Four Vedas and Twenty-eight Agamas are the pillars of Saivaism. They are believed to be told by God Sivaperuman to a few enlightened beings during meditations and came into existence through oral transmission traditions. In addition, Saivaism has 18,266 songs, divided into twelve “Thirumuraies” sung by enlightened beings called Nayanmar and fourteen “Thiruneries” explaining the philosophy of Saiva Sithantham.
As the Thirumurai Songs and Information given in Thiruneries are difficult to understand by present days people, our ancestors produced various books from time to time in Tamil and English explaining the meanings of Thirumurai songs and Thiruneri philosophies in book form.
Ottawa Sivan Temple was established in 2007, and God Siva appears in the Temple in the form of Vallavambika Sri Taiyalnayaki Sametha Vaithiyanatha Swami form. Since then, a few devotees have donated some books on Thirumurai & Thiruneri, but they were not enough to establish a Library. In September 2017 a devotee donated more than 600 Tamil, English & Sanskrit books which have made the Ottawa Sivan Temple Library, a reality.
We kindly request devotees to make the best use of this Library to enhance their Saivaism knowledge and share with younger generations and get blessed by God Siva. We take is opportunity to thank all devotees who donated books to the library.
GUIDELINES TO USE THE LIBRARY
All devotees of Ottawa Sivan Temple can make use of this Library. Guidelines to use the library are as follows:
1. All members of the Temple (those who have donated $250 or above) can start to use the library after filling in and submitting a form available in Temple Office.
2. Those who are not members of Temple can fill in the form available in the Temple Office, get it signed by a Member of Temple, pay an annual fee of $20 and start using the library.
3. You can select a book, register in your name, sit and study in the Temple premises and return the book before you leave the Temple.
4. You can borrow ONE or TWO books after registering on your name and take them home and read. You are allowed to keep the book/s for one one-month period. If you have not finished reading, you can renew your registration and take them home again.
5. If the book/s are not returned in time marked, a fine of $1 per day per book will be levied as fine.
6. If the Book/s is lost or damaged, $10 to $100 will be levied as the cost of the Book and its parcel posting expenses.