours
- Varies by season; consult the temple's own website for the current daily schedule before visiting.
- Best time to visit
- Year-round; major Hindu festivals draw the largest crowds.
- How to reach
- At 5004 North 1st Street in the Alviso area of San Jose, California, in the South Bay/Silicon Valley area; reachable by car.
Location
Open in Google MapsFounded in 2006 by Swami Narayananda as a small center in Sunnyvale, the Balaji Temple of San Jose grew into a permanent temple inaugurated over several days from 30 May to 3 June 2012, in a ceremony attended by local officials including a Santa Clara County supervisor and the mayors of Milpitas and Sunnyvale. The organization has since expanded internationally, opening a sister center in Bangalore, India in 2010, and in 2013 added shrines to Sai Baba of Shirdi and Panduranga alongside its central Balaji (Venkateswara) and Mahalakshmi sanctum.
The temple has been recognized by the California State Assembly for its community contributions and separately received a 23-acre land donation in Hollister, California, which it uses for retreats. It now serves as one of several South Indian Vaishnava worship centers for the Bay Area’s large and growing Hindu tech-sector community.
Sources
- historical record: Wave 2 re-verification: address and coordinates confirmed via Komoot Photon geocoding, which identifies 'Balaji Temple' at 5004 North 1st Street, Alviso, CA 95002 (37.4237284, -121.9653932), about 200 meters from this entry's pre-existing coordinates; coordinates updated to the more precise geocoded value.
- historical record: Cross-checked via Wikipedia's 'Balaji Temple San Jose' article: the organization was established in 2006 by Swami Narayananda in Sunnyvale, with its permanent San Jose center inaugurated over 30 May - 3 June 2012 in a ceremony attended by local officials including a Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors member and mayors of Milpitas and Sunnyvale; a sister center opened in Bangalore, India in 2010, and Sai Baba and Panduranga shrines were added at the San Jose site in 2013. The temple, centered on Balaji (Venkateswara) and Mahalakshmi, has received recognition from the California State Assembly for community contributions and separately received a 23-acre land donation in Hollister, California used for retreats.