of Rochester 120 Pinnacle Road, Pittsford, NY 14534-1008 http://www.hindutempleofrochester.com Telephone: (585) 427- 8091

June, July, August 2014 Newsletter #3

President’s Column! remarkable and meaningful. Please feel free to contact me EXECUTIVE or any member of the Executive Council for any ideas, Namaste! comments, or feedback.

COUNCIL This is your temple and we are here to serve you. Dear Fellow Devotee: Please feel free to contact me at is “selfless service” or work performed without any [email protected] or any Executive thought of reward or repayment. Seva helps in our spiritual President Council member. growth and at the same time contributes to the improvement Sanjay Mathur of a community. This is the art of giving with no need to May the of the Lord be with you all. 585-730-5056 receive, where the act itself is a gift to everyone involved. Seva Cordially is the art of blessed action. Sanjay Mathur Vice President A prominent person, Ram Dass, explains this beautifully: Virendra Sharma “Helping is not some special skill. It is not a domain of rare BOARD OF TRUSTEES 585-586-1855 individuals. It is not confined to single part of our lives. We J R Agarwala Narayan Deshpande simply heed to the call of that natural impulse within and follow where it leads us.” Gupta Virendra Gupta (Chair) Secretary Surendar Johar Rajesh Mehrotra Rao Daniel Scott, another prominent writer says: “Despite our Bal Narang Surekha Gupta 585-442-3552 seemingly unlimited capacity to connect, it is easy to feel Singa Singaravelu Don Shetty limited in a world of dynamic change. Asking questions like “Can I really make a difference? Or “How am I supposed to Treasurer help”? Only serves to delay or avoid action. With Seva the only Temple Hours Jatin Thakkar answer you need is YES! Day Time Mon-Fri 9:00AM – 11:30AM 585- 230-0418 YES, I CAN HELP. YES, I WILL Do THIS, YES THIS IS POSSIBLE. (LOVE –SERVE –GIVE). 6:00PM – 8:30PM Cultural Secretary Sat & 9:00AM – 12:00PM Doing Seva is the ultimate form of Prasad you can offer to the Sun 4:30PM – 8:30PM Vinod Bajaj Divine. It is your temple, everyone’s temple, it is your privilege, Wed Closed except for special 585-442-2525 everyone’s privilege – get involved. Additionally, please occasions contact Cultural Secretary for any donations you would like to make to the temple. Please check the web-site for details. Communications Secretary We plan to start a Youth group in the Temple. They can help in maintaining our garden (maybe planting flowers and Aruna Bhargava vegetables), polishing the lamps, helping out in major Weekly Learning Activities 585-586-2146 celebrations, keeping our Temple clean and at times going Bal Vihar Sundays 9:30AM outside the Temple and participating outside events and giving Hindi Class Sundays 10:45AM Educational Secretary back to our Rochester community. Stay tuned as you will soon hear about this amazing opportunity. Tamil Class Sundays 2:30PM Kusuma Vulapalli 585-292-9907 The temple is planning to conduct a ritual called Pavitra Mrudangam Class Sundays 9:30AM Utsavam this year. Pavitra Utsavam is a very important ritual Dance Class Sundays 3:00PM it is held to be of paramount significance in making amends for Facilities Secretary the various Lapses, Derelictions and Imperfections in the Neila Kohli worship throughout the year. The Utsavam is celebrated during the month of Avani (August 17 through September 16). VOLUNTEER 585-227-9528 Generally the Utsavam is celebrated for three to nine days. In Sunetra Deore Rajashree Bhagwat our Temple we will celebrate it for three days commencing on Aruna Bhargava Suma Potini Past President Ekadashi day – September 5, 2014. Please mark your calendar and more details will follow soon. There will be many Radhika Ramesh Sandhya Nambiar Ashok Gupta opportunities to participate in havans and pujas. Kusuma Vulapalli Talwar 585-755-2420 Manika Mohan Alka Phatak Your increased participation motivates us to provide more Meera Sampath Sangeetha Ramkumar services and facilities to meet your religious & spiritual needs. Priest Kousalya Prabhakar Raje Sathasivan Please be part of our Temple by visiting with your families and Madhavi Dixit Shruti Pandya L.V. Govind friends as often as possible. Monica Kaplash Neha Bhagat 585-427-8091 We as Executive Committee always try our best to meet your Kusum Shah Sandhya Sarlashkar expectations. We welcome friendly suggestions that can help Mukta Mande Kiran Verma us make your experience of visiting the temple more Trishala Chaudhary Sastry Bhagavatula ABHISHEKAM SCHEDULE (Sponsorship $31) Sri Every Monday & 10:00am Sankata Hara Chaturthi 6:00/6:30pm Sri Venkateshwara & Sri Padmavathi 1 st Sat 10:00 am Sri Ram Parivar & Sunderkand 2nd Saturday 10:00 am

Lord Murugan Sri Valli & Devayani 3rd Sunday 10:00 am

Sri & Maa 4th Saturday 9:45 am

4TH Sunday Puja 4th Sunday 10:00am

Sri & Sri Every Tuesday 10:00 am

Sri & Sri Every Monday & 10:00am Every Pradosham 6:00/6:30 pm

June 2014 Events Shree Venkateshwara and Venkateshwara Abhishekam Jun 07, 2014 10:00 AM Padmavathi Abhishekam Hindi Annual Day Jun 08, 2014 10:00 AM Hindi Class Annual Day Ramkamal Das ji Lecture Lecture Series Jun 8-14, 2014 Details in Flyer Series Sri Rudram Chanting Pradosham Jun 10, 2014 6:30 PM Shiva Parvati Abhishekam, , & Aarti Poornima Jun 12, 2014 6:30 PM Satyanarayana Pooja Sunderkand Paath Sunderkand Jun 14, 2014 10:00 AM Please contact for sponsorship: Vinod Bajaj (585-442-2525) Sri Murugan Abhishekam Jun 15, 2014 10:00 AM Sri Murugan Abhishekam

Sankata Hara Chaturthi 5:30 PM Sri Ganesha Abhishekam Swami Bodhananda Lecture Series Jun 20-22, 2014 Details in Flyer teaching 4th Sunday Host Pooja Jun 22, 2014 10:00 AM Host Puja, Special Graduation Puja Sri Rudram Chanting Pradosham Jun 24, 2014 6:30 PM Shiva Parvati Abhishekam, Bhajans, Bhog & Aarti Mata-ki-Chowki Jun 28, 2014 Details in Flyer Mata-ki-Chowki Temple is closed : June 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th 2014

The dates and times of the events are subject to change. For more information, please visit the facebook page of the temple at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hindu-Temple-of-Rochester/356997137647036

July 2014 Events Shree Venkateshwara and Sri Venkateshwara Abhishekam Jul 05, 2014 10:00 AM Padmavathi Abhishekam Sri Rudram Chanting Pradosham Jul 09, 2014 6:30 PM Shiva Parvati Abhishekam, Bhajans, Bhog & Aarti Samuhik Special Satyanarayana Poornima Jul 11, 2014 6:30 PM Pooja Sunderkand Paath Sunderkand Please contact for sponsorship: Jul 12, 2014 10:00 AM Vinod Bajaj (585-442-2525)

Sankata Hara Chaturthi Jul 14, 2014 6:30 PM Sri Ganesha Abhishekam

Sri Murugan Abhishekam Jul 20, 2014 10:00 AM Sri Murugan Abhishekam Sri Rudram Chanting Pradosham Jul 23, 2014 6:30 PM Shiva Parvati Abhishekam, Bhajans, Bhog & Aarti Host Puja 4th Sunday Host Pooja Jul 27, 2014 10:00 AM Please contact for sponsorship: Vinod Bajaj (585-442-2525) Adipooram Jul 30, 2014 6:30 PM Karthika Abhishekam Temple is closed : July 2nd, 10th, 16th, 24th, 31st 2014

Community Engagement: The temple has always been and will always be engaged in the support and welfare of its members and the Indian community at large. Our president has always said in his message that this is your temple and we are here to serve you. A good example of community engagement came up when a devotee from Syracuse requested that the temple provide spiritual guidance to her relative who was terminally ill and in a hospice in Syracuse. The temple provided all necessary assistance and even offered to find a priest who could do that in the devotees’ native language. (Request to do so was made by devotee).

The temple is here to serve you and if you know someone who needs help, please do NOT hesitative to call the communications secretary or any other EC member. All their contact details are in this newsletter. You can also contact us from the temple web site, and we will make all attempts to respond in a timely manner.

August 2014 Events Shree Venkateshwara and Sri Venkateshwara Abhishekam Aug 02, 2014 10:00 AM Padmavathi Abhishekam Sri Rudram Chanting Pradosham Aug 08, 2014 5:30 PM Shiva Parvati Abhishekam,

Bhajans, Bhog & Aarti

Vara Lakshmi Vratam 7:00 PM Sri Maha Lakshmi Vratam Sunderkand Paath Sunderkand Aug 09, 2014 10:00 AM Please contact for sponsorship: Vinod Bajaj (585-442-2525)

Poornima 6:30 PM Satyanarayana Pooja

Rig Upakarma, Yajur Upakarma, Avani Avittam/Thread Change; Aug 10, 2014 8:00 AM Rakshabandhan, Gayathri Japam Shri Raghavendra Aradhana Aug 12, 2014 6:30 PM Sri Raghavendra Swami Aradhana

Sankata Hara Chaturthi Aug 13, 2014 6:30 PM Sri Ganesha Abhishekam 7:00 PM – Janmashtami Aug 16, 2014 Sri Krishna Astami Midnight Sri Murugan Abhishekam Aug 17, 2014 10:00 AM Sri Murugan Abhishekam Sri Rudram Chanting Pradosham Aug 22, 2014 6:30 PM Shiva Parvati Abhishekam, Bhajans, Bhog & Aarti Host Puja 10:00 AM 4th Sunday Host Pooja Aug 24, 2014 Please contact for sponsorship:

Vinod Bajaj (585-442-2525) Sama Upkarma, Swarna Gauri Aug 28, 2014 Vratam 10:00 AM Sri Ganesha Abhishekam Aug 29, 2014 Sri Ganesha Chaturthi

6:30 PM Sri Ganesha Vratha Pooja Temple is closed : August 6th, 14th, 20th, 27th 2014

Temple needs your involvement—here is HOW? SINCERE REQUEST FROM EXECUTIVE COUNCIL  By becoming a member or renewing your membership.  By taking an active part in the administrative team or Temple Please be considerate committees.  arrive on time for Pujas and  By attending and participating in the functions/events.  finish your prayers within the Temple hour  By taking advantage of Temple services -- Special pujas,  maintain silence while you are in the prayer hall Language, Balvihar and Dance classes.  don’t let the children run around  By volunteering to teach classes (Temple’s Volunteer “Gurus”).  put your shoes on the racks  By volunteering and signing-up for regular help.  don’t eat in the prayer hall  By volunteering and signing-up to help during special pujas.  clean up after you  By extending your strong, consistent financial support. Your  treat Temple property with care

Temple needs to be financially strong to serve you. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Humility He who hates no single being, is friendly and compassionate, free from self-regard and vanity, the same in good and evil, patient; Contented, ever devout, subdued in soul, firm in purpose, fixed on Me in heart and mind, and who worships Me, is dear to Me. 12:13-14

Community Engagement: Siena Catholic Academy requested our temple to present to their 8th graders about Hinduism. An EC member went to the school, met the students and answered many questions the students had about Hinduism. The teacher and the students had many interesting questions. One of the students had commented that both the religions had many common things and believed in the same things. It was a successful event of sharing faiths. Many misconceptions were cleared about our religion. We were asked to come back to address another group of students. We at the temple hope to have many such invitations. The school even made a small donation to our temple.

Hindu Temple of Rochester Calendar of Festivals and Events – 2014 Phone: (585) 427-8091 http://www.hindutempleofrochester.com

January (Temple Closed 2, 8, 22 & 29) April (Temple Closed 3, 9, 16, 23, & 30) Jan 1 New Year’s Day Puja, Ganesh Abhishekam 10AM Apr 5 Sri Venkateshwara Abhishekam 10AM Jan 4 Sri Venkateshwara Abhishekam 10AM Apr 6 Sri Durga Host Puja 10AM Jan 11 Sunderkand 10AM Apr 7 Durga Ashtami Kanya Puja 7PM Vaikuntha Ekadasi 12x Apr 8 Sri 10AM Sahasranamam Apr 12 Sunderkand 10AM Jan 13 Lohri , Bhogi Pradosham 6:30PM Pradosham 6:30PM Jan 14 , Makara Sankranti, Uttarayana 6:30PM Apr 13 Jaya Nama Souramana Yugadi , Punyakala, Kalyan Utsav Godhadevi/Krishna , Chittirai Baisakhi Jan 15 Poornima Satyanarayan puja 6:30PM Ramanavami Celebration Sri 5:30PM Jan 16 6:30PM Thai Poosam, Karthik Abhishekam Rama Kalyan Utsav Jan 19 Sri Murugan Abhishekam 10AM Apr 15 Lunar Eclipse 1:58AM- Sankatahara Chathurthi, Sri Ganesh 5:30PM 5:33AM Abhishekam Apr 14 Shri Hanuman Jayanthi 6:00PM Jan 25 Akhanda Ramayan Paath starts 9:45AM Poornima Satyanarayan puja 6:30PM Jan 26 Akhanda Ramayan Paath ends 12PM Apr 18 Sankatahara Chathurthi, Sri Ganesh 6:30PM Jan 28 Pradosham 6:30PM Abhishekam February (Temple Closed 6, 12 & 19) Apr 20 Sri Murugan Abhishekam 10AM Apr 26 Pradosham 6:30PM Feb 1 Sri Venkateshwara Abhishekam 10AM Apr 27 Host Puja 10AM Feb 3 Vasantha Saraswati Puja 6:30PM Feb 5 Ratha Saptami, Sri Vishnu 7PM Feb 7 Madhwa Navami May (Temple Closed 7, 14, 21, & 28) Feb 8 Sunderkand 10AM May 1 Jayanthi Feb 9 Shlokathon (Balvihar) 9:30AM May 3 Sri Venkateshwara Abhishekam 10AM Feb 11 Pradosham 6:30PM Sankara & Jayanthi Feb 14 Poornima Satyanarayan puja 6:30PM May 10 Sunderkand 10AM Feb 16 Sri Murugan Abhishekam 10AM May 11 Pradosham 5:30PM Feb 18 Sankatahara Chathurthi, Sri Ganesh 6:30PM May 12 Narasimha Jayanthi Abhishekam May 13 Poornima, Satyanarayan Puja 6:30PM Feb 23 Host Puja 10 AM 10AM May 17 Sankatahara Chathurthi, Sri Ganesh 6:30PM Feb 26 Pradosham 6:30PM Abhishekam Feb 27 , Shiva Chalisa (108x) 5:30AM Bal Vihar Annual Day 4:00PM Rudram (11x) All night May 18 Sri Murugan Abhishekham 10AM Feb 28 Temple closes @ 7 AM, Temple opens @ 6 PM May 25 Host Puja 10AM Pradosham 5:30PM March (Temple Closed 5, 12, 20 & 26) Mar 1 Sri Venkateshwara Abhishekam 10AM June (Temple Closed 4, 11, 18, & 25) 5:30PM Sri Shiva Kalyan Utsav Jun 1 Sankatahara Chathurthi Mar 2 Gayathri Havan 10AM Jun 7 Sri Venkateshwara Abhishekam 10AM Mar 8 Sunderkand 10AM Jun 8 Hindi Annual Day 10AM Mar 13 Pradosham 6:30PM Jun 10 Pradosham 6:30PM Mar 14 Karadaiyan Nonbu Jun 12 Poornima, Satyanarayan Puja 6:30PM Mar 15 Poornima, Satyanarayan Puja 6:00PM Jun 14 Sunderkand 10AM 7:15PM Holika Dahan Jun 15 Sri Murugan Abhishekam 10AM Mar 16 Panguni Uttaram/Sri Murugan 10AM Sankatahara Chathurthi, Sri Ganesh 5:30PM

Abhishekam Abhishekam 5:30PM Murugan Kalayana Utsava Jun 22 Host Puja (Graduation Puja) 10AM Mar 19 Sankatahara Chathurthi, Sri Ganesh 6:30PM Jun 24 Pradosham 6:30PM Abhishekam Mar 23 th 10AM 4 Host Puja, Celebrations-11AM Mar 28 Pradosham 6:30PM Mar 31 Jaya Nama Chandramana Yugadi, 6:30PM Vasanta Begins

Hindu Temple of Rochester Calendar of Festivals and Events – 2014 Phone: (585) 427-8091 http://www.hindutempleofrochester.com

July (Temple Closed 2 & 10, 16, 24, & 31) October (Temple Closed 8, 15 & 30) Jul 5 Sri Venkateshwara Abhishekam 10AM Oct 1 Durgastami, Kanya Puja 7PM Jul 9 Pradosham 6:30PM Oct 2 Saraswati Puja 7PM Jul 11 Guru Poornima, Satyanarayan Puja * 6:30PM Oct 3 Vijaya Dasami, Ravan Dahan 7:30PM Jul 12 Sunderkand 10AM Navaratri Ends Jul 14 Sankatahara Chathurthi, Sri Ganesh 6:30PM Oct 4 Sri Venkateshwara Abhishekam 10AM Abhishekam Oct 5 Pradosham 5:30PM Jul 16 Dakshinayana Punya kala Oct 7 Poornima, Satyanarayan Puja 6:30PM Jul 20 Sri Murugan Abhishekam 10AM Oct 11 Sunderkand 10AM 5:30PM Jul 23 Pradosham 6:30PM Sankatahara Chathurthi, Sri

Jul 27 10AM Ganesh Abhishekam Host Puja 7PM Jul 30 Adipooram, Karthika Abhishekam 6:30PM Karvachowth Oct 19 10AM Jul 31 Garuda Panchami Sri Murugan Abhishekam Oct 20 6:30PM * - Samuhik Special Satyanarayana Pooja Pradosham Dhanteras August (Temple Closed 6, 14, 20 & 27) Oct 22 Narakachaturdasi Aug 2 Sri Venkateshwara Abhishekam 10AM Oct 23 Deepavali (Solar Eclipse) Aug 8 Pradosham 5:30PM Oct 25 Deepavali Celebrations 5PM Varalakshmi Vratam 7PM Oct 26 Host Puja 10AM Aug 9 Sunderkand 10AM Oct 29 Skanda Shashti Poornima,Satyanarayan Puja 6:30PM Aug 10 Rig Upakarma, Yajur Upakarma, 8AM November (Temple Closed 5, 12, 20 & 26) Rakshabandhan, Gayathri Japam Aug 12 Sri Raghavendra Aradhana 6:30PM Nov 1 Sri Venkateshwara Abhishekam 10AM Aug 13 Sankatahara Chathurthi, Sri Ganesh 6:30PM Annual Banquet 6PM Abhishekam Nov 4 Pradosham 6:30PM Aug 16 Janmashtami 7PM - Midnight 7PM Nov 6 Tula Poornima, Satyanarayan Puja 6:30PM Aug 17 Sri Murugan Abhishekam 10AM Nov 8 Sunderkand 10AM Aug 22 Pradosham 6:30PM Nov 9 Sankata Hara Chaturthi, Sri 5:30PM Aug 24 Host Puja 10AM Ganesh Abhishekam Aug 28 Sama Upakarma, Swarna Gauri Vratam Nov 16 Sri Murugan Abhishekam 10AM Aug 29 Sri Ganesha Abhishekam 10AM Nov 19 Pradosham 6:30PM Sri Ganesha Chathurthi, Ganesha Vratha 6:30PM Nov 23 Host Puja 10AM Pooja Annual General Body Meeting 1PM

September (Temple Closed 3, 10 & 17) Sep 6 Sri Venkateshwara Abhishekam 10AM December (Temple Closed 4, 10, 17 & 24) Tiru , Pradosham 6PM Dec 3 Pradosham 6:30PM Sep 7 Sri Ganesh Visarjan 11:30AM Dec 5 Karttika Deepam, Poornima, 6:30PM Sep 8 Poornima, Satyanarayan Puja 6:30PM Satyanarayan Puja Sep 9 Mahalaya Sraddha Begins Dec 9 Sankatahara Chathurthi, Sri 6:30PM Sep 11 Sankatahara Chathurthi, Sri Ganesh 6:30PM Ganesh Abhishekam Abhishekam Dec 13 Sunderkand 10AM Sep 13 Sunderkand 10AM Dec 15 Margazhi, Dhanurmasa Begins (30 Sep 21 Sri Murugan Abhishekam 10AM days) Pradosham 5:30PM Dec 19 Pradosham 6:30PM Sep 23 Mahalaya Paksha Sraddha Ends, Dec 21 Sri Murugan Abhishekam 10AM 5:30PM Amavasya Sri Hanuman Jayanthi, Sep 24 Devi Navaratri Begins, Lakshmi 6PM Abhishekham Dec 28 10AM Sahasranamam (during Navarathri) Host Puja Dec 31 10AM Sep 26 Garba 8PM Vaikunta Ekadasi , Vishnu Sahasranamam (16X) 12-8 PM Sep 27 Lakshmi Sahasranamam 4PM Sri Durga Mata Ki Chowki 4:30PM Sep 28 4th Sunday Puja 10AM

Please visit the following website to view photos from various temple events. https://picasaweb.google.com/101917558364915889236

Hindu Temple of Rochester Membership Form (January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014) FAMILY: $50.00 STUDENT: $25.00 SINGLE: $35.00 SENIOR CITIZEN FAMILY (≥62 yrs.): $35.00 LIFE MEMBERSHIP: $1000.00 (Can be paid in 4 installments. Contact President / Treasurer for more information)

Make check payable to: Hindu Temple of Rochester (mail to: P.O.BOX 20061 Rochester, NY-14602-0061) (Please write "Membership 2014" in the memo area on the check)

Please PRINT all the information to keep our records updated. Thank you!

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Please support the temple in its environment friendly Email address (Please PRINT clearly): consciousness goal by choosing the option of paperless delivery of the newsletter. The newsletter is also available for download from the temple website.

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OM:

Om (also spelled Aum) is a Hindu sacred sound that is considered the greatest of all . The syllable Om is composed of the three sounds a-u-m (in , the vowels a and u combine to become o) and the symbol's threefold nature is central to its meaning. -- Bhagavad Gita 5.10

Lotus in Hinduism: In Hinduism, the lotus (Sanskrit: padma) primarily represents beauty and non-attachment. The lotus is rooted in the mud but floats on the water without becoming wet or muddy. This symbolizes how how one should live in the world in order to gain release from rebirth: without attachment to one's surroundings.

"One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results unto the Supreme Lord, is unaffected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water." -- Bhagavad Gita 5.10

 Non Profit Organization US Postage Paid Rochester, NY Permit NO. 372 Hindu Temple of Rochester, Inc. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 20061 Rochester NY 14602 – 0061 Phone: (585) 427-8091 www.hindutempleofrochester.com Newsletter: June – July– August 2014

Apply/Renew Hindu Temple Annual Membership For 2014

Mark your calendars for!!

Hindi Annual Day June 8, 2014 Lectures by Sri Mahant Swami June 8-14, 2014 RamKamal Das Vedantji Dakshinayana Punyakalam marks the southern transit of the Sun. The Uttarayana Lectures by Swami Bodhanandaji June 20-22, 2014 period which began on January 14 or 15 Mata ki Chowki June 28 , 2014 ends with Dakshinayana Punyakalam. The Dakshinayanam period will end on Makar Sri Guru July 11, 2014 Sankranti or Uttarayana day. Vara MahaLakshmi Vratam August 08, 2014

Sri Krishna Janmastami August 16, 2014

Sri Ganesha Chaturthi August 29, 2014