NAMO BHAGAVATE PANDURANGAYA BALAJI VANI Volume 12, Issue 2 February, 2018

HARI OM

In Month of January New year day was celebrated. On New year day Balaji Abishekam was performed and in the evening Sri Satya Narayana swami Pooja was performed. Peethadhipati Swami Narayananda blessed devotes after new year Pooja. On Jan 14 Sankranti/Pongal was celebrated and a devotee family presented new kavacha to Goddess Lakshmi.

Maha Shivaratri means “great night of ,” is an important Hindu festival, and is celebrated the 13th night and 14th day of the new moon during the dark half of the month of

Phalguna—this falls within either February or March. Hindu Sri Lakshmi and Lord Balaji. believers feel that Shiva’s power of destruction is used to

destroy not only matter, but illusions as well, thereby lending Maha Shivaratri a spirit of celebration from the darkness of MANDAMADHYAMARŪPĀPI VAIRĀGYEṆA ŚAMĀDINĀ | PRASĀDENA GUROḤ SEYAṂ PRAVṚDDHĀ SŪYATE PHALAM || 28 || ignorance.

Even though torpid or mediocre, this yearning for There are several stories about Maha Shivaratri in . Freedom, through the grace of the , may bear fruit One of the prominent story is - Brahma, the creator, and (being developed) by means of Vairāgya (renunciation), Vishnu, the preserver, were in conflict concerning who was Śama(calmness), and so on. supreme, each declaring their superiority. But as they argued, an enormous appeared before them, covered in flames. VAIRĀGYAṂ CA MUMUKṢUTVAṂ TĪVRAṂ YASYA TU VIDYATE | Both were struck by its seemingly infinite size, and left TASMINNEVĀRTHAVANTAḤ SYUḤ PHALAVANTAḤ ŚAMĀDAYAḤ || 29 || their quarrel, endeavoring to measure it. Vishnu took the form In his case, verily, whose renunciation and yearning for of a boar, travelling downward to the netherworld. Meanwhile, Freedom are intense, calmness and the other practices Brahma became a swan, and flew upward to measure the have (really) their meaning and bear fruit. lingam. Both, however, failed in their task. Upon their failure, Vivekachudamani Shiva appeared out of the lingam and proclaimed that he was

the creator of them both, and should, thereafter, be worshiped in phallic form rather than in bodily form.

The Rituals of Shivaratri Devotees offer up prayers to Shiva, the lord of destruction on the night when Shiva is said to have performed the Nritya—the divine dance that is the source of the cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction. Celebrating devotees remain awake all through the night of the 13th, visiting their local Shiva temple or embarking on a pilgrimage to Jyotirlingams. For the remainder of the night, adherents remain awake, visiting one of the Shiva temples and going on pilgrimages to Jyotirlingams—a handful of devotional places representing Shiva. Throughout the next day, these devotees fast, and chant the sacred Panchakshara , “,” which translates to “salutations to Shiva,” and toss offerings of grain into the fire and pray lord shiva.

Hari Om

MONTHLY EVENTS REGULAR ACTIVITIES

rd February 3 , Saturday TEMPLE OPEN Sankata Hara Chaturthi, Abishekam 7:00 PM WEEKDAYS 7:30 AM TO 1:00 PM & 4:00 PM to 8.30 PM February 4th, Sunday WEEKENDS SAT-SUN 7:30 AM to 8:30 PM Bhajans and Vishnu Sahasra Nama Stotram 11:00 AM

February 9th, Friday Daily & Aarti Maha Lakshmi Abishekam 6:30 PM Morning 8:00 AM Afternoon 12:30 PM th February 10 , Saturday Evening 8:00 PM Balaji Abishekam 5:00 PM

February 11th, Sunday Every Monday Raman ama Sankirthana 11:00 AM Rudrabhishekam (Shiva Puja) 6:00 PM

February 12th, Monday Every Tuesday Matha Anniversary Hanumanji Puja 6:00 PM Pradosham Shiva Pooja 5:30 PM

February 13th, Tuesday Every Wednesday Maha Shivaratri 7:00 AM to next day 7:00 AM Vishnu Stotram 6:00 PM

February 14th, Wednesday Maha Shivaratri Pooja ends Every Thursday

th Sri Sai Bhajans 7:30 PM February 15 , Thursday Shiva Abishekam 10:00 AM Every Friday February 16th, Friday Santoshi Mata Puja 7:00 PM Vasavi Abishekam 6:30 PM Lakshmi Puja, Lalitha Stotram & Mahaprasadam

February 17th Saturday Hanuman Abishekam 5:00 PM Every Saturday Sri Venkateshwara Suprabhatam Seva 8:00 AM th February 18 , Sunday & Vishnu Stotram Satyanarayana Pooja 11:00 AM

February 22nd, Thursday Every Sunday Krittika Subramanya Abishekam 6:30 PM & Children’s class by Pushpa Dhar 9:30 AM Bhajans, Puja & Aarti 7:00 PM February 23rd, Friday

Vishnu Stotram 12:00 PM Every Sankasthahara Chaturthi February 25th, Sunday Sri Ganesha Puja 7:00 PM Panduranga Abhishekam 11:00 AM Every Purnima Sri Satyanarayana Puja 6:30 PM

Every Amavasya Siva Pooja check website for time

Third Thursday of every month Vedic Anna Dana for India

OUR PURPOSE The purpose of Balaji Temple is to form a Hindu Temple and Vedic Cultural Center on the Peninsula in the heart of Silicon Valley where people can come together to study and worship, regardless of our different backgrounds. Our aim is to promote the feeling of universal love and unity among all people. We will share the ancient wisdom of the and the Upanishads (sacred texts of India) with individuals of all ages and backgrounds. We will celebrate the One Truth behind all religions: that is One and in all of us. Our worship services are free and open to all who wish to celebrate with us. All are welcome. Construction at 5004 N. First Street, P.O. Box 1146, San Jose, CA 95002 for landscaping and building will begin soon. Please donate generously to expedite this good cause.

BALAJI MATHA BOARD MEMBERS President Sri N. Swamiji (408) 203-1036 Secretary Krishna S (408) 718-3655 Treasurer Babu. D (408) 242-8278 BALAJI TEMPLE, 5004 N. 1st Street , San Jose, CA 95002 (408) 203-1036 / (408) 956-9050 Email: [email protected] http://www.balajitemple.net http://www.balajimatha.org

Non-Profit Organization.

Peethadhipati Narayananda swamiji with devotes.