Pooja Services

Religious Services

Make checks payable to "Hindu Samaj Temple."

Ceremony	In Temple		Outside Temple
Ceremony	Temple Fee	Minimum Dakshina for Priest	Temple Fee	Minimum Dakshina for Priest
Abhishekam (to the choice of deity including Shiva, Ganesha, Karthikeya, Durga, Saraswati, Sai etc.)	$51	$18	$151	$53
Anna Prasana	$101	$35	$151	$53
Archana	$11	NA	NA	NA
Bhoomi Pooja	NA	NA	$125	$44
Sahasranama Archana	$51	$18	NA	NA
Gruhapravesham	NA	NA	$151	$53
Gruhapravesham with Sri SathyaNarayana	NA	NA	$251	$85
Pooja/Homam (Havan)	$201	$70	$251	$85
Kalyanothsavam (Group, per family)	$51	NA	NA	NA
Kalyanothsavam (Individual)	$251	$88	NA	NA
Mundan	$101	$35	$151	$53
Namakaranam	$101	$35	$151	$53
Nischitratham	$101	$35	$151	$53
Punyahavachanam	$51	$21	$101	$35
Rudra Abhishekam at Home			$151	$53
Satyanarayana Pooja (Group, per family)	$51	$18	NA	NA
Satyanarayana Pooja (Individual)	$108	$35	$151	$53
Seemantham	$101	$35	$151	$53
Shashtabhi Poorthi (60^th birthday)	$151	$53	$216	$76
Hiranya Shrarddham	$75	$28	$125	$44
Special/Wedding Anniversary Pooja (Includes Sankalpam, Sahasrana Nama Arachana to the devotees' diety of choice including Balaji, Shiva,Durga, Karthikeyan, Ganesha etc.)	$51	$21	$151	$53
Tarpanam	$75	$28	$125	$44
Upanayanam	$216	$76	$324	$113
Vahana Pooja	$51	$18	$125	$35
Vidya-Arambham	$101	$35	$151	$53
Vratham (including VaraLakshmi, Mangala Gowri, Vibhava Lakshmi etc.,)	$108	$35	$151	$53
Wedding Ceremony	$325	$114	$501	$175

Temple Scheduled Pooja

Pooja	When	Sponsorship
Muruga Abhishekam	Shasthi – once a month	$25 for any one puja $251 yearly for any one puja $501 yearly for Pradosham
Hanuman Abhishekam	1^st Tuesday of month
Shiva Abhishekam	Pradosham - twice a month
Sri Satyanarayana Pooja	Poornima – once a month
Ganesha Abhishekam	Sankata hara Chaturthi - once a month
Sai Baba /Durga Puja	Once a month

Priestly services are offered at the Temple as well as outside- in devotee’s homes and other venues where such services are needed and appropriate.

For scheduling services, please send an email to: pujaservices@histemplemn.org

1) In your email, please provide following details:

· Type of pooja needed

· Pooja Date

· Pooja Time (but for rare exceptions, private pujas will not be performed during regular temple hours)

· Place (Temple or home or other location )

· Contact phone number (required)

· Any other special requirements

2) We will respond to your e-mail as soon as possible.

3) Devotees may discuss pooja details with the Priest by calling or emailing him, but they must send an email to priestservices@histemplemn.org to confirm their pooja request.

3) Devotees are encouraged to give sufficient (1 month?) advance notice before the pooja.

5) Make the payment to the Temple as a check payable to "Hindu Samaj Temple."

Weddings

Weddings: just Priest service only: (outside venue)-

Temple fee: $501, Minimum Priest Dakshina - $175

Additional mileage charges apply from the Priest's home to wedding location

Weddings: just Priest service only: (Temple venue)-

Temple fee: $325, Minimum Priest Dakshina - $114

Out of town service charges:

See above for the Temple fee (in the column marked Outside Temple)
See above for the minimum dakshina to the Priest.
Mileage charges are 0.50 per mile or actual travel expenses (Air/Train/Bus Ticket)
Weekday charges - $100/day. (Any fraction of the day from 9 AM to 8 PM will be considered as a day.)
Weekend (Saturday and Sunday) - $150/day.
Meals and lodging - actual charges, if incurred by the Priests.
The mileage charges are calculated based on the distance between Priest’s house (Rochester) and the devotee’s house
Example
The typical charges for a devotee scheduling the Satyanarayana pooja at the his or her home is as follows:
1) Temple Donation/Fee: $125
2) Minimum Dakshina to Priest: $44
3) Travel mileage (see above)

Dakshina for the Priest: Dakshina is an offering made in gratitude to the priest for services rendered.

Frequently Asked Questions

a) I am performing a private puja at my home/in the Temple. How much dakshina should I be giving?

The suggested minimum dakshina for the Priest is 35% of the Temple fee (see accompanying chart of fee schedule for poojas). Many devotees give up to 100% of fees to show their gratitude and appreciation for the services rendered.

b) For a private puja I would like make a donation to the Temple above the regular fee charged by the temple. How much dakshina should I be giving to the priest?

` Thank you for making a donation to the Temple. The suggested minimum dakshina for the Priest is 35% of the Temple fee (see accompanying chart of fee schedule for poojas). Many devotees give up to 100% of fees to show their gratitude and appreciation for the services rendered

c) I have already donated $1000 or more to the Temple this year. Do I still need to pay for priestly services?

If you do not have a Benefactor Privileges Certificate, please request one from finance@histemplemn.org. With the certificate you will be exempt from paying Temple fee for the pooja. However, the suggested minimum dakshina for the Priest is still 35% of the expected Temple fee (see accompanying chart of fee schedule for poojas). You are always welcome to give more dakshina for gratitude and appreciation for the services rendered.

a) I am attending a Temple-conducted pooja? Is there an expectation of dakshina to the priest?

While minimum dakshina is not applicable to regular weekly and monthly poojas conducted inside the Temple, you are more than welcome to do so. Money put in arati plate does not go to the priest. If you would like to give dakshina, please place it in an envelope, write priest’s name on it and either give it to him or place it in Hundi.