Gen. Coordinator Hersh Sabharwal 630-853-2978 Past Gen. Coord. Uma Aggarwal 708-220-1845 Publication Hindu Satsang Updates Priya Viswanathan IN THIS ISSUE 312-493-5443 By Priya Viswanathan Page 2: Property Pranaam! Greetings to all Satsangis. Hope - Birthdays & Subhash Sharma you all are staying safe and doing well. We 815-751-6624 Anniversaries all realize that the present times are extremely Prasad - COVID19 Relief Fund challenging and are lasting much longer than Manju Kalra Page 3: 630-379-7422 anyone anticipated. We can continue with our Ayurveda - Part 8 Liaison digital newsletter and other satsang activities Page 4: Rashmi Gandhi with some adjustments to adapt to the current - Poem 630-776-7826 situation and with God's grace, in due course - Announcements Shubh Malhan we should be returning to normalcy. For the 630-550-1386 Page 5: time being, this newsletter will be available - Remembering..... Education Nand Parkash Garg only in the digital format, we will resume Page 6: 630-750-6669 with the printed format when possible. This - Quiz Divya Grover newsletter contains 8 pages, we optimized it Page 7: 815-861-5530 for your smartphone, tablet & computer (you - Quiz answers Amitabh Gupta can even zoom-in to make the font bigger). - Congregation details 630-209-7319 Zoom Satsang Congregations: Due to the Page 8: Finance - Janmashtami program Madhu Gupta current conditions, the Satsang congregations - Raksha Bandhan 630-915-1281 will be conducted virtually via Zoom on the Special Events 4th Sunday of each month from 10 am to noon. The congregation will start Kanchan Pandey with Vedic pooja, then bhajans by satsangis, followed by our guest singers 630-835-7521 and speakers. We will then have the announcements followed by aarti. Shammi Wahi 630-674-2883 Meeting details are on page 7, hope you all can join us. Website Coords. Congregation update: Last month's congregation was held on June 28th. Shivam Viswanathan It started with Vedic pooja, then we got the privilege of listening to some 312-399-3860 melodious bhajans by satsangis, followed by the guest singer Shri Subhash Vijay Nangia Singhal and the guest speaker Shri Yash Chaudhary. At the end, there 815-861-4475 were announcements followed by aarti. Youth Coords. Darsh Kapadia, Didwania and Jain Scholarships 2019 - 2020: The winner of first prize Saanvi Sethi & is Preena Shroff and 2nd prize went to Krish Nangia. Congratulations to Preena Shroff both of them! नमते

Hindu Satsang Newsletter, July 2020 Page 1 of 8 A little smile on your Anniversary: Be careful what you wish for! Both husband and wife had turned 60 years old. The wife gave her husband a magic COVID-19 Relief Fund lamp on their anniversary. When he rubbed it, a genie Covid-19 is affecting the lives and livelihoods of so popped out and gave him many people around the world. HTGC launched a only one wish. The husband campaign to help less fortunate people by said, ”I wish my wife to be 20 contributing food to local food pantries and years younger than me!”. So the genie made him 80 years accepted contributions from individuals and other old. organizations. Hindu Satsang, also joined HTGC and donated $1000 generously to the To many more years of laughing together & keeping "COVID-19 Relief Fund". each other young at heart! The following Satsangis also made generous Happy Anniversary!! donations to the HTGC Covid-19 relief fund: Hindu Satsang's Website: HinduSatsang.org Hindu Satsang's Facebook page: facebook.com /HinduSatsangUSA/ Please Like & Follow. Hindu Satsang Newsletter, July 2020 PagPagee 2 o2 fof 8 6 Ayurveda - Part 8: The Transformation Sequence By Rajeev Jain of the Sapta Dhatus

How does the food you eat The food we consume is digested with the assistance of the digestive fire in our body and is become a part of you? converted into a nourishing juice and stool (waste). The Rasa Dhatu is formed from these Have you ever wondered how the food you eat nourishing juices. and drink becomes your body? Some of it converts into bones, some into blood, some into As a recurring theme in this conversion process, muscles – how does it all happen? In Ayurveda each Dhatu (with the assistance of its own fire) is there are seven tissue elements (Sapta Dhatus). first converted in a nutritive component, and The food we eat converts into various secondly, a waste product. Thereafter, the components of our body. nutritive component, (a) nourishes the stable Dhatu itself and (b) the balance converts to the The entire body is composed of seven Dhatus – they support and maintain the body. These next Dhatu. Dhatus are as follows: 1. As an example, the fire present in Rasa 1. Rasa: lymph, plasma, fluid part of the body, Dhatu (plasma, lymph, etc.) transforms it etc. into a nourishing portion and provides 2. Rakta: hemoglobin in the blood nutrition to the existing Rasa Dhatu in the 3. Mamsa: muscle tissue body and the balance gets converted to the 4. Meda: fat tissue second Dhatu called Rakta (blood). 5. Asthi: bone tissue including cartilages Simultaneously, a waste product – Kapha 6. Majja: bone marrow (i.e. the phlegm present in the body) is 7. Shukla: sperm in male and ovum in female formed from this transformation. 2. Next, the Rakta Dhatu (blood) is Each Dhatu is continuously formed, destroyed transformed and again the nourishing portion and recreated in the body with necessary provides nutrition to the existing Rakta nutrition being extracted from the food we Dhatu, and the balance gets converted to the consume and maintained in a state of third Dhatu, Mamsa (muscle). The waste equilibrium. The Dhatus provide support and product formed in this transformation is nutrition to the structural architecture of the Pitha (the bile present in the body). Further body. conversions in this sequence are summarized below. Each Dhatu has a stable form and an unstable 3. Mamsa Dhatu (muscle tissue): form. The stable Dhatus already exist in the body a.nourishing portion nourishes (1) existing and provide the basic body tissues. The nutrient Mamsa Dhatu and (2) Meda Dhatu substances extracted from the food we consume b.waste product is all the excreta present are the unstable Dhatus. They are utilized for in eyes, ears, mouth, nose, rectum and nourishment, synthesis and maintenance of the urinary orifice. stable Dhatus. Nutrient substances are 4. Meda Dhatu (fat tissue): transformed under the influence of their own fire a.nourishing portion nourishes (1) existing () and are thereafter transported to the Meda Dhatu and (2) Asthi Dhatu Dhatus through their individual channels. b.waste product is sweat.

Hindu Satsang Newsletter, July 20<2C0ontinued on next page ...> Page 3 of 8 (Ayurveda article continued ...) A Fatherly Grace 5. Asthi Dhatu (bone tissue and cartilages): a. nourishing portion nourishes (1) existing Poem by Ms. Uma Nauth What is obvious, Asthi Dhatu and (2) Majja Dhatu b. waste product are the hair and nails is not necessarily “The Truth” 6. Majja Dhatu (bone marrow): As a whole. a. nourishing portion nourishes (1) existing So...... ! This pandemic, “A hoax.....?” Majja Dhatu and (2) Shukla Dhatu (sperm One answers “who knows.....?!” or ovum) “Does Mighty Lord.....?!” b. waste product are the mucous present in Other says “of course.” eyes, stool and skin Then, together, let us Pray 7. Transformation of the Shukla Dhatu, the last Dhatu, produces only the nourishing portion. As For World’s Peace the Shukla Dhatu is the purest level, it doesn’t and Protection sake. have any waste product. It nourishes the sperm Oh God, have Mercy, and ovum and gives energy and shine to the come, come, come body, called as Ojus. Quickly During an examination of a patient, there is a Forgive, Forgive, Forgive, significant focus on the waste products. The All wrong, problems above transformational process allows a Vaidya and mankind mistakes. to analyze the waste product and determine Be the Authority, which function of the body is not operating in harmony – without the assistance of a clinical over human race, test! For example, if a person is having a Take full control, problem with their hair or nails, it would Thine Victory Ever holds. indicate that there is a problem in the Aasthi How Grateful are we, Dhatu and the Vaidya will treat to bring that For Thy Heavenly Grace. Dhatu to bring it in equilibrium. Grant for Alcohol Research We are proud to inform you that the University of Illinois at Chicago has received a grant of $8.2 million from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, to continue its research on how alcohol affects genes through epigenetics - chemical changes to DNA, Big congratulations to Dr. Subhash RNA or proteins that alter the expression Pandey, UIC professor of psychiatry and director of the Center for Alcohol Research of genes without directly modifying them. in Epigenetics, for receiving a $8.2 million Click on the following link to find further grant from the National Institute on details: Grant for Alcohol Research Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Hindu Satsang Newsletter, July 2020 PagPagee 4 o4 fof 8 6 Remembering our dear Satsangis......

Krishna Ji was 92 years old when she left for It is with deep sadness and regret that we announce heavenly abode on April 8th, 2020. She was the sudden and tragic passing of our dearest Dr. Raj born in Muzaffargarh, India. She was known Dhingra (brother of Mr. Om Dhingra). by everyone for her positive attitude, hard Many people can attest that there is no one like Dr. work, intelligence, and competitive spirit. She Dhingra. He was first and foremost known for his was married to Dr. Bhagwan Dass Raheja. devotion to his family. He was youngest of the 7 children, and beloved son to Gobind Ram Dhingra She was the spirit of service and volunteered and Sarojini Narula. He carried immense pride for many social initiatives. She was on the for his beautiful children, Rhea and Rohan, and the Advisory Board of Yorkship Seniors, Apna love he had for his wife Freesia, was unmatched. Ghar (for abused women) as well as Hindu Professionally, he was a practicing nephrologist at Satsang, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and various Renal Physicians Inc. since 2000, and helped initiatives for senior citizens. thousands of patients in the Dayton area and beyond. Dr. Dhingra lived a life of grace, humility, and Uma Ji's father, Mr. M Prakash Gupta, left compassion. He will be deeply missed by everyone for heavenly abode on April 27th. He was a whose life he touched. chemical engineer by profession and was instrumental in the construction of Bhakra Nangal Dam in India which is one of the : Chapter 2, Verse 20 biggest dams in India. Our deepest condolences to the whole family. न जायत े यत े वा कदाचनाय ं भूवा भवता वा न भूय: | अजो नय: शातोऽयं पुराणोन हयत े हयमाने शरीर े || We are very sorry to learn about the passing Translation: away of Mrs. Manoram Rajput, sister of The soul is neither born, nor does it ever die; nor Mr. Dharam Punwani and Ms. Madhu Bahl in having once existed, does it ever cease to be. The Delhi after getting infected with COVID 19. soul is without birth, eternal, immortal, and ageless. Our deepest condolences to the whole family. It is not destroyed when the body is destroyed.

Hindu Satsang Newsletter, July 2020 PagPagee 5 o5 fof 8 6 Quiz to tickle your brain ocean. came down as an avatar and held Vishnu Avatars Part -1 the mountain on his broad back. , Vishnu and, - three powerful 3. Name the 3rd avatar based on the deities together are known as the . following clues: Brahma deals with the creation, Vishnu ensures There was a daitya (a demon) named maintenance and, Shiva takes care of the . He threw the Earth (Bhudevi - destruction. goddess Earth) into a cosmic ocean. Hindus believe that whenever evil prevails over slew the demon and retrieved the Earth from the ocean, lifting it on his tusks, and restored good, Vishnu comes down to earth in some Bhudevi to her place in the universe. mortal form to preserve Dharma (righteousness). Vishnu assumes different life forms called 4. Name the 4th avatar based on the avatars and acts in a way that good prevails over following clues: evil and to restore the cosmic order. There was a demon named . Hiranyakashipu wanted to kill everyone who This is a multiple part quiz about Dashavatar (10 worshipped the gods and made everyone avatars). Part 1 has 6 questions (will be worship him instead. But, his son named continued in Part 2). From the given clues, Prahlad used to worship Vishnu. For this identify the correct Vishnu avatar: reason, Hiranyakashipu wanted to burn Prahlad to death. 1. Name the first avatar based on the following brief version of the event: Brahma had granted Hiranyakashipu a boon There was a demon (an ) who was very that kept him safe so that he could not be killed wicked. He snatched the , the holy book of by a human, animal, or . He also could not be killed in the day or night, or inside or the Hindus, and went deep inside the sea. At this outside of his palace. This made point, Vishnu took a form as a fish, entered the Hiranyakashipu believe that no one could ever sea, and brought back the Vedas safely. kill him. When he wanted to kill his son for 2. Name the 2nd avatar based on the worshiping Vishnu, Vishnu came to earth following clues: incarnated as a half-man, half-lion creature Devas grew weaker due to a curse from sage (neither animal nor human). This way Vishnu Durvasa. Though devas fought very hard they killed Hiranyakashipu in the twilight (neither could not win over the . As asuras were day, nor night) and on the porch of the palace (neither inside, nor outside), without disrupting getting stronger, devas asked for Vishnu's help. the boon given to him by Brahma. Vishnu asked devas to churn the ocean for nectar of immortality, which will help them in defeating 5. Which popular festival is associated with asuras. Devas were to use a mountain as the Prahlad? churning stick, but devas were not able to move 6. Sagar manthan is associated with which the mountain on their own. of the popular fair (mela)? Hint - This is the On Vishnu's advice, devas got into a deal with world's largest religious gathering. asuras to churn the ocean jointly and share the Answers on next page. nectar of immortality. During the churning process, the mountain started to sink into the

Hindu Satsang Newsletter, July 2020 PagePage 6 o 6f of8 6 Answers to Dashavatar Quiz 6 Kumbh Mela: Gods and demons fought over the pot (kumbha) of nectar 1 (fish) (amrita), the elixir of immortality produced Avatar by their joint churning of the milky ocean. In the Matsya avatar, During the struggle, drops of the nectar fell Vishnu rescued the first on the Kumbh Mela’s four earthly sites man, Manu and the seven sages at the time of (Haridwar, Prayag, Nasik & Ujjain) and the great flood with one of rivers are believed to turn back into nectar every species of plant and at the climactic moment of each, giving animal. pilgrims the chance to bathe in the essence 2 (turtle) of purity and auspiciousness. The term Avatar Kumbh comes from this pot of nectar, but it In this painting, devas is also the Hindi name for Aquarius, the and asuras are using sign of the zodiac in which Jupiter resides serpent Vasuki as a rope during the Haridwar Kumbha Mela. around the mountain to churn the ocean. Kurma (turtle) is located at the bottom on the mountain.

3 Varaha (boar) Avatar - Varaha slew the Date: July 26th demon and retrieved the Earth from the ocean. Time: 10 am CST Location: Zoom 4 Narasimha ('Nara' online meeting means man and This congregation will be held online and you 'Simha' means lion) can attend the congregation from the safety and Avatar comfort of your home. 1st four avatars - Mastsya, Kurma, Varaha and To join Zoom Meeting from your computer, Narasimha avatar tablet or phone - use the following link: descended to earth in https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81940515247? Satya yuga. pwd=bXljYkZtTmpscG81OGRpZ0tWNFZZUT09 5 Holi Festival: dahan (occurs a Meeting ID: 819 4051 5247 day before Holi festival, festival gets its Password: satsang name from Holika) is celebrated by burning You can also join by phone: Holika pyre. Holika was the sister of the +1(312) 626 - 6799 : Password: 118151 arrogant demon king Hiranyakashipu. Special Guests: Mrs. Prerna Arya and her Holika tried to burn and kill Prahlad but got husband Dr. Dayashankar Vidyalankar, who is killed in the process. Holi celebrates the visiting from New York. Prerna Ji will talk about victory of good over evil. Prahlad was saved Veda and Dayashankar ji will talk about by Narasimha avatar. Ayurveda.

Hindu Satsang Newsletter, July 2020 Page 7 of 8 Hindu Satsang's The festival of Raksha Bandhan Janmashtami By: Jai Viswanathan

Cultural Program What is the meaning of Raksha Bandhan? Raksha (रा) means ‘protection’ and Bandhan Every year, we have our annual Krishna (बंधन) refers to ‘bond’. Raksha Bandhan means a Janmashtami cultural program on the 4th Sunday of bond of protection between brothers and sisters. August, in place of our regular monthly When is Raksha Bandhan observed? congregation. Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi is observed on the Following the norms, this year also 'Krishna auspicious full moon day of the Hindu lunar Janmashtami' cultural program will be held on calendar month of Shraavana (ावण), which Sunday, August 23rd starting at 10:00 am. This year typically falls in the month of August. This year Raksha Bandhan falls on the 3rd of August. the program will be held online - we will be sharing further details about the online video meeting soon. How is it celebrated? On Raksha Bandhan, brothers and sisters wear Those who are interested in presenting a cultural new clothes and observe the festival in the item, please contact Special event Coordinators - presence of their parents & elders. Sisters Ms. Kanchan Pandey: 630-835-7521 or perform aarti, apply “tilak" on the forehead, and Ms. Shammi Wahi - 630-674-2883. pray for the well-being of their brothers. Brother Due to time constraints, please limit to one item per and sister feed sweets to each other. Sister ties the rakhi around brother's wrist. Brothers pledge person/group, duration not exceeding 4 minutes - to protect their sisters against all odds and offer a this is to ensure that everyone gets an opportunity to special loving gift. perform. This event is open to kids and adults. Who started Raksha Bandhan? Wish you all a very Happy Nag There are several stories related to the origin of Raksha Bandhan, the following one is the most Panchami (July 24th), Raksha popular amongst them. Once Krishna managed Bandhan (August 3rd), Krishna to cut his finger, and everyone started to run Janmashtami (August 12th– around to look for a strip of cloth to stop the bleeding. Draupadi, who was watching all this 13th), India's Independence simply tore off a part of her sari and tied it Day (August 15th) and Ganesh around Krishna’s finger. In return for this deed, Krishna promised to protect her in time of Chaturthi (August 22nd). distress. Later on, Pandavas lost Draupadi in a gambling bet. By Krishna’s miracle, Draupadi's sari became endless and saved her from humiliation when she was disrobed in King Dhritarashtra's court.

Hindu Satsang Newsletter, July 2020 Page 8 of 8