327, Cays Rd, Stroudsburg, PA 18360, USA. (570) 629-7881, 1-800-45 HINDU, www.svbf.org

Brahman is that basic principle of reality responsible for the creation, maintenance and dissolution of the universe. -

New Year’s Day January 01, 2015 With Sharadamba adorned as shown below , the year 2015 was welcomed with grandeur at SVBF. Approximately 600 devotees participated in this event.

January 3, 2015 Letter sent out by SVBF board of trustees to devotees Sampoorna Gita Parayanam

The regular monthly full Srimad Bhagavadgita chanting took place on January 3rd, 2015. On the first Saturday of every month, Srimad Bhaga- vadgita recitation occurs. All devotees are welcome to attend and participate in this event.

1 Daylight and darkness dusk and dawn, winter and springtime come and go. Time plays and life ebbs away. But the current of desire never leaves. -

Makara Sankaramanam, Punyakalam January 14, 2015 Jan 13 2015 - Bhogi, Jan 14 2015 - , Jan 15 2015 - Mattu Pongal An auspicious Hindu festival, Makara The significance being that sweetness saurabheyaḥ sarvahitāḥ Sankaranti is celebrated throughout should prevail in all exchanges. A similar sarvapāpapraṇāśinaḥ । in myriad cultural forms, marked with exchange is made in Andhra Pradesh; gaiety, devotion, and prayer. Signifying however, the harvest festivity is extended pratigṛhṇantu me grāsaṃ the onset of the sun’s northern journey, it over four days, namely Bhogi, , gāvaḥ trailokya mātaraḥ ॥ also marks the start of auspicious Kanuma, and Mukkanuma. Uttarayana. The sun moves from Makara Rasi (Capricorn) to Karkataka Rasi In Tamilnadu, this time is very special as (Cancer) on this day. they celebrate the Pongal festival. The first day is celebrated as Bhogi in honor of Lord सौरभेयः सर्वहिताः As per the , Uttarayana is a holy , the celestial king and ruler of the सर्वपापप्रणाशिनः । period when our departed elders return to clouds that enable us to enjoy a rich harvest earth to bless their kith and kin, and return with plenty of rain. प्रतिगृह्णन्तु मे ग्रासं to Loka at the beginning of (July 16th). This is an On Pongal day, devotees perform the गावः त्रैलोक्य मातरः ॥ auspicious period to undertake meritorious at home. They boil rice and milk in a pot deeds like Annadanam, Vastradanam as to the point of overflow, and then well as samskaras such as etc. symbolically offer this preparation to the It is also the start of the Hindu sun-god along with other oblations. All season. people wear traditional and nice clothes. Lakhs of people take a dip in places like Sagar (West Bengal) and The following day is known as Mattu throughout the Indo-Gangetic plain. In Pongal, a special day for the cows. They Prayag (), the famous Magha are decorated with beads and tinkling bells, Mela commences on this day by the banks as well as worshipped and fed Pongal. of the . In Punjab, this Finally, Kanu is celebrated. The ladies festival is celebrated as Lohri, a bonfire wash a banana leaf and place it on the festival marked with singing folk songs and ground. The leftover sweet Pongal and feasting. In , a mixture of other rice items are served on the leaf with sesame seeds with jaggery is exchanged betel leaves and nuts for cows. with the intention of speaking pleasing words and maintaining lasting friendship. The women perform this ritual before their In Gujarat, colorful kites adorn the sky; and bath, and ask for blessings for their families in , people exchange pieces of as well as longevity for their brothers. sugarcane as well as a mixture of roasted Arati is performed for the brothers, and the sesame, jaggery pieces, dry coconut pieces, water is sprinkled on the Rangoli adorning peanuts, and fried gram. the house entrance.

Please go and see the cow () and the calf (Sharada) at the SVBF temple Goshala. Enquire at temple front desk for the Goshala timings.

2 announces Shishya Sweekara

Brahmachari Sri Kuppa Venkateshwara Prasada Sharma

Vedanta philosophy. The Jagadguru has consecrated many new temples and renovated dilapidated ones. The Jagadguru has fostered Vedic learning by establishing traditional Pathashalas. With Amidst His various duties as a Peethadhipati, the Jagadguru has upheld His like His illustrious predecessors.

On January 4, 2015, devotees assembled January 6, 2015 in large numbers in Sringeri to celebrate the silver jubilee of the Jagadguru’s Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharati the Peetharohanam. During this historic event, the Jagadguru announced His The commemorating occasion of Mahaswamiji, the 36th Jagadguru decision, as divinely ordained by the silver jubilee celebrations of of the unbroken Peetharohana of Jagadguru Shan- lineage of Dakshinamnaya Sri Goddess Sharadamba, to accept karacharya Sri Sri Bharathi Theer- Sharada Peetham Sringeri, has Brahmachari Sri Kuppa Venkateshwara tha Mahaswamiji was conducted announced His divinely ordained Prasada Sharma as His successor- at SVBF, Stroudsburg, PA on decision to nominate designate. January 10th, 2015. The program started with Athavaseersha prokta as His successor- The Shishya Sweekara ceremony will take Mahaganapati Homam (with 108 designate. place on the 22nd and 23rd of January modakas) followed by puja 2015 at Sringeri. The Jagadguru will and abhishekam to His Holiness’s In a public function organised in initiate the Brahmachari into Sannyasa on , and concluded with a Sringeri on January 4, 2015, the 23rd January 2015. ceremonial procession. Jagadguru expressed that with the divine will of Goddess Sharada, He Shanthi were chanted and would initiate Brahmachari the 15th chapter of Bhagavadgita Venkateshwara Prasad Sharma into was recited by children and youth. Sannyasa on Jan 23, 2015, to SVBF Chairman Dharmatma Sri. S.Yegnasubramanian shared his continue the Parampara of the experience of his Sringeri visit to 1200 year old unbroken lineage that participate in the silver jubilee stretches directly back to Sri Adi celebrations that took place in Shankaracharya. Sringeri on January 3rd & 4th of 2015. He specifically elaborated Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri on how His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji, the Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswa- presiding of the Peetham miji made the Shishya Sweekara and the thirty-sixth in the Guru announcement on January 4th, Parampara, is a scholar nonpareil. 2015. As always, the program Since becoming the Peethadhipati concluded with mahamangala in 1989, the Jagadguru has and mahaprasadam. propagated and spread the tenets of Sanatana Dharma and the 3 Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sringeri Anoints His Successor Preserving the Oldest Unbroken Heritage of Sanatana Dharma

Just as in this body, the embodied one passes through boyhood, youth old age, so does one pass into another body. With reference to this (birth, aging and death), the wise man is not disturbed. -

Today, on January 23, 2015, continuing .living. Hamsaladeevi is a holy place in Andhra of the nation’s foremost Shastric Pandits, the this unbroken Guru-Shisya lineage that Pradesh where the river meets the ocean. attendees were taken by surprise at the young stretches directly back to Sri Adi Shan- There, on the banks of the river, is a beautiful man’s scholarship.Under the guidance of the karacharya, the 36th Jagadguru Shanka- temple dedicated to Venugopala Swamy. For the Jagadguru, Sri Prasada Sharma also studied racharya of , last 95 years, without a break, his family has Mimamsa . He regularly attended the Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji conducted an annual Bhagavata Saptaha at this nightly Chandramoulishwara Puja performed by anointed His successor. In a traditional temple. Sri Prasada Sharma attended this sacred the Jagadguru. During this Puja, he also chanted ceremony, the Jagadguru initiated Brah- event from an early age. He also accompanied his the entire Krishna Yajur Veda Moola and the entire machari Sri Kuppa Venkateshwara father on pilgrimages to holy places such as Yajur Veda . Sri Prasada Sharma always had Prasada Sharma into Sannyasa and ,,Hrishikesh, Kashi, , a pleasing and helpful demeanor. Stories about his bestowed upon him the Patta , , Pashupathinath (in ), intelligence and learning capabilities spread (monastic name) of Sri Sri Vidhushek- and . quickly. Soon, other students started seeking his hara Bharati. help. While pursuing his own learning, he also Education in Sringeri began teaching the Vedas, literature and Tarka Shastra to other students. He subsequently Pre-monastic life of the Successor Starting in 2006, when he was 13 years old, Sri began his studies in under the Jagadguru. -Designate Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Prasada Sharma began to accompany his father and Bharati grandfather who were participating in the Dharmic Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Swamiji events at Sringeri Sharada Peetham. During his Through these five and half years of intense study was born as Sri Kuppa Venkateshwara first visit, the Darshan of the present Jagadguru, (2009-15) under the direct tutelage of the Prasada Sharma on the auspicious Naga Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji had a profound Jagadguru, Sri Prasada Sharma became steeped in Panchami day - July 24, 1993 in , impact on him. He visited Sringeri again in 2008, the Vedic tradition and blossomed in many ways Andhra Pradesh. Born as the second son and during his subsequent visit in early 2009, he as a student, scholar, teacher and devotee. The of Sri Kuppa Shivasubrahmanya expressed to the Jagadguru his desire to study Jagadguru was pleased by his Guru , Avadhani and Smt.Seetha Nagalakshmi, under Him. Touched by the young boy’s devotion to God, deep immersion in his studies, He belonged to the Kaundinya and sincerity and impressed with his intelligence, the scholarship and respect towards elders. He was is a native of Anantavaram, Guntur Jagadguru blessed him and Sri Prasada Sharma beloved by all and had developed a strong inner District in Andhra Pradesh. His family took refuge under the Lotus Feet of the Jagadguru core of dispassion and discrimination for pursuing has a long lineage of illustrious Vedic in June 2009. Under the guidance of the Jagadguru, a spiritual path. Pandits who were all ardent disciples of he rapidly gained mastery in written and spoken Conclusion the Sringeri . Sanskrit. Sringeri Vidwan Sri Tangirala The Sringeri Guru Parampara lineage has been Shivakumara Sharma taught him Sanskrit poetry central to the preservation and growth of Sanatana Childhood and literature. He also learned the basics of Dharma. The induction of Sri Sri Vidhushekhara From a young age, Sri Prasada Sharma Shastra under Sringeri Vidwan Sri Bharati Swamiji is therefore an event of historic developed a deep devotion towards Lord Krishnaraja Bhat. importance to followers of Sanatana Dharma Krishna and visited the krishna temple throughout the world. near his home, every day. Seeing his Observing his Guru Bhakti, humility, intelligence son’s devotion, Sri Shivasubrahmanya and dedicated application to his studies, the Avadhani performed his Upanayana Jagadguru was pleased and decided to personally (sacred thread ceremony) at the age of teach him the Shastras. The Jagadguru began to five. His first lessons in Krishna teach him the Tarka Shastra in 2011. Sri Prasada were taught by his Sharma grasped the teachings quickly and the grandfather, Sri Kuppa Ramagopala lessons moved at an intense pace. Even during the Vajapeya-Yaaji. Showing rapid hectic Vijaya Yatra of 2012-13, the Jagadguru progress, Sri Prasada Sharma continued continued to teach him without missing even a his studies up to Krishna Yajur Veda single day. The Jagadguru soon transformed him Krama under his father. He grew up in into a great Tarka scholar. When he spoke at an environment steeped in devotion to Sringeri Sharada Peetham’s prestigious Ganapati 4 God and adherence to a vedic way of Vakhyartha Vidwat Sadas, an annual conference To err is human. Accepting one’s error and correcting oneself is a mark of nobility. Humility is the primary path to achieving nobility. - Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamigal

Vasanta Panchami Ratha Saptami January 24, 2015 January 24, 2015

Vasanta Pancami is a Hindu festival This festival falls on the seventh day of the commemorating the spring season. Vasanta bright half of the month of Magha. It is means spring and Pancami refers to the fifth celebrated as Surya Jayanti or Surya’s birthday. day of the lunar month, Magha. Vasanta This is also regarded as the day when the sun’s Pancami is also referred to as Lalita Pancami chariot turns northward. This chariot is said to The festival is celebrated enthusiastically as it be drawn by seven white horses. The seven marks the birthday of Goddess Sarasvati. As horses and the seventh day of the month are the embodiment of purity and giver of spiritual perhaps a reference to the seven colors of the knowledge, Sarasvati is worshipped with rainbow and the seven suns – Aroga, Bhraja, devotional fervor. Spring time heralds renewal Pathara, Patanga, Svarnara, Jyotisiman and and rejuvenation, and therefore, by extension, Vibhasa. In Hindu numerology, seven is a creation! Incidentally, the celebration day this significant number as there are seven , year was more akin to a spring rather than a seven oceans, seven islands, seven books of the winter day. Several devotees sponsored etc. RathaSaptami is dedicated to Aksharabhyasa so as to initiate their children Surya , and the Lord is worshipped into developing their writing skills with Devi’s for good health and wellbeing. This day is grace. marked by the recitation of Aruna Prashnam with Namaskarams at the end of each anuvakam (section.) The temple conducted a special puja with the chanting of Aruna February 2015 Prashnam, Navagraha and Naksatra Suktams. Calendar of Events

● Maha Maghi ● Thai Poosam

Maha Sivaratri (see SVBF web page for detailed program)

Rathasapthami event at SVBF temple

5