May 2009

Sage Vaishampayana Balabhavan Coordinators BB Announcements: The RamaNavami Pooja done th Bharathy Thridandam on April 12 by the Nithya Sudhakar balabhavan children led by Sriram Srinivasan Shri Muralidhar Shastri went off very well Thanks to all Contact: [email protected] the volunteers who brought the Mahaprasadam.

Nara Seva is Narayana Seva Class Coordinators Project

Vaishampaayana was a disciple of the Balabhavan will be collecting Super-Senior Class: Great Sage . During Vaishampaayana’s gently used clothes and care Sudhakar Devulapalli tutelage Vyasa taught him the great original packages for victims of [email protected] Yajur Veda. Also, from Vyasa he learned the domestic violence and their Ashok Malavalli Jaya, the original 8000 verses of the children. The items will be [email protected] . Vaishampaayana did this by donated on Mother’s Day to Ram Krishnamurthy listening to Vyasa when he was reciting the “The Women's Resource [email protected] Mahabharata to . Vaishampaayana is Center”. We have two more also said to be the original narrator of the collection dates on: 5-2-09, Senior Class: Harivamsa. The Harivamsa is the story of Lord and 5-9-09. Renuka Krishnan ’s life and it is a very detailed and Balabhavan family Picnic: [email protected] glorious description of how Krishna lived. It’s PLAYTIME!!! Mark your Anitha Chidambaram Emperor Janamejaya, Parikshita’s son calendars to attend the [email protected] ascended to the throne of Hastinapura. Balabhavan family Picnic on m Krishna Meduri According to legend, Parikshita, had died of June 14, 2009. Details will be [email protected] snakebite. He had been cursed by a sage to sent soon.

die so. Janamejaya bore a deep grudge Promotions will take place in Junior Class: against the serpents for this act, and thus June. The list of students Seetha Janakiraman decided to wipe them out altogether. He being promoted to the next [email protected] attempted this by performing a great Sarpa level will be available in the Sangeetha Prahalad satra - a sacrifice that would destroy all living next few weeks. [email protected] serpents. Just as he was about to begin the We have some exciting

sacrifice, the Vyasa arrived with Sage Summer camps coming up in Toddler Class: Vaishanmpayaana and other . The sages July. Vidya Chari told Janamejaya that to avenge himself on all [email protected] Nagas, for the action of one, who was after BBC Team Murali Chari all consummating a curse, would be [email protected] unrighteous, and not worthy of one May Birthdays: Priya Ram descended from the themselves. Toddler: [email protected] Janamejaya desists from completing the Shravanthi Bala

sacrifice. Upon Janamejaya's expressed Sathya Srinivasan Registration coordinators: curiosity as to the lives and actions of his Panneer Selvam forefathers, Vaishampaayana then narrates Juniors: [email protected] the Mahabharata, expanding it to 24,000 Aruna Sudarshan Matangi Munukutla verses, at the spot where the homa was to Shrea Chari [email protected] have to have been held. Priya Ram Seniors:

[email protected] -By Arun S Soumya Kalluri

7930 Arjons Drive, San Diego, CA 92126 Phone: (858) 549-3940 May 2009 ISSUE 5 - 1 - May 2009

Class Schedules Class Schedules

nd May 2 , 2009 ------Gautama Maharishi is one of the th May 9 , 2009 ------ (seven Rishis) of the current Toddler Class: (seventh). He was one of the Story: Story of Parvathi Maharishis of Vedic times, known to have Junior Class: -Sheeba Chandrashekar been the discoverer of Mantras--'Mantra- Sloka: Vasude Vasutham/ drashtaa', in . He was the son of Story: Search of Krishnaya Vasudevaya Rahugana, belonging to the line of . -Saba/Yaso Ratnavel -Sheeba Chandrashekar He had two sons by name and Shloka: Aditrahridayam, Bhajan: Radhe Govinda Bhajo Nodhas, both themselves discoverers of Review Shlokas -Latha Sundar Mantras. The 4th book of the is that -Vanishree Kadaba of the Vamadeva Gautama family. His wife Bhajan: Review of Vanamali, Super Senior Class: is , herself the mind born daughter and Prathama Ganapathim Discussion: Marriage (manasa putri) of Creator . The -Pallavi Nagaraj/ -Lalitha Kodandapani speak of the story wherein it is Shankar Parasaram Sloka: Viahnu Slokas-2, SL:1-38 described how Gautama won the hand of - Sheela Ashok/ Ahalya by perambulating the divine cow in Senior Class: Devulapalli order to fulfill the stipulation of Brahma Bhajan: Vaarade Veena; Jag that whoever first goes round the whole Story: Shani Sukh Karini Earth will win the hand of Ahalya. - Prasanna/Ram Madabushi -Latha Sundar Shloka: - Geetha Gopala SL: 1-25, Vishnushatpadi May 16th, 2009------Gautama's sixty-year long penance is mentioned in the Shanti parva of the - Shanti Kalluri Bhajan: Jag Sukh Karini Toddler Class: Mahabharata. The purana describes the story of the 12-year famine during - Latha Sundar Story: Panchatantra -Banumathi Sugumar - Sriram Srinivasan which Gautama fed all the Rishis and saved them. Sloka: Buddir Balam/ Manjoavam May 23rd, 2009------Gautama was also the author of -Sriram Srinivasan Dharma- known as Gautama Dharma No Bala Bhavan Class Bhajan: Krishna Krishna sutra. It is in fact the earliest Dharma Sutra. Mukunda It contains 28 chapters with 1000 - Anandhi Sriram aphorisms. In this sense Gautama's Dharma may perhaps be considered the Super Senior Class oldest law book of the world. OM Ganesha -By Kalyani R

Discussion: Five Mahayajnas performed everyday by the householder -Ram Krishnamurthy Sloka: Soundaryalahari 1-38, - Lalitha Kodandapani -Shanti Kalluri Bhajan: Hey Govinda Hey Gopala -Latha Sundar/Anandi Sriram

7930 Arjons Drive, San Diego, CA 92126 Phone: (858) 549-3940 May 2009 ISSUE 5 - 2 -

May 2009

What is Navami Are only Indians Hindus? Class Volunteers: First of all, is Rama Navami is the birthday of Lord Rama, the main religion of India. It has Story: son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. It is also three main gods Brahma, Vishnu, Lalitha Kodandapani observed as the day Lord Rama Married Sita. and . Hindu is a Persian Prasanna/Ram Madabushi It is known as Rama Navami as it falls on name for the . There Prasanna/Ram Madabushi Navami, meaning the ninth day of the Chaitra are six different types of Ram Krishnamurthy month of the Hindu year calendar. Hinduism; Folk, Vedic, Vedantic, Saba/Yaso Ratnavel The Devas went to Brahma fearful of Yogic, Dharmic, and Bhakti. Sheeba Chandrashekar the rule of Ravana, the ten headed Hinduism is the most complex religion even though it is the 3rd Sriram Srinivasan emperor of Lanka, who had become so largest religion. Unlike many powerful that he now ruled the heaven, the religions Hinduism was not Bhajan: home of the Devas. Vishnu promised to kill founded by one person. That is Anandhi Sriram Ravana by being born as a son to King what makes it unique. Banumathi Sugumar Dasaratha –this birth of Lord Vishnu is the 7th Even though Hinduism Latha Sundar avataram and Goddess Lakshmi took birth as is mainly practiced in India there Pallavi Nagaraj Sita and was found by King Janaka. are people outside of India that Shankar Parasaram Vishnu promised to kill Ravana by practice Hinduism as well. 80% being born as a son to King Dasaratha –this of Nepal, almost one third of Fiji and half of Mauritius, South Sloka: birth of Lord Vishnu is the 7th avataram and Lakshmi Devulapalli Africa practice Hinduism and Goddess Lakshmi took birth as Sita and was there are small percentages of Lakshmi Srinivasan found by King Janaka. Lord Rama’s birthday is Hindus in other countries. Not Lalitha Kodandapani special because Lord Rama is the example of even all 100% of India practices Shanti Kalluri the perfect person; he showed us how to live Hinduism. India has many other Sheeba Chandrashekar on this divine earth following the path of religions in it too. There are Sheela Malavalli dharma and divine principles. even some Christians and Vanishree Kadaba Rama had all the characteristics of an Muslims living in India. ideal person-Purushottama. He led his life as From this we conclude that 1: India is not fully Hindu, 2: an example to others. He had all the good Class Presentations There are people who practice qualities that we should seek to follow. He Hinduism outside of India, and 3: May 9th, 2009 fulfilled all his moral obligations. Rama was Hinduism is a very large religion pure in his intentions and actions; he inspired making it impossible for all Senior Class: affection and devotion from all the people. Hindus to live in India. What is Bhagwat Gita’s -By Rohith S significance? -By Bhairav C -Vikram T. ------Why do we sing Bhajans in Newsletter Editors the temple? Rahul Malavalli -Kalyani R. Srinidhi Malavalli Junior Class: Topics of the Month What is Bhagwat Gita’s Sri Rama Rama Rameti Arun Sundar Rame Raame Manorame Kalyani Ramadurgam significance? Sahasra Nama Tat Tulyam – Sujanya S. Rama Nama Varanane ------Please send your Why do we sing Bhajans in Lord Shiva told this shloka to : suggestions/comments on “ I meditate upon Sri Ram as Sri Rama Rama this newsletter to the temple? Rama, the thrice recital of Rama’s name is equal to -Rachana M. Recitation of the thousand names of Lord Vishnu (Vishnu [email protected] Sahasranama)”

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