Hi Folks,

I live in Baltimore and am a Malayalee (Kerala) Hindu. My family moved near NYC when I was 8 years old. Although I left Kerala at a young age, I was aware of the many lingas scattered near forests and at the edges of fields. Additionally, deities like Mother Kali and Naga groves seemed to be everywhere. However, I wasn’t taught much about the philosophy behind these practices, except for stories my grandmother shared. She often related teachings from the Bhagavad Gita, and to my amazement, as a 50-year-old now, ( and my Grandmother, 97-years-old) I have realized that much of what she said was accurate.

Living in Baltimore, I have become curious about the large Nepali community here. I recently discovered a Nepali temple close to where I live—the Hindu Buddha Temple—located among beautiful rolling hills and farms. The temple complex has three mini-temples dedicated to Mahashiva, Buddha, and Kali. Given this and Nepal’s vibrant Trika Shaivism community, I suspect there may be followers of Trika Shaivism here as well.

I am also curious if Kerala has a strong Trika or/and Shaiva Siddhanta tradition. If anyone could share insights or information, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!