February 2009

VEDA VYASA Balabhavan Coordinators BB Announcements: “Vyasam Vasista –Naptaram Shakter Bharathy Thridandam Pouthram Akalmasham. Parashar -athmajam Pooja : 02/15/2009 Nithya Sudhakar Vande Shukatatam Thaponidhim.” Sriram Srinivasan Children of Balabhavan will

Contact: be performing a pooja to [email protected] Shiva, sing Shiva slokas and Shiva bhajans on the Class Coordinators occassion of Shiva Ratri on Feb. 15 2009. This will take Super-Senior Class: place along with the regularly Sudhakar Devulapalli scheduled Shiva Abishekam [email protected] at the temple between 10:30 Ashok Malavalli Vyasa was born to Parashara-Muni and AM to 12:30 PM. More details [email protected] Satyavati (also called Gandhavati for her will be announced in the Ram Krishnamurthy sandalwood smell). Vyasa had a wombless classes and through a [email protected] birth; he was himself. He was born on separate mail. All children an island (Dweepa) and had black colored and parents are welcome. Senior Class: () skin, and so was named The melodious voices of the Renuka Krishnan Krishnadwaipayana. His other names are, children are a sure treat to [email protected] Badarayana (since he stayed in Badari, a listen to. Anitha Chidambaram place filled with Badari trees), Vasavi Krishna, [email protected] and Vasishta Krishna. It is believed that Vyasa BBC Team was born around 3000 BC (end of Dwapara m Krishna Meduri th [email protected] Yuga), on the 12 day of Shukla Pasha in ______Month Vaishaka, based on Skanda Purana. February Birthdays: Junior Class: Modern day Kalpi in Uttar Pradesh is Seetha Janakiraman considered to be his birthplace. Toddler: [email protected] Krishna-dwaipayana gave us the 18 , Mathavan Ramanathan Sangeetha Prahalad the Brahmasutras (which focus on [email protected] understanding the Brahman), and the great Juniors: epic . Since he compiled & Rohith Sudhakar Toddler Class: classified the , he is also called Veda- Sukruth Kadaba Vidya Chari Vyasa. Mana, a village near Badari, is where [email protected] Vyasa dictated the Mahabharata to Seniors: Murali Chari in a cave (guha), called the “Vyasa Guha.” Sakshi Madan [email protected] Lord Shiva blessed Vyasa with a son – Shuka. Priya Ram Vyasa had five disciples including his son. He Super Seniors: [email protected] imparted the Bhagavatha Purana to Shuka, None Rig-Veda to Sage Paila, Yajur-Veda to Sage Registration coordinators: Jaimini, Sama-Veda to Sage Vaisampayana, Panneer Selvam and Atharva-Veda to Sage Sumantha. Festivals of the Month: [email protected] Vyasa is one of the seven chirangeevees, as Matangi Munukutla expressed in the following Sloka: 2-22-2009: Shiva Ratri [email protected] “Ashwathama Balir Vyaso Hanumanscha Visit (http://www.shiva- Priya Ram Vibeeshana Kripah Parashuramascha saptaite vishnu.org) for more details chrinjivinaha.” [email protected] By Sankaran R

7930 Arjons Drive, San Diego, CA 92126 Phone: (858) 549-3940 February 2009 ISSUE 2 - 1 - February 2009

Class Schedules Why do we have so many Gods? Class Schedules

02-14-2009 ------It is said that we have over 33 millions 02-07-2009 ------different Gods and Goddesses. Hindus Senior Class: believe in the existence of only one God Toddler Class: (Brahman) but known under different names Story: and forms. In order to be omnipotent, - Renuka Krishnan Story: Story of Shiva Supreme God has created his own forms to Shloka: -Priya Ram serve different purposes in the world. These Review shiva shlokas-2, SL 1-20 Sloka: Review Ganesha Slokas, Gods are different beings altogether, with - Sheela Ashok Shuddha Sphatika Sankaasham one Goal to help and serve the Supreme Bhajan:Dhimika Dimika Dhim; -Gayathri Vidyashankar God. Review two other Shiva Bhajans Bhajan: Shankara Sadashiva

- Anandhi Sriram -Ravi Shankaran Forces of the Supreme God such as Sun, -Banumathi Sugumar Fire, Water, are treated and respected as Super Senior Class: Gods and Goddess because of their Junior Class: helpfulness to mankind. While God is one Discussion: Jatakarma, and limitless, He/She cannot be fully namakarana, annaprasana, Story: Marriage of described. So God's with different powers chaula -Veena Athmaram and functions are displayed by different -Ashok Malavalli Shloka: Review BilvashTakam Gods. Every God and Goddess is as Sloka: Review Shiva slokas 2, -Nithya Sudhakar important as their sum total that is the Soundaryalahari 1-25 Bhajan: Review of 3 Shiva Supreme. - Lalitha Kodandapani Bhajans -Viji Ramanarayanan -Nithya Sudhakar When we put our attention to a particular Bhajan: Om Namah Shivaaya

god or goddess; the particular energy or -Latha Sundar 02-28-2009 ------quality of God we are worshiping will start - Anandhi Sriram

to move inside our being thereby changing 02-21-2009------Senior Class: who we are. We worship, Lord Ganesha to

remove problems from our path; Hanumanji Toddler Class: Story: Mangala so we can become an ideal person like him; Story: -Prasanna/Ram Madabushi Lord Krishna so we can practice his - Radhika Chari Shloka: SL: 1-20, Review teachings of Gita, Mata for Sloka: Shuddha Sphatika Naamaraamaayana gaining knowledge, Mata Laxmi for wealth Sankaasham - Srinivasan -Gayathri Raju Bhajan: Anantha Kalyana By Sarthak M Bhajan: Shiva Bhajans Review Gunabhi Raama (p12, #15) all 3 Madhavi Vuppala/ Bharathy T - Anandhi Sriram - Super Senior Class Junior Class: Newsletter Editors

Story: Kaikeyi sends Rama to Deeksha Phadnis Discussion: Upanayana forest and Dasaratha's demise Sakshi Madan -Ram Krishnamurthy - Srinivas Varadarajan Sloka: Soundaryalahari 1-25, Shloka: Review NamaramayaNa Topic of the Month Naamaramayana - Viji Ramanarayanan - Sheela Ashok Bhajan: Ram Ram Bhajo Man Sankaran Ramanarayanan -Lakshmi Devulapalli (); Anantha Roopa (p17, #20) ------Bhajan: Bhaja Mana Raamam; -Latha Sundar Please send your suggestions/comments on SeshaSaila Vaasa Naarayana this newsletter to Latha Sundar/ Bharathy T

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

February 2009

Class Volunteers: Story: Why do we have so many Gods? Is Vishnu the Only God With Ashok Mallavali Avataras? Prasanna/Ram Madabushi The several forms of God that Hindus worship Priya Ram are described in ancient Vedas as deities like Vishnu is technically not the Radhika Chari , , , which are personified only god with avataras. There Ram Krishnamurthy forms of forces of nature. In addition, there are also the : Lakshmi Renuka Krishnan are deities like Vishnu, Shiva and Shakthi. and , who also had Srinivas Varadarajan Further, , describe the avataras. For example, Veena Athmaram forms of God as Brahman itself ( the absolute Lakshmi came in the form of Bhajan: reality), Paramatma (union of all individual Seeta, Vedavati, Tulasi, Anandhi Sriram souls) and Bhagvan (as a personal God). Padmavati, Andaal, and Banumathi Sugumar Depending on the aspect of the Isvara or . Parvati had . Bharathy Thridandam Bhagwana which we are referring to, Shiva and also Latha Sundar different images are created. had avataras such as Madhavi Vuppala Dattatreya. He was the form in Nithya Sudhakar We Hindus believe in the one all-pervasive which Vishnu, Shiva, and Ravi Shankaran God who energizes the entire universe. We Brahma all were combined into Sloka: can see Him in the light shining out of the one form and born as a son to Gayathri Vidyashankar eyes of humans and all creatures. Hence, Anasuya. Shiva and Vishnu also Lakshmi Devulapalli whenever common people wanted to see the took a combined form called Lakshmi Srinivasan God as creator, they created a form called Ayyappa. Lalitha Kodandapani "Brahma" and called him god of creator. Ever wondered why Nithya Sudhakar Similarly, "Vishnu" is the God representing the Vishnu had more avatars than Sheela Malavalli sustenance of the world and "Shiva" the others? Vishnu, the preserver, Viji Ramanarayanan Destroyer. Whereas "Ganapati" represents the is supposed to protect and Class Presentations "solver of all the troubles", "Lakshmi" became preserve the good from the Senior Class: goddess of "Wealth", so on and so forth. Each evil, and took many avatars so 2-14-2009 deity is a manifestation of Brahman and he can deal with the issues. Why is Sanskrit the language thereby symbolizes one particular aspect of Think of the universe used in mantras/slokhas Brahman, or ultimately Brahman itself. as a giant store. Whenever a when we don't speak or problem comes up, first the understand it well any more? employees attempt to deal God is one but can take any form, when -Janani H with it. Think of the people genuinely wish to see him in such a 2-28-2009 employees as the Devas. If the form. Hindus believe that God has many Why is the cow sacred for problem is TOO hard to solve, attributes or forms, each of which can be the Hindus? then the manager, who can be focus of a person’s religious devotion. God -Sankaran R thought of as Vishnu, has to therefore can be pictured in as many ways a Junior Class: deal with it. If the problem is person chooses. God is manifested in family 2-14-2009 too hard for the manager to as they handle different roles like: father, Why is Sanskrit the language solve, then the supreme- mother etc. Thus, instead of being an used in mantras/slokas when manager, who can be thought abstract concept, God becomes a personal we don't speak or understand of as Shiva, comes and saves being. This religious attitude and the fact it well any more? the day! That is why many that many local or regional practices – Sarthak M other gods other than Vishnu (including beliefs) have been incorporated may or may not have that into allow for a diverse range of 2-28-2009 many avataras. But, Vishnu is ritual practices. Why is the cow sacred for not the only god with avataras. By Sakshi M Hindus? -Aruna S -By Keshav T

7930 Arjons Drive, San Diego, CA 92126 Phone: (858) 549-3940 February 2009 ISSUE 2 - 3 -