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Home , Hayagriva, Ranganatha, Venkateswara

||Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha|| || Srirasthu|| ||Srimathe Varavaramunaye Namaha|| SriSri VenkateswaraVenkateswara LotusLotus TempleTemple Non-profit 501(c) 3 Organization NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2014 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1

Sri Godha Kalyana Utsavam January 12th 2014 at Willow Springs Elementary Religious Calender p2 School, Fairfax, VA Sri Godha Ranganatha Kalyanam p1 Adhyayana Utsavam p3 10:00 AM EDURUKOLU Kudarai Utsavam p4 Anugna, Vishwaksena Puja, Maha 10:30 AM Sankalpam, Punyavachanam Neerata Utsavam p4 Sri Vaikunta Ekadasi p4 Jeelakarra Bellam, Paani Grahanam, 10:45 AM Mangalyadharanam SVLT Construction Updates p4 Sri Godha Astottaram and Sri Mukunda Mala p5 11:10 AM Astottaram Sri Hayagrieva stotram p5 Akshataropanam. Swasthivaachanam, 11:20 AM New Year celebrations p6 Mangalasaasanam Sponsorship Opportunities- Sankranti Celebrations p7 12:00 PM Maha Mangala Harathi Kalyanam: $51 12:45 PM Prasada Viniyogam Kanyadanam: $251 Vastradanam: $251 For more information- 01:30 PM Visit http://svlotustemple.org / Bhogi Pandlu for Kids Flowers: $300 - 03:00 PM Annadanam: $501 Call temple at (703) 815 - 4850

Sri Mahasudarshana Homam Sri Satyanarayana Vratam Sri Goda Ranganatha Kalyanam Sunday, Wednesday, Sunday, January 12th January 15th January 12th , 2014 at 10:00 AM at 07:00 PM at 10:00 AM

...More details on page

PRIEST SERVICES Highly qualified, experienced priests available for your Puja needs in your home & at the temple. To request priest services please call 703-815-4850 or email [email protected] or submit the request form on SVLT website at Sriman Sriman Anand Bhatter Srinivasan Bharadwaj http://svlotustemple.org Renganathan Kallakuntla

To promote and preserve rich Indian heritage and traditions through religious, educational and cultural activities and training of the youth- future of our Society. 12519 & 12501 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030. Phone (703) 815-4850 http://www.svlotustemple.org 1 RELIGIOUS CALENDAR January 2014 Temple - Daily Schedule Adhyayana Utsavam starts on January 1st 2014 and ends Suprabhata Seva/ Evening Dharma 08:00 AM 05:00 PM on January 20th 2014. Darsanam darsanam ...More details on page 3 Praatah Kaala Sayankala 08:40 AM 05:30 PM Aaradhana Aaradhana 09 Thurs Kudarai Celebrations Sri 10 Fri 10:00 AM Sri Swamy Parivaram 09:40 AM Dharma darsanam 06:30 PM Sahasranama Abhishekam as part of Neerata Paaraayanam Utsavam Visesha sevalu, Harati, Archana, 11 Sat 10:00 AM Sri Goda Krishna Abhishekam as 07:00 PM Dharma darsanam part of Neerata Utsavam puja, Visesha parayanalu Sri Vaikunta Ekadasi celebrations Madhyanhika Srivari 12 Sun 08:00 AM Sri Goda Krishna Abhishekam as 11:40 AM Aaradhana and Raja 08:45 PM Pavalimpu/ part of Neerata Utsavam bhogam Sayanotsavam 10:00 AM Sri Goda Ranganatha Kalyana Temple - Weekly Schedule Utsavam Sri Anjaneya Vadamala, Chalisa 14 Tues 10:00 AM Sri Parayanam (Sri Bhajans at 07:30 PM are re- 15 Wed 10:00 AM Sri Rama Parivaram Tues 07:00 PM placed with Divya Prabandham. Bhajans will recommence after the completion of the Adhyayana 15 Wed 10:00 AM Sri Thirumangai Azhwar Utsavam on Jan 20th 2014) 15 Wed 10:00 AM Sri Sudarsanar, Sri Hayagrieva Aradhana/ Elachi Mala Thurs 07:00 PM Sri Perumal Samarpanam and Bhajans Fri 10:00 AM Sri Mahalakshmi Abhishekam 15 Wed 07:00 PM Sri Satyanarayana Vratam 10:00 AM Sri Sookta Homam 17 Fri 10:00 AM Sri Venkateswara Parivaram 10:00 AM Sri Srinivasa Parivaram - Abhishekam abhishekam 11:30 AM Abhishekanantara Archana 12:00 PM Tomala Seva 20 Mon 10:00 AM Sri Goda Ammavaru 07:30 PM Prabandha parayanam 21 Tues 10:00 AM Sri Mahalakshmi Ammavaru Sri Mahalakshmi suvarna 08:15 PM 24 Fri 10:00 AM Sri Venkateswara Parivaram pushpa Aradhana/Archana abhishekam Nakshatra Abhishekam Schedule 25 Sat 10:00 AM Sri Nammazvar abhishekam (Based on the Nakshatra/Tidhi of the Dieties for January 2014) 25 Sat 05:30 PM Sri Srinivasa Kalyanam 14 Tues Ardra Sri Ramanuja 15 Wed Punarvasu Sri Rama Parivaram 26 Sun 10:00 AM Sri Sudarsanar, 15 Wed Sri Thirumangai Azhwar Sri Narasimha Perumal 15 Wed Sri Sudarsanar, 28 Tues 10:00 AM Sri Manvalamamunigal abhishekam Sri Narasimha Perumal 30 Thurs 10:00 AM Sri Hayagrieva abhishekam 20 Mon P. Phalguni Sri Goda Ammavaru 21 Tues U. Phalguni Sri Mahalakshmi Ammavaru 31 Fri 10:00 AM Sri Venkateswara Parivaram Abhishekam 25 Sat Vishaka Sri Nammazvar 26 Sun K. Ekadasi Sri Sudarsanar, ** Due to Dhanurmasam Special seva and Alamkaram, ab- Sri Narasimha Perumal hishekam / thirumanjanam to dieties will not be performed between December 16th, 2013 until the start of the Neeratam 28 Tues Moola Sri Manvalamamunigal Utsavam on January 10th 2014.** 30 Thurs Sravana Sri Lakshmi Hayagrieva 2 ThiruAdhyayana Utsavam at SVLT January 1st 2014 - January 20th 2014 Starting from Jan 1st and going on until 20th, SV Lotus temple will be celebrating the complete recital of 4000 Divya Prabhandam given to us by the 10 predominant Alwars (and Pasurams from and Madhurakavi Alwar). The 4000 Pasurams contain in them the essence of ALL 4 and ALL . Recital of Vedas have many nuanaces of intonation and proper times, days etc. Divya Prabhandam however are given to us by the outpouring of and almost anybody that has a little bhakti can participate in completing the great Vratham call Adhyayana Utsavam of 4000 sacred verses on the Lord.

Lotus temple will display the pasurams on big screen TV for all to follow and recite during the 21 days.

COMPLETE DETAILS & TIMINGS OF THE THIRUADHYAYANA UTSAVAM

3 Kudarai Utsavam Neerata Utsavam January 09th 2014, 07:00 AM at SVLT January 10th, 11th , 12th 2014 at SVLT th Jan 09 is a very significant day, 27th day of the During the Neerattam Utsavam, abhishekam would be Dhanurmasam . Colloquially known as “Kudarai Valli” – performed at every day and special alankaram and this is a day, when the sweet pongal [made of jaggery with Visesha Archana and Mangalasasanam on all five ghee flowing] is offered to God and then shared with all near days. The ritual signifies the importance of taking bath and dear. This day assumes significance from the pasuram of during the month of Margaseersham and reap spiritual Chudi Kudutha Nachiyar – Andal. In the month of Margazhi fruits. starting from day one, one verse of is ascribed Includes sponsorship of Abhishekham's for all deities per day and today is the 27th verse “Koodarai vellum Seer at SV Lotus Temple for 5 days. Govinda”.

Sri Vaikunta Ekadasi Celebrations at SVLT January 11th 2014 at SVLT

06:00 AM Sri Godha Thiruppavai Sevakalam

07:00 AM Sapta Dwaara Pravesha Puja

07:15 AM Vaikunta Dwaara Darshanam

Sri Godha Ranganaatha Vishesha All Day Archana

For more information- Visit http://svlotustemple.org / Call temple at (703) 815 - 4850

SVLT Construction Updates

The temple Phase 1 construction plan from the Baalaalaya phase has seen some delays, Fairfax County had provided the necessary permits, and Sachi Construction Company have been awarded the contract. A shortage of about $700,000.00 to comfortably start raising the structure remains to be our challenge. The $700,000 is in addition to the loan amount the bank will finance. The increase in cost of materials, fluctuating economic factors affecting our donors, the on-going cost of operations including supporting existing Poojas, Utsavas, Staff, repairs, among other factors have kept us with the reality of being very close, but not fully in concrete-pouring mode. Sachi Construction Company is famous for exquisite temple construction and has built the Akshardham and all the magnificent Swaminaryan temples in the USA. They have started mobilization of the site by setting up the construction trailer and construction sign boards. They have been gathering bids from the sub-contractors and contracts will awarded the contracts and commence the construction work. The project plan and projections to start and completion will be announced shortly. The Garbhalaya stone work is in progress and a shipment is planned to be sent in spring of 2014. The deity work will also commence in spring of 2014.

4 SRI LAKSHMI STOTRAM SERIES Hayagrieva Stotram - Slokas 11 & 12 Sriman Nigamantha Desika composed 33 slokas describing the greatness of Hayagriva. The Lord Himself made him compose the hymn where each sloka incorporates some Bi:ja aksharas. Cosmic administration is said to be in 33 divisions. Likewise the great ashtakshari dwayi have a total of 33 syllables. Sri Desika has composed and favoured us with this hymn in such a manner that each sloka has within it the divine power of the aksharas. Great souls have been witness to this. For this reason, great acharyas of the past as well as learned scholars of the present times hold this hymn in high esteem as the bestower of great power of speech and with understanding. We have covered Sloka 1 – 10 in previous newsletters. In January 2014 newsletter we will cover sloka 11 and 12.

SLOKAM ELEVEN

“yanmu:lam i:drukprathibha:thi thathwam ; ya:mu:lam a:mna:ya maha:druma:na:m thaththwe:na ja:nanthi visuddha saththwa:ha; thwa:m akshara:m aksharama:thruka:mthe:” Hayagriva Swami is the form of ‘a’, the first letter of the alphabet, which is the mother of ‘O:m’. Great sages have said that all kinds of matter in this uni- verse have their origin in ‘O:mka:ra’. The universe consists of two types: the sentient and the insentient. Out of their combination only, all the four catego- ries – deities, humans, animals and immobile things come. These are called the effects. All these worldly phenomena which are these objects have arisen from God who is the form of O:m. They also dissolve in Him. If the world is the effect, the combination of sounds is the cause. For all sounds, the basis is the O:mka:ra of the Ve:da:s. It is therefore the original cause. The root of O:mka:ra is the syllable ‘a’. All sounds emanate from this. Even if all sounds dis- solve, this does not. That is the reason why it is referred to as the original syllable. O Lord! The learned ones with no particular preferences have declared You are the essence of this ‘a’. This is so because You were the cause of everything in the beginning. The syllable is the only cause. Therefore, both the cause and the effect are in You, the form of ‘a’. SLOKAM TWELVE “avya:krutha:th vya:kruthava:nasi thwam;na:ma:ni ru:pa:ni cha ya:ni pu:rvam semsamthi the:sha:m charama:m prathishttha:m;va:gi:swara! thwa:m thadupagna va:chaha”

Hayagriva is God, who is the cause of all Universe. A spider spins the thread out of itself but devours it and keeps it within itself. At that stage, one does not know what happened to the thread; but we recognize it the moment it is brought out. All the objects in the world with all their forms and names emanated from God at the time of creation. Inside Him, nothing was distinguishable – it was the stage of non-distinction. By His will, God ensured that even if they were indistinguishable. All things were preserved with separate identities in subtler, microscopic form; and again, by His will, brought and made them grow. It is these that we see in their present form and name: they arose out of their embryonic state in which they had the same form and name. This is called the stage of revelation. O Va:geswara! Learned ones who have understood Your nature thoroughly have declared that You are the sole author of these states of non-distinction and revelation of all sentient and insentient beings. ...will continue in next newsletter ARTICLE OF THE MONTH Mukunda Mala Let us continue with the 5th Sloka from Mukunda Mala of Chera King Kulasekara who came to be known as Kulasekara Alwar who in the sloka below again cries out for noth- ing but Mukunda's grace to make him a ever devoted soul.

“nAsthA dharme na vasunichaye naiva kAmopa bhoge yadyad.h bhavyaM bhavatu .h pUrva karmAnu rUpam.h . etat.h prArthyaM mama bahumataM janma janmAntare.api tvat.h pAdAmbhoruha yuga gatA nishchalA bhaktirastu .5.”

In which if begs the Lord of Lords as below –

(I have) 'nAstha' - no special regard for 'dharma' (being religious/righteous), nor for 'vasu' (wealth) or the accumulation of wealth, not even for 'kAmopa bhoge' (sensual enjoyment). Let my 'purva karmAnu rUpam' be exhausted as they should be. But in the 3 line cries out his 'prArthaym' (prayer) that however many births may result out of him karma, that he should ever be blessed by the Lord with unwavering bhakthi (nishchlA bhakthi) towards Mukunda. Poorvacharyas further clarify that by asking so Lord Kulasekara is praying that he not have any more births resulting from his prayers for everlasting bhakthi towards Lord Mukunda (Mukthi dhadha iti - giver of Moksha). ...will continue in next newsletter 5 SVLT Community Events

6 SANKRANTI CULTURAL EVENING AT SVLT MARGHALI MUSIC FESTIVAL

Let’s celebrate our INDIAN culture with pride and grandeur SVLT is celebrating This SANKRANTHI season!!! Marghali Music Festival SV Lotus Temple, Fairfax, will be celebrating Sankranti Festival with a grand at 06:00 PM to 08:00 PM cultural event on January 18th, 2014 at 06:00 PM. Sankranti is a harvest festival as part of Dhanurmasam celebrations. and is celebrated in numerable ways in different regions of - as Sankranthi in , as Pongal in Tamilnadu, as Uttarayana in Gujarat and Saturday, Ragamalika Students of Maragatham Rajasthan, as Lohri in Punjab, Etc. Jan 04, 2014 Ramaswamy and Jayashri Sankaran. Venue Willow Springs Elementary School Singers - Malathi Rao, Usha 5400 Willow Springs School Rd, Anantanarayanan , Ravada and Fairfax, VA 22030 Lavanya Ramakrishnan. Mrudangam -Srikar Chittari Highlights of the Event Violin - Sanjay Gururam Dance performances by Top Dance Schools of the Region Sunday, Students of Gamakam School of Jan 12, 2014 Music An Outstanding Performance of ‘Devdas’ song – ‘Kahe ched moheee’

A Unique Classical Dance-off!! Encouraging creativity and passion for Vocal - J. Shivakumar , Rama classical dance among young dancers with FUN!!! Prizes!! Sundaresan,Deepa Subramanyam, Shobha Make it your grandest Indian traditional dress ever!! Wear your region’s Jayakumar, Aarthi Srinivasan, Latha traditional dress for extra points!! Mohan, Saisruthi Kannan, Most traditionally dressed awards for mothers, fathers, kids and Violin - Vikram Shivakumar , GRANDPARENTS!! Prizes!! Mrdangam -TBD Best Sankranthi/Traditional dish – showcase your culinary skills and win prizes!!! Audience Voting!!! Registration required, contact below for more info. Please contact Sarita Mullapudi Audience dancing to entertaining bollywood and regional music! Family at [email protected] / (571) 212 3933 or Fun!! Vasanthi Aharam at [email protected] Delicious food!!

PRIEST SERVICES Priests of the Sri Venkateswara Lotus Temple (SVLT) are committed to providing you with the best possible service with utmost sincerity, devotion and zeal (Shradda, Bhakthi and Bhavam). Their sublime devotion, rich with religious fervor, Vedic knowledge and their deep relish for our traditions, adds to the holy ambience of the temple and any place of worship, engrossing devotees in spirituality and delight. Our priests take honor and pride in providing quality services with your budget without cutting corners in their service to you.

What is unique about SVLT’s priest-services is that we have made all deliberate attempts to minimize costs while maximizing services rendered to the community. The priests share with us, a core value in focusing on your religious activity than the monetary aspect of the services. Our priests are multilingual and can help with your preference for language such as Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and English. They are also aware of the diverse traditions of each region and follow deliberate steps to ensure authenticity.

You could use the temple facility or your home for the Poojas. Authentic services include bringing our Utsava Srinivasa Moorthy, - Pooja, Vastu, Shanthi, Punyahavachana (cleansing) Pooja and specific procedures for Gruhapravesham, Weddings, Anniver- saries, and all occasions including sweet sixteen parties! Other services include Abhishekam, Archana and Arathi/community poojas. Homams range from Sudarshana, Lakshmi, Ganapathi, Vishwaksena, Chandi, Navagraha, Vaastu, Rudra, Mrutyunjaya to Ayushya Homams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS (Dhanurmasam Special) Like us on Facebook and get Week Days 05:30 am - 11:00 am 05:30 pm - 08:30 pm up - to - date info on SV Lotus Temple events: Weekends 05:30 am - 02:30 pm 03:30 pm - 08:30 pm https://www.facebook.com/SVLotusTemple The temple is open all day on all Auspicious days

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