Sri Lakshmi Ganapathi Temple — Attraction in San Jose

We visited this temple to get a pooja for our new car on a weekday evening. The temple priest was sitting and chatting with somebody for 10 minutes, not even asking us what we were here for or anything. In that time we literally could’ve driven to another temple. When he finally graced us with his attention, we asked him to do the pooja for our car. He snatched the Prasadam that we brought with us and told us to give the keys: he was going to do the pooja inside. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never heard of having a car pooja without the presence of the car. Perhaps he wished for me to drive the car through the wall into the temple in order to spare him from walking 20 steps outside into the mild Californian weather. In the end, he told us to leave the coconut outside in a basket and place/drive over the limes ourselves. In my life I’ve never encountered such a narcissistic, foolhardy, rude, and incompetent priest. We might as well have done the pooja ourself. Someone who thinks of themself as highly rather than of Ganapathi shouldn’t dare call...

Recently, we went for a car puja in the evening. The regular young priest was busy with archana at the temple, so the administration suggested an elderly Tamil priest instead. He charged $100 for the temple and $50 as dakshina. We felt it was very commercial, especially since the puja was not performed properly despite charging that much.

Initially, he said $100 was for the temple, and when we mentioned paying by card, he insisted that cash was preferable. In hindsight, it was our mistake not to confirm the temple fee in advance.

Overall, we were not satisfied with either the way the puja was done or with the priest’s...

I am a regular at this temple from last few years. Today during aarti, me and my toddler just walked near lord hanuman idol to offer our prayers and a lady screamed at us —- DONT GO THERE during aarti. DONT STEP on red area. Really? I come here so often but no one ever behaved like this ever or forced rules. I felt so insulted and embarrassed. We come to pray after a day full of tensions and people have their own rules to imply on others. Will be hesitant to come here from now...