June 2009

Balabhavan Coordinators BB Announcements: SAGE SHRI SHUKA Thanks to all the families who Bharathy Thridandam participated in the ‘Seva’ project and made it Nithya Sudhakar Sriram Srinivasan meaningful. The staff at the , the son of the great sage, , Women’s Resource Center Contact: gave the divine epic of the to were very happy to receive [email protected] the world. Vyasa’s son’s name was Shuka. this large donation from an Vyasa taught his son many philosophical unexpected source. Pictures Class Coordinators scriptures. Still, Shuka thirsted for are on yahoogroups. knowledge. So Vyasa sent Shuka to King June 14, 2009: It’s Playtime Super-Senior Class: to learn more. Please note that the Sudhakar Devulapalli Balabhavan Family picnic is on [email protected] Janaka, foreseeing the coming of Shuka, June 14, 2009(Sunday) at Lake Ashok Malavalli ordered his guards not to let him in until Poway between 11:00 a.m to [email protected] further orders. Shuka was made to wait for 4:00p.m. Time to play, eat Ram Krishnamurthy three days without food or water or sleep. He and have family fun. Please [email protected] waited patiently, undisturbed by this unkind look into the sign up sheets reception. sent by e-mail for games and Senior Class: potluck food volunteers and do Renuka Krishnan sign up. On the fourth day Janaka arrived at the [email protected] Summer camps: gates, welcomed Shuka and led him to the Anitha Chidambaram We have three camps, Puja guest room. There Shuka was provided with [email protected] Vidhanam Camp, Arts camp every comfort. But Shuka showed no greed or Meduri and Folk Dance Camp, brought great delight at these luxuries. Instead he [email protected] to you by our dedicated and spent his days in meditation and prayer. talented parent volunteers. If

you are interested, please sign Junior Class: Because neither insults nor luxuries affected up online as it is on a first – Seetha Janakiraman come, first-serve basis. [email protected] Shuka, King Janaka decided to put him to one final test. In the splendid court room filled Further details in flyers. Sangeetha Prahalad with dazzling performers, King Janaka gave [email protected] Please note that the class for Shuka a bowl full of milk. "Make seven rounds Juniors and Seniors on June Toddler Class: of this hall without spilling one drop of milk," 27th has been advanced to June Vidya Chari said the King. Shuka accepted the bowl. He 20th due to a temple event. [email protected] walked effortlessly around the great hall BBC Team Murali Chari seven times, past the magnificent courtiers, [email protected] the whirling dancing girls and the musicians, June Birthdays: Priya Ram without spilling a single drop of milk. [email protected] Seniors: King Janaka was delighted. "Shuka," he said Janani Hariharan Registration coordinators: "You are unequalled in your self-control and Anugraha Panneerselvam Panneer Selvam self-discipline. I have nothing to teach you. Nikitha Gopal [email protected] Continue your practices and you will attain Rohit Kodukula Matangi Munukutla the supreme enlightenment." Shuka returned Smayra Ramesh

[email protected] home and began to be Saint Sri Shuka. Super Seniors: Priya Ram Deeksha Phadnis [email protected] By Anugraha P

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Class Schedules Class Schedules SAGE 06-06-2009 ------06-13-2009------Toddler Class: Junior Class: Once there lived a sage called Story: Panchatantra Mrikandu with his wife, Marudvati. The Story: Hanuman's meeting with -Srinivasan Rajagopalan couple was childless. Lord Shiva answered Sita and havoc in Lanka – their prayers, granting them an exceptional - Vandana Santhanam/ Sloka: Vasuda Vasutham / son with a short life or an ordinary son with Shankar Parasaram Krishnaya Vasudevaya a long life. Mrikandu and Marudvati chose -Nithya Sudhakar Sloka: Aditrahridayam, review the exceptional son who wouldn’t live long. The son was Markandeya. He devoted vishnu shlokas Bhajan Sharadhae, Sharadhae -Pallavi Nagaraj himself to Lord Shiva by mastering (p24, #2); Radhe Govinda Bhajo (p13,#3) Mahamrityunjaya mantra, by the age of 16. Bhajan: Mahalakshmi Jaganmaatha -Anandhi Sriram Soon, Yama came to take him away, as his -Shankar Parasaram time was over. During this time Markandeya Super Senior Class: was praying to Lord Shiva, and when Yama Senior Class: Story: Five mahayajnas performed came he held on to the Lingam. Yama Story: Rahu everyday by the householder became frustrated and threw his noose -Renuka Krishnan -Ram Krishnamurthy around Markandeya, also grabbing the Sloka: SL:1-30 -Shanti Kalluri Sloka: SL:1-38 -Shanti Kalluri/ Lingam. As soon as the noose touched the Lingam, it burst into flames forcing Yama to Bhajan: Jag Sukh Karini Viji Ramanarayanan --Lakshmi Srinivasan/ Bharathy T disappear. At this time Lord Shiva came and

Bhajan: Devi Bhajans; Vishnu Priye blessed Markandeya to be 16 forever and he 06-27-2009 ------Varalakshmi Namo Namo also declared that none of his devotees Junior Class: -Latha Sundar/Sheela Malavalli would be touched by that noose. The Devas

- came and requested Lord Shiva to bring Story: Invasion of Lanka and story 06-20-2009 ------back Yama, so the cycle of birth, death, Toddler Class: of Kumbhakarna and Vibeeshana and rebirth will continue. The appearance Story: Story of Ganesha - Veena Athmaram -Anandhi Sriram of Lord Shiva during this occasion is known as Kalasamhara Murthi. Sloka: NamaramayaNa Sloka: Sashanka Chakram / -Vanishree Kadaba Ananyas Chinthayanthomam Later in the life of Markandeya, the -Priya Ram Earth was being engulfed by water, so he Bhajan: JagadoDhaarini Maatha prayed to Lord Vishnu to save him. Vishnu (p27, #15) -Ravi/Kalapana Palakodety Bhajan: Devi Lakshmi Maampahi took the form of a baby on a leaf on the

(p26, #9); Sharadhae, Sharadhae water, and told Markandeya to go inside his (p24, #2); Durga Bhavani Maa Senior Class: mouth. Inside the body of Lord Vishnu he -Bala Adimurthy witnessed the whole universe. Amazed of Story: Ketu Super Senior Class: this, he then became a strong devotee of -Shanti Kalluri Story: Discussion on the topics Lord Vishnu. Markandeya spent the next covered so far -Ashok Malavalli thousand years as a devotee of Lord Shiva Sloka: Sl:1-30, review and Lord Vishnu. The Markandeya Purana is achutashtakam Sloka: Review Ganesha shloka, SL: the shortest of the Puranas containing only - Seema Madan 1-38 Viji Ramanarayanan/ 9,000 verses. It contains the wisdom given Shanti Kalluri by four learned birds to sage . Since Bhajan: Mahalakshmi Jaganmaatha the birds were speaking on behalf of sage (); Review of Devi Bhajans Bhajan: Hey Govinda Hey Gopala - Bharathy T/Banumathi Sugumar Markandeya the Purana was named after (); Vishnu Priye Varalakshmi Namao Namo the sage. Anandhi Sriram/Geetha Gopala By Vikram T

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June 2009

Class Volunteers BB Announcements Story: SAGE ADI SHANKARA Anandhi Sriram June Promotions: Ashok Malavalli Sri Adi Shankaracharya reverentially called Ram Krishnamurthy Bhagavatpada Acharya (the teacher at the feet Renuka Krishnan The following children are Shankar Parasaram of Lord) was the proponent of Advaita (non- promoted to the next class Shanti Kalluri dualistic) philosophy. effective September 2009. Srinivasan Rajagopalan Please make a note of this as Vandana Santhanam Shankara was born in Kalady, a small village we have classes on opposing Veena Athmaram in Kerala, India, to Shivaguru and Aryamba, Saturdays for different

with the grace of Lord Shiva. He was destined sections. So when you come Sloka: to live for only 16 years. back in September, make Nithya Sudhakar Shankara was a prodigious child and was ‘Eka- sure you come to the right Pallavi Nagaraj Sruti-Dara’, one who can retain anything that Priya Ram class. has been read just once. On one occasion, Seema Madan Shanti Kalluri Shankara was bathing in the river, when a Senior to Super Senior: Vanishree Kadaba crocodile caught him. He asked for his Sakshi Madan Viji Ramanarayanan mother's permission to adopt (the Keshav Tadimeti ascetic life), and when his mother agreed, Janani Hariharan Bhajan: the crocodile released him. He became the Sankaran Ramnarayanan Anandhi Sriram disciple of Govinda Bhagavatpada and Bala Adimurthy traveled extensively to propagate advaita Junior to Senior: Geetha Gopala philosophy. Sarthak Madan Lakshmi Srinivasan Bharathy Thridandam Rohith Sudhakar Blessed by Vyasa after debating Latha Sundar Sukruth Kadaba Ravi/Kalapana Palakodety Brahmasustras lord Brahma granted Shankara Aruna Sudarshan Banumathi Sugumar a lease of another sixteen years. He Shrea Chari Shankar Parasaram composed many Shlokas and Stotrams used in Vinod Krishnamoorthy Sheela Malavalli our daily lives. Few pearls in this vast ocean Tejas Srinivasan Class Presentations are Viveka Chudamani (non-dual ), 06-13-2009 commentary on Brahma Sutra, Upanishads, Toddler to Junior: Junior Class: Why do we do Vishnu Sahasranama and . Suravi Hingorani pradhakshanams? Hymn, Bhaja Govindam and invocation to Siva Mathavan Ramanathan --Yogitha S and Sakti, namely Sivanandalahari and Malaika Sriram Saundaryalahari respectively. Shravanthi Bala Senior Class: Why do we do Pranavi Maddipatla pradhakshanams? Shri Shankaracharya established four ‘mutts’ Shruthi Chari --Srinidhi M in four corners of India. Each mutt was assigned to maintain one Veda. The mutts New Admissions: 06-27-2009 are Jyothir Mutt at Badrinath for Atharva Juniors: Junior Class: What are Veda; Sharada Mutt at Sringeri for Yajur Deepali Yedulapuram navagrahas and why do we Veda; Govardhan Mutt at Jaganath Puri for Aditi Anand pray to them? Rig Veda and Kalika Mutt at Dwarka for Sama --Supriya B Veda. Toddlers Nitya Naik Senior Class: What are Adi Shankara attained the Sarvajnanadipathi in Amogh Havanagi navagrahas and why do we Kashmir and attained heavenly abode in Pramod Shastry pray to them? Kedarnath at the age of 32 years. Sanjay Mahesh Bharadwaj --Anugraha P By Srinidhi M

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June 2009

“Why is fire considered Cont …..Significance of sacred?” “What is the significance of holy water used holy water….. Fire or Agni is one of the five during poojas and as prasadam?” elements of nature (Pancha There is also an important Bhutas). Among the five Pancha Water is one the five elements of nature ritual called Sandhyavandana Bhutas, Agni or Fire is exceptional, because it is the (pancha bhutas). Primarily, water is the and one of the important only element that cannot be building block of life. Water in has a features of this ritual is polluted. The vows taken in special place in all the rituals, as it is Achamana or sipping of water front of Agni are considered to believed to have spiritually cleansing powers. with recitation of Mantras, be unbreakable. The water used in poojas is purified with sprinkling of water on the One of Agni's roles is that basic mantras making it holy; it is also given body, which purifies the of a messenger between humans as prasadam at temples to the devotees. The mind, and the body. The first and gods. Worshipers can offer holy water symbolizes purifying ones body part of Arghya consists of gifts to a variety of gods by and washes away the sin. It will help to bring hymns addressed to water burning the offerings in Agni's sacred fire. In all Vedic pure thoughts of God in every devotees mind. and its benefits. The ceremonies fire plays an Water cleanses, washes away impurities and sprinkling of water on the important role. Almost all Hindu pollutants, and it can physically and mentally face and the head and the weddings take place in front of clean a person thus enabling him or her to touching of the different sacred fire. This is to invite Agni focus on worship. body parts (the mouth, nose, to witness the wedding and eyes, etc.) this is meant to shower blessings on the couple. The priest uses the water from a conch that purify those parts of the body Fire also plays an important role has been consecrated with the basic mantras and give respect to deities. in Upanayanam. In Upanayana to sprinkle on the Puja materials and homas, the and Vatu both pray to the devathas like Agni instruments to clean it before starting a puja. To conclude, Water is for knowledge, removal of Any offerings done to God are first purified Akshitham. In the matter of dhosha, desires to occur, and to with this holy water to keep it pure and free purity it is like eyes. Hence it get blessings from Agni Deva. from any impurities. is also known as Akshitharam. Homam is a pooja and Water is a purifier, life-giver chanting of mantras to please a The holy water used for Abhishekas or bathing and destroyer of evil particular diety by invoking of Deities is very sacred. This water is Agni, to get blessings. It is like collected and offered as “Theertham” or By Tejas S giving dhana to the deities blessed offering to the devotees. It is through the fire god. The objective of all homam is the believed that this theertham has power to ------prosperity of the people at cure a sick person if sprinkled with belief and Newsletter Editors large. Yagna is also a fire devotion. The Poorna Kumbha is a pitcher full Nikhil Palanki sacrifice involving the offerings of water with fresh leaves preferably of and it is normally performed mango tree and a coconut placed on the top. Siddi Ramesh with the thought of bringing in It is used in certain poojas and it is an object prosperity. symbolizing God. Many of the poojas in Topics of the Month In almost every Hindus’ Hinduism start with keeping a kalasa which is home a lamp is lit daily in front Anugraha Panneerselvam a brass, silver or gold pot filled with water of the idol/God. Bhasma (the Srinidhi Malavalli adorned with a coconut amidst mango or holy ash) is the ash from the Vikram Thridandam homa (sacrificial fire). The other sacred leaves. Kalasa symbolizes the application of bhasma therefore universe and consecrated water it holds is ------signifies destruction of the evil intended for pouring over the idols. Please send your suggestions and remembrance of the divine. or comments on this news- Bhasma is called vibhuti which Before starting a meal Hindus sprinkle letter to means "glory") as it gives glory [email protected] water around the leaf or plate in which the to one who applies it. meal is traditionally eaten. Continued… By Yashes S

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