Our Deities
Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple is the spiritual home of the Connecticut Valley Hindu Temple Society (CVHTS) in Middletown, Connecticut, welcoming devotees since our founding in 1979. The temple takes its name from its presiding deity, Sri Satyanarayana Swamy, a form of Lord Vishnu worshipped for truth, grace, and the fulfillment of one’s wishes.
In the Hindu tradition, the one Supreme Being, Brahman, is understood to manifest in countless forms, each embodying a different aspect of the divine. CVHTS was built to serve devotees from across the Connecticut Valley, and so our sanctum enshrines not only Sri Satyanarayana Swamy but also Maa Durga Devi, Lord Shiva, Sri Radha Krishna, Sri Ganapathi, and the Navagrahas — giving every worshipper a form through which to focus their devotion.
Each image in our temple has been ritually consecrated through Pranapratishtapana, transforming it into a murti, a living embodiment of the divine and a focal point for worship. We invite you to learn about each of the deities enshrined at Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple below.
Sri Satyanarayana Swamy
The presiding deity of our temple, Sri Satyanarayana Swamy is a form of Lord Vishnu whose name unites Satya (truth) and Narayana — worshipped especially on Purnima, the full moon, through the Satyanarayana Vratam performed by families seeking prosperity and the fulfillment of vows.
Our moolamurthy, together with his consorts Sri Devi and Sri Bhoodevi and Sri Ganesha, was carved from krishnashila (black stone) by sculptor Sri Venkataramana Bhat of Bangalore and consecrated through Pranapratishtapana in May 1999.
Devotees join his Abhishekam every Sunday at 11:00 AM, and CVHTS marks its founding anniversary each year with the Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Kalyanam.
Sri Radha Krishna
Recognized by his flute (Murali), peacock-feather crown and dark, cloud-blue hue, Krishna is the eighth avatar of Vishnu and speaker of the Bhagavad Gita, whose flute is said to have called irresistibly to all of creation in the groves of Vrindavan.
He is worshipped together with Radha, whose selfless longing for him embodies the highest ideal of bhakti — a divine love celebrated each year in the moonlit Raas Leela.
CVHTS celebrates Krishna's earthly appearance every year with Sri Krishna Janmashtami.
Sri Ram Parivar
Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, carries the celestial bow Kodanda and is revered as Maryada Purushottama, the supreme upholder of righteousness — a title earned through his years of exile, the abduction of Sita, and his triumph over the demon king Ravana.
He is enshrined here with his consort Sita, his devoted brother Lakshmana, and his disciple Hanuman as Sri Ram Parivar, an image of loyalty, duty and family devotion.
Each spring, CVHTS celebrates Srirama Navami, an Akhanda Ramayan Paat, and the Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam re-enacting their divine wedding.
Maa Durga Devi
The divine mother and supreme embodiment of Shakti, Maa Durga Devi rides a lion and carries in her many hands the weapons gifted to her by the gods — Shiva's trident and Vishnu's discus among them — each representing a divine power united against evil.
She used them to vanquish the shape-shifting buffalo demon Mahishasura, a victory celebrated each year across her nine forms during Navratri.
Devotees join her Durga Mata Abhishekam every Sunday at 10:00 AM at CVHTS.
Sri Lakshmi Devi
Seated on a lotus with four arms — two offering blessing and refuge, two holding lotuses as gold coins stream from her palms — Sri Lakshmi Devi rose from the churning of the cosmic ocean, Samudra Manthan, and is the eternal consort of Lord Vishnu.
Her four arms represent life's four goals, dharma, artha, kama and moksha, and she is invoked each Diwali for abundance and well-being.
Installed alongside Sri Satyanarayana Swamy as Sri Devi in our 1999 Pranapratishtapana, she receives a Maha Lakshmi Abhishekam every Friday at 7:00 PM.
Sri Saraswathi Devi
Dressed in white for purity of mind, Sri Saraswathi Devi carries a veena, whose strings represent the harmony of the universe, and is often shown beside a swan said to separate milk from water — a symbol of wisdom's power to discern truth from illusion.
The goddess of knowledge, music, art and wisdom, she is worshipped by students, artists and musicians seeking clarity of mind and mastery of their craft.
CVHTS honors her each year on Vijaya Dasami with Saraswathi Pooja, when books and instruments are placed before her for blessing.
Lord Shiva
The cosmic consciousness and one of Hinduism's principal deities, Lord Shiva is worshipped as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer, and in the aniconic form of the Lingam — the destroyer of evil and transformer, lord of meditation and yoga, seated eternally on Mount Kailash with the Ganga flowing from his hair.
He is called Neelakantha, the blue-throated one, for swallowing the deadly Halahala poison that rose during the churning of the ocean and holding it forever in his throat to save creation.
Monday is sacred to him, and CVHTS holds a Siva Abhishekam every Monday at 7:00 PM, along with Pradosha Abhishekams on the fortnightly Pradosha days.
Sri Ganapathi
The beloved elephant-headed son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, Sri Ganapathi is the remover of obstacles and lord of new beginnings, invoked at the start of every auspicious occasion; his single tusk, broken to serve as a pen when he scribed the Mahabharata for sage Vyasa, earned him the name Ekadanta.
His fondness for modak sweets and his small vahana, the mouse Mushika, remind devotees that even the greatest strength must move humbly through the world.
Consecrated alongside Sri Satyanarayana Swamy in 1999, he receives a Ganesh Abhishekam every Saturday at 9:30 AM and is celebrated each year with a multi-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival culminating in Visarjan.
Sri Subramanya Swamy
Also known as Murugan, Kartikeya or Skanda, Sri Subramanya Swamy is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and commander of the celestial armies, wielding the sacred spear Vel and riding a peacock that reminds devotees to master pride and ego.
Worshipped for courage, wisdom and victory over obstacles, he is honored with two consorts, Valli and Devasena, representing the power of devoted love and the power of righteous action.
CVHTS holds his Abhishekam every Tuesday at 7:00 PM, and each autumn celebrates Skanda Sashti and the Sri Subramanya Swami Kalyanam.
Sri Hanuman (Anjaneya)
Son of the wind god Vayu and Anjana, Sri Hanuman is the devoted disciple of Lord Rama whose feats in the Ramayana — uprooting an entire mountain to retrieve the Sanjeevani herb that saved Lakshmana's life, and setting Ravana's Lanka ablaze with his burning tail — embody strength placed wholly in service of another.
He represents courage, loyalty and steadfast devotion, and devotees seek his blessings for protection and willpower.
CVHTS celebrates Sri Hanuman Jayanti on Chithra Poornima each spring, alongside that month's Poornima Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Pooja.
Sri Ayyappa Swamy
Born of Shiva and Mohini, Vishnu's enchanting form, Sri Ayyappa Swamy is revered as the lord of dharma and self-discipline, seated in meditation at his forest shrine of Sabarimala.
Devotees preparing for pilgrimage there observe a 41-day vratham of celibacy, simple black attire and strict discipline, chanting “Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa” — I take refuge in you, Lord Ayyappa — a reminder that the true journey is an inward one.
CVHTS honors him with an Abhishekam on the fourth Sunday of every month at 4:30 PM, and with special poojas at Onam and Vishu.
Sri Venkateswara Swamy
Also known as Balaji or Srinivasa, Sri Venkateswara is the compassionate form of Vishnu enshrined at Tirumala, said to have borrowed a vast sum from Kubera, treasurer of the gods, to fund his wedding — a debt devotees still help repay through offerings at the temple hundi.
Believed to fulfill the wishes of devotees who approach him with sincere devotion, he is also honored through the tonsure of hair, a gesture of humility and surrender.
CVHTS holds his Abhishekam every Saturday at 11:00 AM and celebrates his sacred wedding each year with the Sri Srinivasa Kalyanam.
Sri Bhudevi
The goddess of the earth and, alongside Sri Lakshmi Devi, a consort of Lord Vishnu, Sri Bhudevi was rescued from the cosmic ocean by Vishnu's boar avatar, Varaha, who lifted her from the depths on his tusks after the demon Hiranyaksha dragged her below the waters.
She represents patience, fertility and steadfastness, sustaining and nourishing all living beings.
Installed as Sri Bhoodevi in our 1999 Pranapratishtapana, she receives her own Abhishekam every Tuesday at 6:30 PM.
Navagrahalu
The nine celestial deities — Surya the Sun, Chandra the Moon, Mangala (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), and the shadow planets Rahu and Ketu — are traditionally enshrined together on a single panel, their positions at a devotee's birth believed to shape the course of that life.
Worship of the Navagrahas brings harmony and removes malefic planetary influences, and is customarily offered before approaching the temple's main sanctum.
CVHTS offers a Navagraha Abhishekam every Saturday at 7:00 PM and Navagraha Homams throughout the year.
Bhagwan Mahavir
Born Prince Vardhamana, Bhagwan Mahavir renounced his kingdom at age thirty to become a wandering ascetic, and after twelve years of intense meditation and penance attained Kevala Jnana, complete and liberated knowledge, becoming the 24th and final Tirthankara of Jainism.
He taught five great vows — Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (self-restraint) and Aparigraha (non-attachment) — a path of self-discipline that guides Jain practice to this day.
His shrine stands alongside Bhagwan Adinath at CVHTS, reflecting the temple's mission to serve devotees across Hindu and Jain traditions; our priests are also available for Jain pooja and archana.