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Home , Kashyapa

November 2009

NARADA MUNI BBC Announcements:

Balabhavan Coordinators st Bharathy Thridandam Muni was a great devotee of Lord Talent Day on Nov 21 , Nithya Sudhakar . He was a , a renowned 2009 Sriram Srinivasan teacher, a divine messenger and also a !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [email protected] notorious ‘mischief-maker’. The word ‘Narada’ means one who gives knowledge to mankind Please note that the Talent Class Coordinators Day is scheduled on and imparts right guidance. In Hindu st scriptures Narada is considered a partial- November 21 . Get those Super-Senior Class: of God, with the power to perform miracles on dancing feet and delightful Sudhakar Devulapalli: behalf of Vishnu. voices ready, plan a skit or [email protected] According to legend Narada was born from come up with a creative act Ashok Malavalli: the mind of . He was the chief of all related to the lessons you [email protected] and was sent to earth because of a have learned in Balabhavan Ram Krishnamurthy: curse. He was said to have invented the Veena or pertaining to Indian [email protected] and always loved to sing songs in praise of Lord culture. Vishnu. He travelled around the three worlds Senior Class: of Swargaloka, Mrityuloka and Patalloka with a Registrations for 2010 went Renuka Krishnan: Veena in his hand and “, Narayana” very well, thanks to [email protected] on his lips! Everywhere he went, he taught everyone’s cooperation. Anitha Chidambaram: words of wisdom, and told stories of moral Those who have not [email protected] values through his songs of devotion to Lord registered can reapply online and admissions will be Junior Class: Vishnu. Narada is famous as a mischief-maker and extended as space permits. Seetha Janakiraman: BBC Team [email protected] was known as kalaha-priya. He told the devas and the secrets about each other, which Sangeetha Prahalad: November Birthdays: [email protected] made them hate one another and led to wars between them. Chanting “Narayana, Toddler: Akash Anand Toddler Class: Narayana,” sage Narada went across the three worlds spreading rumors, causing rifts. How Anjana Sriram Chari: Juniors: [email protected] can we call such a person a saint? Was it right that he set people against one another by Gopala Murali Chari: Seniors: [email protected] spreading gossip? In Vaikuntha he would tell the Lord merrily about his tales of mischief. Aravind Krishnan Priya Ram: Super Seniors: [email protected] “Why do you cause so much trouble, Narada?” asked Lord Vishnu. Narada replied, “I don’t do Apoorva Mylavarapu Rahul Malavalli Registration coordinators: anything. I merely test their faith in you. If they were your true devotees, would any of Panneer Selvam: Festivals of the Month: [email protected] them be mean, greedy, envious or proud?” Vishnu burst out laughing and blessed his 11-01-09 Karthikai Deepam Matangi Munukutla: [email protected] dearest devotee. Priya Ram: [email protected]

Newsletter Coordinator: Please visit the website for Meduri: more details … [email protected] (http://www.shiva-vishnu.org

By Arvind Krishnan

7930 Arjons Drive, San Diego, CA 92126 Phone: (858) 549-3940 November 2009 ISSUE 10 - 1- November 2009

Class Schedules Why do some Indians wear Turbans ?

11-7-2009 Are they ? -by Smyra Ramesh SAGE KASHYAPA Toddler Class: Story: Story of - Valli Annamalai Sloka: Budirbalam/ Manojavam -Anandhi Sriram wear Turbans. A Sikh is one who : Subrahmanyam follows Sikhism or in other words "any human Subrahmanyam - Nithya S being who faithfully believes in One God; ten , from Nanak Dev to Sri Guru Gobind Singh; the Sri Guru Granth Sahib - the religious Super Senior Class: text; the teachings of the ten Gurus and the Discussion: Seven baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru”. The - Lalitha Kodandapani most common symbol of all Sikhs, because of its Sloka SL: 1-44, 54, 57, 72, 100 simplicity, is uncut hair (including beards for Kashyapa was an ancient -Lalitha Kodandapani men) and turbans. sage. He was one of the Devulapalli Sikhism is traditionally seen as a religion of . He was the son of Bhajan: TEST: Indiv Review of warriors who were protectors of those who . Marichi was the son and (2008 - could not defend themselves. There was a ( putra) of Brahma. 09) - Latha Sundar practice in Punjab where Hindu families gave Kashyapa is the father of their first born son to the Guru to be baptized the nagas, devas, asuras, and 11-21-2009------as a Khalsa Sikh and join the Guru’s army of all of humanity. He married the Toddler Class, Super Senior protectors. This practice started when Guru 13 daughters of king Class Gobind Singh in 1699 asked the Hindu families to . was one of the TALENT SHOW-3:00 -6:00p.m give him their eldest sons to help raise the new daughters he married. She gave Regular Class Cancelled Khalsa Army to protect . Thus families birth to , the adityas and whose kin are followers of Sikhism have their (lord Vishnu’s 5 avatar) 11-14-2009 eldest sons baptized as Khalsa Sikhs. That should . another wife gave Junior Class: address the question asking if Sikhs are Hindus. birth to the . gave Story: Rama deserts Now let me answer the question on why they birth to the nagas. -Rama Srinivas wear turbans… He is the author of Kashyapa Sloka: Review Namaramayana The turban of a Sikh is a gift given on Baisakhi Sumhita. It is considered a -Vijaya Purohit Day of 1699 by the Tenth Master, Guru Gobind classic reference book on Bhajan: Jaya Nanda Laala Singh. During Guru Gobind Singh’s time, the . (p18, #27) turban, or “dastar,” as it is called in Persian, The valley of in the - Palakodety / carried a totally different connotation from that Himalayas is named after him. - Bala Adimurthy of a hat in Europe. The turban represented There is a legend that Senior Class: respectability and was a sign of nobility. At that Kashyapa drained the lake. Story: Agni - Nithya Sudhakar time, a Mughal aristocrat or a Hindu Rajput There the valley emerged. It could be distinguished by his turban. So, to undo Sloka: Soundarya Lahari 1-32, was named Kashyapmira. Later 43, 44, 54, 57, 72, 100 this division between the rich and the downtrodden, Guru Gobind Singh commanded it became as Kashmir, con- Lakshmi Srinivasan sidered as heaven on earth. Bhajan – Review of Krishna and every Sikh to carry a sword, take up the name Singh or Kaur, and have kesh (hair) and turban Kashyapa means tortoise. Rama Bhajans - Sangeetha There is a story saying that Kadaba/Seema Madan displayed boldly, without any fear. This effectively made his followers see themselves the whole earth was given to

on par with the Mughal rulers. Kashyapa, by . It 11-28-2009 - came to be known as Kashyapi. Junior Class, Senior Class: or Sikhs do not cut their hair. They coil or knot it on top of head on their solar center. THANKSGIVING- By Muktha Phadnis Class cancelled Wrapping a turban everyday is a declaration that this head, this mind is dedicated to God.

7930 Arjons Drive, San Diego, CA 92126 Phone: (858) 549-3940 November 2009 ISSUE 10 - 2 -

November 2009

Importance of burning Origin of Pancha Mahayagnas Incense Devout Hindus perform the Pancha Mahayagnas or Five Incense means an aromatic Daily Sacrifices, in order to herb made into a fine live harmoniously in this powder. Incense is burned for world, by becoming sensitive to oneself, to others, and to experiencing its pleasant The Hindu word for religion is Dharma. It the environment. They are: fragrance or smell. Hinduism means one that holds society together from was probably the first religion disruption and disintegration. Hindu religion is Brahma Yagna: Brahma here to use incense in pujas and ‘Sanatana Dharma’ means the eternal religion. refers to the . This yagna prayers. Almost all the According to historians, the origin of is the study and teaching of religions around the world use Hinduism dates back to 5,000 or more years. one’s branch of the Veda (Rig, incense these days. The word "Hindu" is derived from the name of Sama, Atharva, Yajur). Now let’s explore the River Indus, which flows through northern importance of this religious India. In ancient times the river was called the Pitr Yagna: It is homage ritual. First of all it removes 'Sindhu', but the Persians who migrated to offered to one’s ancestors (Pitr means Father). The ritual all the unpleasant smells India called the river 'Hindu', the land is called and consists around the sacred place. It 'Hindustan' and its inhabitants 'Hindus'. Thus also has an indirect effect in of invoking the ancestors the religion followed by the Hindus came to be mentally and making a physical our minds and thoughts. It known as 'Hinduism'. eliminates negative thinkings. offering. It was earlier believed that the basic tenets Further more it brings out of Hinduism were brought to India by the spiritual feelings. Definitely, Yagna: Deva Yagna is the who invaded the Indus Valley daily worship of the gods (Deva it has a healings influence on Civilization and settled along the banks of the us. Traditional Ayurvedic means God). Worship of the about 2000 BC. According to deities is in the form of a fire Indian medicine uses incense scholars, the evolution of Hinduism may be ritual called . Offerings as herbal therapy for treating divided into three periods: the ancient (6500 are made into the fire while health and mental disorders. BC-1000 AD), the medieval (1000-1800 AD), chanting prayers and . Although the ritual of and the modern (1800 AD to present). burning incense started in Hinduism is commonly thought to be the oldest Bhuta Yagna: It is the feeding Vedic times we continue to religion in the history of human civilization. of other living beings, in an act use it until now. Some of the It is believed that Hinduism has no founder of worship that involves examples of incense are and therefore it is difficult to pinpoint a sensitivity to other forms of dhoop, havan, and incense particular period as the beginning of Hindu life. Food is given to animals sticks. religion. and birds. Women make a kolam or rangoli at the By Deepika Vuppula entrance of their house to ------welcome God, and to provide Topics of the Month food (powdered rice) to ants.

Muktha Phadnis (Kashyapa) Athithi Yagna:Athithi means a Arvind Krishnan (Narada) guest who arrives unexpectedly. Such a person Newsletter Editors needs to be received and served according to prescribed

etiquette. It is customary to . Anugraha Panneerselvam extend hospitality to the guest By Nikitha Gopal Shreya Shriram by serving food. By Satish Chandran

7930 Arjons Drive, San Diego, CA 92126 Phone: (858) 549-3940 November 2009 ISSUE 10 - 3-

November 2009

UPANAYANAM Reincarnation & why we Class Volunteers: believe in it Upanayanam or the thread ceremony is the Stories: sanskara performed to mark the beginning of Reincarnation is a core belief Nithya Sudhakar studenthood or Brahmacharya ashram. The within Hinduism. In most Rama Srinivas importance of the ceremony is that it Indian religions, including the makes a person fit to receive instruction in the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain Bhajans: Vedas and spread their divine power throughout the systems, an ongoing cycle of Bala Adimurthy world. Prior to the ceremony, a child is considered birth, death, and rebirth is 'once-born'. With the performance of the Kalpana Palakodety assumed as a fact of nature. Upanayanam, he becomes 'twice-born' or dvija. This Latha Sundar Reincarnation is the belief that initiation rite marks his second, spiritual birth after Nithya S his first physical one. there is life after death. In the Sangeetha Kadaba A muhurta is selected for the performance of cycle of reincarnation, “Atma” Seema Madan the ceremony. On the actual morning, the mother the soul goes from birth to old and child eat together for the last time. Then the age to disease to death and Slokas: student has , or a haircut. The child is back to birth, so it goes on. Anandhi Sriram then bathed and, adorned in a loincloth, and is The Atma is immortal, while Lakshmi Devulapalli taken to the guru. The guru accepts him and offers the body is subject to birth Lakshmi Srinivasan him a mantle to cover his upper body. The guru and death. Lalitha Kodandapani then ties a girdle around the waist of the student. This is supposed to support the loincloth, to protect Vijaya Purohit According to Hinduism, a his purity and chastity. Next is the placing of the person desires to be born sacred thread, or Yagnyopavitam which is an impor- because he or she wants to Class Presentations: tant part of the ceremony. The guru places the enjoy worldly pleasures, which Yagnopavita over the boy's neck, so that it hangs Senior Class: across his chest from his left shoulder.The sacred can be enjoyed only through a 11-14-2009 thread is worn differently for different occasions. body. Hinduism does not teach Why do we worship for After bestowing the thread, the guru gives the that all worldly pleasures are Lord Shiva? student a staff, symbolising the beginning of a long sinful, but it suggests that they -- Mukta Phadnis journey to perfection. Next the is can never bring deep, lasting recited by the guru and repeated by the student, happiness or peace. After 11-14-2009 who memorizes it. The climax of the ceremony is many births, every person Why do men do namaskaram when the student and his father huddle secretively eventually becomes under a cloth, to prevent unfit people from hearing dissatisfied with the limited differently than women? the mantra. The teaching of the sacred Gayatri happiness that these pleasures -- Aravind Krishnan Mantra is called 'Brahmopadesham' (Brahma's can bring, and begins to seek

counsel). It is only after learning the mantra that higher forms of happiness. Junior Class: the student is accepted as 'twice-born'. That can only be attained 11-14-2009 The student then puts a piece of wood into the through spiritual experience. Why do we worship Lingam for fire which signifies the beginning of his contribution When, after much spiritual Lord Shiva? to religious rites. The ceremony concludes with practice, a person finally pradakshina. The Bramhachari now seeks for food, -- Akshaya Venugopal realizes that the true "self" is for as a student he must live on the town's charity. the immortal soul rather than 11-14-2009 He begs first from his mother and his aunts. His refrain is bhavati bhiksham dehi. Literally meaning the body—all desires for the Why do men do namaskaram pleasures of the world will differently than women? ‘whichever honorable person is present, please give alms". vanish. When all desire has -Priyanka Samavedam The Bramhachari spends the years of his vanished, the person will not gurukulavasa in Gayatri-; study of the Vedas be reborn anymore and attains and the , begging for his food, serving his , or the salvation. guru, and observing various religious vows. By Anoodnya Sangam By Keerti Tadimeti

7930 Arjons Drive, San Diego, CA 92126 Phone: (858) 549-3940 November 2009 ISSUE 10 - 4-