March 2009

SAGE Balabhavan Coordinators BB Announcements:

Bharathy Thridandam Nithya Sudhakar Thanks to all the parent Sriram Srinivasan volunteers who have

Contact: dedicated their time and [email protected] efforts in teaching our Sage Agastya was born within Lord Shiva’s mind. Balabhavan children. The He is considered as the first and foremost Class Coordinators person of Siddha. He is considered the guru of Shivarathri Pooja led by the many other Siddhas. He is also called Kurumuni, Panditji's for the Balabhavan Super-Senior Class: meaning short (kuru) saint (muni). His children was well received Sudhakar Devulapalli contributions were to the field of Medicine and was very enlightening. [email protected] (Siddha) and Astrology - especially Nadi Please look forward to some Ashok Malavalli Jodhidam (Josyam or Jothisyam). He is said to exciting events such as [email protected] have lived for over 5000 years. 'picture day' for all Ram Krishnamurthy Balabhavan children in April, [email protected] One story about Agastya goes that once the ‘family picnic day’ demons had taken refuge in the ocean and it tentatively towards the end Senior Class: was difficult for the gods to conquer them, so of May and the ‘summer Renuka Krishnan they went to Sage Agastya for help. Then, after camps’ starting in July 2009 [email protected] hearing the gods, the sage drank the entire Anitha Chidambaram ocean water and held it within him until the BBC Team [email protected] demons were destroyed. ______m Krishna Meduri [email protected] Another story has it that two demon brothers, March Birthdays: Ilvala and Vatapi, planned to kill Agastya. One

of them was good at changing into other forms Junior Class: Toddler: and the other knew the Sanjivani mantra which, Seetha Janakiraman None! when said can bring back the dead to life. They [email protected] hatched a plan that the one who could change Sangeetha Prahalad form would turn into a goat and be killed and Juniors: [email protected] fed to Agastya. After Agastya had eaten the Yogitha Shastri goat, the other would say the Sanjivani mantra Toddler Class: to bring back his brother to life, who in turn Seniors: Vidya Chari would explode Agastya's stomach and come out Kalyani Ramadurgam [email protected] thereby killing him. By the plan, one changed Murali Chari into a goat and the other disguised himself as a Super Seniors: [email protected] Brahmachari who invited Agastya to a meal. None! Priya Ram Agastya knew beforehand about the plan due to [email protected] his immense Vedic powers, but he resolved to teach both demons a lesson. After the meal, Festivals of the Month: Registration coordinators: Agastya simply rubbed his stomach saying 3/27/09 –Chandramana Ugadi Jeernam jeernam vathaapi jeernam; - literally, Panneer Selvam Visit (http://www.shiva- [email protected] Digested, digested vathaapi is digested to digest vishnu.org) for more details Matangi Munukutla the meal, while the other demon tried to bring [email protected] his brother to life in vain. Agastya plainly informed the demon that his brother has been Priya Ram digested. [email protected] By Aishwarya V

7930 Arjons Drive, San Diego, CA 92126 Phone: (858) 549-3940 March 2009 ISSUE 3 - 1 - March 2009

Class Schedules SAGE Class Schedules

03-14-2009 ------Chyavana was a sage in the 03-07-2009 ------

Senior Class and was the son of Sage and . Story:Budha Toddler Class -Ashok Malavalli Once, when a demon saw Puloma he Shloka:SL:1-20,Review thought she was beautiful and wanted to Story: Story of Rama Aadityahridayam know more about her, so she asked the Fire -Nitya Sudhakar -Lakshmi Srinivasan God, . Agni said that the person the Sloka:Ramaaya Ramabhadhraya Bhajan:Ramachandra Prabhu demon saw was Puloma. Then the demon /Sri Rama Rama Ramethi (p12,#14); Review Anantha kidnapped Puloma because he wanted her -H S Ramani Kalyana to be his wife and caused Chyavana (when Bhajan: Rama Nama Tarakam - Anandhi Krishnamurthy he was a baby in Puloma’s body) to get (p9,#1);Aatma Rama (p11,#10) -Banumathi Sugumar angry and come out, then, he looked at the -Priya Ram demon angrily and reduced him to ashes Junior Class with his eyes. Super Senior Class

Years later, King Saryati went to a lake with Discussion: Upanayana Story: Life in Forest his wives. Saryati's daughter Sukanya, found -Ram Krishnamurthy -Shankar Parasaram an ant-hill with an 'aura' glowing from it. Sloka: SL: 1-25, Review Shloka: Adityahridayam, When Sukanya dug up the dirt, she found a Aadityahridayam review Achutashtakam man who was meditating, who happened to - Latha Chandrashekaran -Sangeetha Prahlad be Sage Chyavana. She started screaming -Viji Ramanarayanan Bhajan: Bhaja Mana Raamam; and everyone tried to run away in terror but Bhajan: Raghavam Review Ram Ram Bhajo Man therefore disturbed Sage Chyavana’s Karunakaram; Review of Sesha -Vijaya Purohit meditation. He got very angry and asked to Saila Vasa -Banumathi Sugumar marry Sukanya in return for the sin that the -Latha Sundar

King committed. The King instantly said yes - Bharathy T 03-28-2009 ------knowing that Chyavana was such a great 03-21-2009------Senior Class sage.

Toddler Class Story: Brihaspati A long time later, Chyavana was pleased Story: Panchatantra -Bharathy T with Sukanya’s meditation and blessed her - Priya Ram Shloka: SL: 1-25, Review with three sons. They were named Sloka: Ramaaya Ramabhadraya Naamaraamaayana Dadheechi, Pramathi, and Apravan. /Sri Rama Rama Ramethi - Sheela Ashok After blessing her with three sons Sage -Radhika Chari Bhajan: Ram Ram Bhajo Man Chyavana went to sanctify a river which was Bhajan: Kamala Nayana Ram (); Review 2 other Ram Bhajans called Teertha Yatra. (p12, #13) - - Hema Rangaswamy Junior Class Sage Chyavana led the rest of his life in Super Senior Class

penance and the tonic that we find in the Story: Ravana’s abduction of Discussion: Upanayana Indian stores called was Sita -Ram Krishnamurthy named after Sage Chyavana who was known - Seetha Janakiraman Sloka: Review SL 1-30 for his ability to meditate and gain lots of Shloka: Adityahridayam, - Lalitha Kodandapani review Achutashtakam strength and power. -Shanti Kalluri

- Vijaya Purohit Bhajan: Review of all 3 Rama By Bhairav P. C Bhajan: Review of all 3 Rama bhajans Bhajans -Latha Sundar -Radhika Chari -Anandhi Sriram

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

March 2009

Class Volunteers: Why is the Cow sacred in ? Why do Hindus regard Story: the cow as sacred? Ashok Malavalli Importance of Cow in Veda: Bharathy Thridandam Brahmins perform yagnas for the welfare of Nithya Sudakar / Priya Ram Cow is considered very the community and the world. Two crucial Ram Krishnamurthy sacred in our religion ingredients for a yagna are dried cow dung Seetha Janakiraman because its good qualities are (for fire) and ghee (for offering). Without Shankar Parasaram those that we can emulate. cows, yagnas are not possible. Cows also give Bhajan: Panchagavyam (5 things relating to the cow.) Anandhi Krishnamurthy A cow is compared to a This mix contains milk, yogurt, ghee, cow Banumathi Sugumar mother in Indian epics. A cow urine, and cow dung. Panchagavyam is Bharathy Thridandam is known for its nature of healthy for the body and spirit. Hema Rangaswamy sacrifice. It gives milk to Divine Cow : Latha Sundar/Vijaya Purohit people just like a mother. A All Gods and Devas are said to be present in Priya Ram cow is a very sacred animal the angas (body parts) of the cow. Vishnu, Radhika Chari to Hindus and some Hindus Shiva, , Lakshmi, and other gods Sloka: even worship cows. In great reside at specific places in the cow. The cow Lakshmi Srinivasan epics there is a special place is sacred and so worshipped by all. This is also Lalitha Kodandapani for a particular cow called why we have respect for the cows and do not Latha Chandrashekaran “Kamadhenu” which fulfills restrict their movement. Radhika Chari/ H.S Ramani every desire of any person. Cow’s usefulness to society: Sangeetha Prahlad From then, cows are always Eating only grass and water, cows provide Shanti Kalluri being worshiped in India. milk (and its derivatives). Cows help plough Sheela Malavalli the fields and in the transportation of Vijaya Purohit The cow is the greatest humans/goods (bullock carts). Cow hides are Viji Ramanarayanan giver on planet earth today. used to make the outer part of mridangam It gives us milk and cream, (Indian drum). Class Presentations yoghurt and cheese, butter Famous Cows: and ice cream, ghee and In Indian mythology, Surabhi, Nandini, and Senior Class: buttermilk. Its bones are the Kamadhenu are famous cows that have played 3-14-2009 base for soup broth. It gives important roles in helping the sages perform Why do some Hindus believe us our leather belt, leather their Vedic rites. in vegetarianism? Is there a seats, leather shoes, coats, rule about Hindus eating cowboy hats and so many We respect cows for all the above reasons, meat? -Aishwarya V other things. The cow is the and affectionately call them GOMATHA 3-28-2009 most prominent giving animal (mother cow). Are only Indians Hindus? today taking nothing but By Sankaran R -Bharav P grass and grain. Junior Class: ------By Aruna S 3-14-2009 Newsletter Editors Why do some Hindus believe in vegetarianism? Is there a SRIKANTH KALLURI ------rule about Hindus eating APOORVA MYLAVARAPU Please send your meat? -Vinod K suggestions/comments on Topics of the Month this newsletter to 3-28-2009 [email protected] Why is the cow sacred for Aishwarya Vuppula Hindus? -Shreya C Bhairav Perichidambaram

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