Sri Siva Temple 6905 Cipriano Road, Lanham MD 20706 Tel: (301) 552-3335 Fax: (301) 552-1204 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: https://www.ssvt.org Newsletter Vol 30, No. 7 July 2021 COVID-19 Temple Operations: As of publication, normal temple hours have resumed. Wearing face masks, and maintaining 6-feet distance, remain in place. Devotee pre-registration is no longer required. The Temple Kitchen is open. More information on Page 3. Samvatsara Mahotsava 9:30 am Maha Ganapathi Punyahavachanam, Devata Anugnay, Maha Ganapathi , Dravyahooti, Friday, June 25 to Sunday, July 4, 2021 Poornahooti, Deeparadhana Thursday, July 1, 2021 5:30 pm Mritsangrhanam, Ankoorarpanam, Raksha Bandhana, 9:30 am Purusha Sukta Homa Pavitradhivasam, Yagasala Archana, Latalinga Mandala 10:30 am Puja, Vedika Archana, Agnikaryam, Bhoganga Dravya Puja, Gandha Pavitram Alankara, Poornahooti, Friday, July 2, 2021 Deeparadhana 9:30 am Sri Sukta Homa Wednesday, July 22, 2021 10:30 am and Sudarshana / Narasimha Abhisheka 9:30 am Ganapathi Puja, Surya Puja, Vedika Archana, Tatva Saturday, July 3, 2021 Pavitra Alankara, Deeparadhana 9:30 am Dwadashkshara Moola Homa 5:30 pm Ganapathi Puja, Kumbha Puja, Mandala Puja, 10:30 am Ananthapadmanabha and Ayyappa Abhisheka Agni Karyam, Mukhavasa Pavitra Puja, Shannavati Homa, Poornahooti, Mukhavasa Pavitra Alankara, Sunday, July 4, 2021 Deeparadhana 9:00 am Suprabhatam Thursday, July 23, 2021 10:30 am Kalyana Utsava for Siva, Subrahmanya and Srinivasa 8:00 am Vigneshwara Puja, Mandala Archana, Vedika Archana, 12:00 pm Rathotsavam, Vishesha Harathi, Acharya Sambhavana, Vishesha Dravya Homa, Pavitra Puja, Poornahooti, Dwaja Avarohanam, Prasada distribution Kalash Abhisheka, Gangadhara Pavitra Alankara, Sponsorship: Entire Samvatsara Mahotsava - $601; Bhogadravya Samarpanam, Upacharam, Deeparadhana, One Day Puja - $125; All Pujas for one deity - $61; Prasadam Distribution, Acharya Sambhavana $31 per Homa or Abhisheka or any Kalyanam; Sponsorship: Entire Siva Pavitrotsavam - $61; One Day - $31 $15 per Sahasranama Archana Aadi Pooram (Kataka Purvaphalguni) Bhagawati Seva (During Kataka Month) Tuesday, August 10, 2021 Friday, July 16 to Sunday, August 15, 2021 9:30 am Abhisheka, Alankara with Bangles, Archana, Dakshinayana marks the southern Deeparadhana transition of the Sun for a period of 10:30 am Abhisheka, Thiruppaavai Seva Kaalam, Godha six months. These six months are said Stuti, Archana, Deeparadhana to be the night time for the Gods and 7:00 pm Lalitha Sahasranama Parayanam Goddesses. The first of these six Hindu 8:00 pm Andal Puja months is especially important for the worship of Devi (the Universal Sponsorship: $31 Mother). Bhagawati Seva, which is the worship of Devi in the Tantric Save the Date: General Council Meeting, July 24, 2021 tradition, will be performed daily from July 16 to August 15 at 7:15 PM. All Our next semiannual General Council (GC) meeting will be devotees are encouraged to partici- July 24, 2021. This meeting will be virtual (over Zoom) and pate through Lalitha Sahasaranama all GC members are invited to attend. A formal agenda will recitation, Devi Stotram, and Devi be shared with council members prior to the meeting. Namaskaaram. For the Zoom link please email BOT Secretary, Padma Sponsorship: Entire Bhagawati Seva - $501; All Friday Tipirneni, at [email protected] pujas during Kataka month - $101; One Day - $31 If you have any questions, please reach out to Governance Board President, Dr. Rajagopala Rao Tripuraneni at Siva Pavitrotsavam [email protected] Thank you! Tuesday, July 21 to Thursday, July 23, 2021 Pavitrotsavam is an annual ritual performed at temples that follow the Saiva Aagamas. This ritual is performed to make up for acts of omission and commision in the temple rituals throughout Inside our July 2021 Newsletter: the course of the year. At the conclusion of this three day ritual, ■ Religious Puja Calendar - page 2 Pavitram (Holy tread) that has been offered to the Lord will be ■ Scenes from Ayyappa Mahotsavam - page 8 distributed as Prasadam to sponsors. ■ Dharma Class Annual Recital - page 9 Tuesday, July 21, 2021 ■ Garden Committee Updates - page 10

1 RELIGIOUS CALENDAR (Visit our website for Livestream Schedule) Thu 29 10:00 AM Subrahmanya Abhisheka - Shashti July 2021 Fri 30 10:00 AM Mahalakshmi Abhisheka Fri 2 10:00 AM Mahalakshmi Abhisheka Sat 3 5:00 PM Srinivasa Kalyanam August 2021 Sun 4 SAMVATSARA MAHOTSAVA CONCLUDES Sun 1 10:00 AM Utsava Subrahmanya Abhisheka - Krittika Mon 5 10:00 AM Utsava Subrahmanya Abhisheka - Krittika Tue 3 10:00 AM Krishna Abhisheka - Rohini 5:00 PM Ananthapadmanabha Abhisheka - Ekadashi 6:00 PM Ananthapadmanabha Abhisheka - Ekadashi Tue 6 7:00 PM Siva Abhisheka - Pradosham Thu 5 7:00 PM Siva Abhisheka - Pradosham Wed 7 10:00 AM Sri Krishna Abhisheka - Rohini Fri 6 10:00 AM Mahalakshmi Abhisheka Fri 9 10:00 AM Sarada Abhisheka 10:00 AM Sri Abhisheka - Punarvasu Sat 10 10:00 AM Sri Rama Abhisheka - Punarvasu Sat 7 5:00 PM Srinivasa Kalyanam Tue 13 9:30 AM Homa - Chaturthi Mon 9 7:00 PM Siva Abhisheka - Shravana Somavar 10:30 AM Ganesha Abhisheka - Chaturthi Tue 10 AADI POORAM DAY - SEE DETAILS Wed 14 10:00 AM Andal Abhisheka - Poorva Phalguni Wed 11 9:30 AM Ganesha Homa - Chaturthi 7:00 PM Aadi Shankara Puja - Shukla Panchami 10:00 AM Ayyappa Puja - Uttara Phalguni Thu 15 10:00 AM Nataraja Abhisheka - Aani Thirumanjanam 10:30 AM Ganesha Abhisheka - Chaturthi 10:00 AM Subrahmanya Abhisheka - Shashti Thu 12 10:00 AM Garuda Abhisheka - Garuda Panchami Fri 16 10:00 AM Parvarthi Abhisheka Rest of August in August Newsletter 7:15 PM BHAGAVATI SEVA BEGINS - SEE DETAILS Sun 18 9:30 AM Sudarshana / Yoga Narasimha Homa - Swathi WEEKLY ABHISHEKAS 10:00 AM Ayyappa Puja Monday: 9:30 AM Ganesha, Sri Rama 10:30 AM Sudarshana / Yoga Narasimha Abhisheka - Swathi Tuesday: 9:30 AM , Anjaneya Mon 19 10:00 AM Utsava Subrahmanya Abhisheka - Vishakha Wednesday: 9:30 AM Andal, Sarada, Tue 20 6:00 PM Ananthapadmanabha Abhisheka - Ekadashi Thursday: 9:30 AM Krishna, Subrahmanya SIVA PAVITROTSAVAM BEGINS - SEE DETAILS Friday: 9:30 AM Mahalakshmi, Parvati, Sudarsana/Yoga Narasimha Wed 21 7:00 PM Siva Abhisheka - Pradosham Saturday: 10:15 AM Thu 22 10:00 AM Anjaneya Abhisheka - Mula SIVA PAVITROTSAVAM CONCLUDES DAILY ABHISHEKAS Fri 23 10:00 AM Durga Abhisheka Daily: 9:30 AM Ayyappa, Ananthapadmanabha 7:00 PM Satyanaryana Puja - Poornima 10:00 AM Siva PURNIMA Sat 24 10:00 AM Utsava Srinivasa Abhisheka w/ Connect with us online! View Religious Services/Puja Online Sun 25 9:30 AM Homa Main YouTube Channel YouTube Channel - 2 10: 30 AM Navagraha Abhisheka Cultural Committee YouTube Channel Facebook Mon 26 9:30 AM Ganesha Homa - Sankatahara Chaturthi Puja Sponsorships are available online or by calling (301) 552 -3335. 7:00 PM Ganesha Abhisheka - Sankatahara Chaturthi

Personal/Group Purva Prayoga Pujas (via temple provided Zoom) We are pleased to announce the ability to expand our virtual services to include Personal Purva Prayoga Pujas, in addi- tion to consistent live streams for Nithya pujas, and religious pujas over Facebook and YouTube. These online services include Archanas, Abhishekams, Homams, and Satyanarayana Puja For more information, and to sponsor, please click here, or contact Sri Ananth Iyengar at [email protected] or (301) 552-3335 Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Aradhana Center at SSVT Sri Siva Vishnu Temple’s dedicated Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Aradhana Center is now open in the Aakaar area (behind the Auditorium stage). ThisAradhana Center was inau- gurated on Vijaya Dasami Day, Monday October 7, 2019 at 6:30 pm. Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Aradhana and will be held at SSVT every Thursday and on Weekends. For more information and to participate please contact: Sreekumar Sreedharan 703-622-5542; Shobha Prasad 240-568-9151; Mythili Bachu 301-526-5135; Sridevi Umesh 301-560-3102; Srini Tirumalasetti 443-540-4110; Rohini Homnappa 240-441-1266; Sujatha Badrinath 301-805-1943 SSVT SENIOR CITIZENS MEET UP (Suspended until further notice) The SSVT Senior Citizens Group meets twice a month on the second and fourth Wednesday in the Education room from 11 am to 1 pm followed by a potluck lunch in the cafeteria. We invite all seniors 55+ to join us at the meetings and share our seniors-related common interests. We invite speakers from within and outside the group to talk on topics of interest to senior citizens, such as those related to health, religion, finance, legal matters. vacation travel, etc. We also hold programs such as music & comedy, picnics and bus trips which would help promote social interaction between members of the group. For more information please contact: Sudarshan Gupta at 301-262-5031 or [email protected], Satish Bhandari at 301-464-7381 or [email protected], Sharan Prasad at 301- 464-1475 or [email protected], Ramesh Godbole at 301-459-5942 or [email protected]. SSVT COMMUNITY SERVICE Homeless SEVA, Sandwich Program, Second Saturdays (Suspended until further notice) Each month, on the 2nd Saturday, volunteers make sandwiches for the homeless. Every time, roughly about 1500 sandwiches are prepared and delivered to Martha’s Table, a DC shelter. SSVT encourages all devotees especially youth to participate in the program. Please be at the Temple at 10:30 am. Devotees can sponsor this program by donating $175 to SSVT. For additional information, please contact Ranjith at [email protected] / 234-567-9703 or Tribhuvannath Mishra at [email protected] /571-214-3198 Join the Charity Committee Join the newly formed Charity Committee (established in 2020). The primary objective is to integrate and formalize SSVT’s charitable activities and to conduct these activities in a systematic and continual basis. The Charity Committee has helped strengthen the fourth pillar of the temple which involves social outreach and community service. The committee has conducted several charitable events and programs including a Grab ‘n Go Grocery distribution drive (in partnership with other are organizations) at the temple. To learn more and to join the Charity Committee, please contact Raji Ramesh at (630) 337-3814, or Murali Elambilan at (501) 960-2807. 2 2021 Board of Trustees Chairperson’s Corner Executive Committee Industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie once called teamwork “the fuel that allows common people to attain uncom- Chairperson Krishna Bappanad mon results”. I am going dedicate my Chairperson’s Corner over (919) 381-7606 ; [email protected] the next couple of months to showcase some of our wonderful Vice Chairperson - Operations Umeshkumar Bangalore volunteer groups. These volunteers have shown exemplary team- (240) 602-7537; [email protected] work and has helped us manage our temple operations over the Vice Chairperson - Policy Sreekumar Sreedharan years. (703) 622-5542; [email protected] Treasurer Murali Elambilan Never was that concept better exemplified than over the last (501) 960 - 2807; [email protected] few weeks, when temple volunteers banded together to pull off Secretary Padma Tipirneni a Herculean feat: cutting down 12 dead trees, beautifying our (240) 604-5981; [email protected] temple garden and landscape, and starting a community vegetable Trustees garden. This was done under the direction of two of our dynamic Bangalore Ravindra B.T. Nivas trustees; Raji Ramesh and Murali Elambilan, who is also our (410) 227-7576 (703) 635-4939 treasurer. Gunda Reddy Krishnaswamy S.V. (410) 652-1657 (412) 443-2151 This effort was unprecedented – we unfortunately have neglected some routine maintenance of the temple grounds, and the service Manju Shivacharan Prabhakar Thyagarajan these volunteers have performed to correct this oversight should (240) 678-7752 (301) 801-3410 not go unnoticed! We did not have a Garden Committee before Prabhavathi Pippalla Raji Ramesh to orchestrate this clean-up; SSVT devotees, some meeting each (240) 810-8306 (630) 337-3814 other for the first time, teamed up in perhaps the most labor Subramanyam Jayaraman Swaminatha Reddy intensive, manual effort we have undertaken as volunteers. Some (301) 346-9777 (301) 236-5319 of our Priests also pitched in to help with this effort – they truly Vijay Kumar went above and beyond their priestly duties to help. I also want to (202) 997-0791 single-out Dr. Tripuraneni Rao, our Governance Board President, for his devotion and help every weekend to this effort. 2021 Governance Board Rajagopala Rao Tripuraneni, President - Trustee Emeritius In addition to the manual labor, many devotees have donated plants, trees, and landscape material to help make our temple Banu Ramakrishnan - Trustee Emeritius Krishna Bappanad, Chairperson-BOT grounds presentable. I am especially thankful to Dr. Ajay Reddy, Suryanarayana Siram - Trustee Emeritius Sreekumar Sreedharan, Trustee-BOT and our local chapter of the Boys Scouts of America for helping Doddanna Rajashekar - Trustee Emeritius Prabhakar Thyagarajan, Trustee-BOT set up an excellent outdoor dining area under the canopy of the About Sri Siva Vishnu Temple (SSVT): trees. Now that the temple is fully open, devotees should visit the Located outside of Washington D.C., Sri Siva Vishnu Temple is a pre- temple and see for themselves the work that has gone to beautify the outdoors. I am also inviting volunteers who normally work in- mier with a congregation and community base of tens side to come out and work outdoors. If you are interested, please of thousands of Indian Americans, Hindu Americans and devotees contact Raji or Murali by sending them an e-mail at across the globe. The temple houses several Sannidhis (shrines) which [email protected] or [email protected]. were consecrated between 1990 and 2002. As a non-profit, 501(c) (3) organization, SSVT serves the religious, cultural, and educational Apart from this, we have many other committees made up of volunteers who work tirelessly to support the functioning of the needs of the Hindu community and has represented the Hindu Ameri- temple. Whatever your interest may be, we have a committee that can community. could use your help starting with Kitchen Committee, Public Relations committee, and Flowers committee to name a few. This Support our temple while shopping online - search for and add Sri Siva is your temple and while many of you support us by donating Vishnu Temple Trust as your charity to support on financial resources, you can also provide sweat equity to help with AmazonSmile and contribute while making purchases the operation of the temple. SSVT Combined Federal Campaign Number: 47090 COVID-19 Operations On June 30, we welcomed members of the Prince George’s County Police Department to our The following procedures continue to remain in place for all temple. As part of public devotees and visitors: outreach, they visited our temple to see how things • Face masks (for all visitors 2 years and above) and 6 feet are going and if there are distance must be maintained at all times any public safety concerns. I sincerely thank our local • Devotees who are feeling unwell or have a fever are encour- law enforcement part- aged to refrain from visiting the temple. ners for their continued support in keeping our • The Temple Kitchen is open! community safe. Temple Hours If at any time, I can be of assistance, please feel free to contact me Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM via email at [email protected] or by phone at (919) 381-7606. 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM Thank you! Saturday - Sunday 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Puja Sponsorships are available online or by calling (301) 552 -3335. Krishna Bappanad Chairperson, Board of Trustees 3 Pratishtapana Anniversary The 26th Anniversary of Ayyappa Kumbabishekam was successfully conducted by Priest Vishnu Nampootri, along with all our esteemed priests of our Sri Siva Vishnu Temple. It started with All Parihara Kriyas on Thursday June 17 and was completed on June 19, 2021. More than 130 devotees participated in the Laksharchana to Lord Ayyappa on Sunday June 20, 2021. Acharya Varanam, Anugai, and Thirukodiyetttu were performed on Sunday evening. Kalasa Puja and Navaka-Panchagavya Kalasabhishekam were done on Monday. On Tuesday June 22, the Prathishtapana day, AYYAPPA Sa-Parivara Puja and 49 Abhishekam, Pushpabhishekam concluded with KODIYIRAKKU. Significance of 18 Holy steps The 18 steps have considerable religious significance. Ascending these steps, it is believed helps devotees give up worldly desires, mentally and physically. Steps 1-5 called panchendriyas (Pancha Indriyas) symbolise the five human senses of sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. Next 8 steps represent ashtaragas that signify emotions: Kama (love), Krodha (anger) lobha (greed), moha (lust), asooya (jealousy), dhoombh (boastfulness), madha (unhealthy competition) and matsarya (pride). It is believed that climbing up the steps while chanting helps control emotions that cause pain in the world. Next three steps (14 -16) stand for trigunas (three human qualities), namely satva (goodness or purity), rajas (passion) and tamas (inertia or dullness). Last two steps represent vidya (knowledge) and its opposite, avidya (ignorance). The steps in were originally of granite, but later covered with panchaloha, a special mixture of gold, , , and . We are planning to replicate the same here in our temple. Panchaloha Kavacham The Panchaloha Kavacham is scheduled to arrive from in August 2021 and is expected to be installed by the end of August 2021. Hence the remaining Mahotsavam celebrations will be performed after the installation of the Panchaloha Kavacham, starting on September 2, 2021, and completed on Sunday, September 12, 2021. At SSVT, our 18 Steps started with concrete steps, followed by steps covered with copper and finally you see the artisans working with the Panchaloha steps. These are like the “Pathinettam Padi” (18 Holy Steps) what one will see when they visit Sabarimala By God’s grace, all the eighteen kavachams will be received in time for installation and smarpanam will be done by September 12, 2021.

We still need another $100,000 to complete the project. Please consider donating generously. No amount is too small or too big. Click here to sponsor. Sri Siva Vishnu Temple sincerely thanks you for your generosity and support.

4 Sri Siva Vishnu Temple 6905 Cipriano Road, Lanham MD 20706 Tel: (301) 552-3335 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: https://www.ssvt.org/ 2021 Ayyappa Mahotsavam Celebrating the 26th Anniversary of the Ayyappa Kumbhabhishekam This year the Ayyappa Prathishtapana Day falls on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. A 3-Day Prathishtapana Celebration is planned starting on Sunday, June 20, 2021. All Parihara Kriyas will be completed by June 19, 2021. The Panchaloha Kavacham is scheduled to arrive from India in August 2021 and expected to be installed by the end of August 2021. Hence the remaining Mahotsavam celebrations will be performed after the installation of the Panchaloha Kavacham, starting on September 2, 2021 and completed on Sunday, September 12, 2021. Pratishtapana Anniversary in June 2021 Thursday, June 17, 2021 to Tuesday, June 22, 2021 and Panchaloha Kavacha Samarpanam in September 2021 Thursday, September 2, 2021 to Sunday, September 12, 2021 PARIHARA KRIYA Thursday, June 17, 2021 11:00 am – 1:00 pm DESA BALI [Pancha Prakaram] 5:00 pm Vaasthu Homam , Vaasthu Bali , Vaasthu Kalasam Friday, June 18, 2021 9:30 am – 12:30 pm PRAYASHITHA Homam , Bimba Sudhi Kalasam, AYYAPPA Abhishekam Saturday, June 19, 2021 9:30 am – 12:30 pm Shanthi Homam & Kalasam AYYAPPA THIRU UTSAVAM Sunday, June 20, 2021 10:00 am – 11:30 am Sahasranama Japam [Sahasranam chanting by 100 Devotees - Live/Zoom] 6:00 pm Acharya Varanam, Anujnja, Sooktha Japam 6:30 pm THRIKKODIYETTU 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Bhajans 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm Athazha puja Monday, June 21, 2021 10:00 am – 11:30 am Navakam, Panchagavya Kalasa Puja 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Navaka-Panchagavya Kalasabhishekam and AYYAPPA Puja 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm Athazha puja Tuesday, June 22, 2021 AYYAPPA PRATHISHTA DAY 10:00 am – 11:30 am Kalasha puja [49 Silver Kalasham] 11:30 am – 1:00 pm AYYAPPA Sa-Parivara Puja and 49 Kalasha Abhishekam 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Pushpabhishekam 7:00 pm KODIYIRAKKU 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm Athazha puja 8:55 pm HARIVARASANAM

5 Hariharaatmaja Mahotsavam Celebrating the 26th Anniversary of the Ayyappa Kumbhabhishekam Thursday, September 2, 2021 to Sunday, September 12, 2021

6 SPONSORSHIP FORM https://www.cognitoforms.com/SriSivaVishnuTemple/_2021AyyappaMahotsavamSponsorhsip If you prefer to use Zelle, our Zelle address is [email protected] Family Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: Email:

Please enter the Birth Star and Gothram for you and your family members below: Category Sponsorship Details / Benefits  Amount First and Last Name Gothram Birth Star Include Panchaloha Kavacham for 18 steps and both Ayyappa Prathishtapana Celebration Platinum and Hariharatmaja Mahotsavam  $10,001 Include Panchaloha Kavacham for 9 steps and both Ayyappa Prathishtapana Celebration and Diamond Hariharatmaja Mahotsavam  $5,001 Include Panchaloha Kavacham for 6 steps and both Ayyappa Prathishtapana Celebration and Gold Hariharatmaja Mahotsavam  $2,501 Silver-1 Panchaloha Kavacham for 1 step including Padi puja  $1,001 Include both Ayyappa Prathishtapana Celebration and Hariharatmaja Mahotsavam including Silver-2 Padi Puja  $1,001 All Pujasa during Hariharatmaja Mahotsavam excluding Padi Puja  $501

Sponsor All Pujasa during Ayyappa Prathishtapana Celebration  $301

Donor-1 All Pujas during September 11 and 12  $251

Donor-2 All Pujas during June 19, 20, 21 and 22  $251

Please Select Puja  Pooja Sponsor Any one day  $101 Udayasthamana Puja  Padi Puja During this celebration  $101 Pushpabhishekam  Kalabha Puja  Samooha Sadya Any Amount  Bagavathi Seva  Donation Any Amount towards Panchaloha Kavacham or anything else  Manjal Neerattu  Udayasthamana Puja, Pushpabhishekam, Kalabha Puja, Bagavathi Seva, Mathru Puja  For any two of the pujas listed Manjal Neerattu, Irumudi Puja, Mathru Puja, Shathru Samhara Puja, Ashta  $51 Shathru Samhara Puja  Dikpalaka Puja, Dampathi Puja, Kalababhishekam Ashta Dikpalaka Puja  Udayasthamana Puja, Pushpabhishekam, Kalabha Puja, Bagavathi Seva, For any one of the Manjal Neerattu, Irumudi Puja, Mathru Puja, Shathru Samhara Puja, Ashta  $31 Dampathi Puja  pujas listed Dikpalaka Puja, Dampathi Puja, Kalababhishekam Kalababhishekam  TOTAL $ Irumudi Puja  https://www.cognitoforms.com/SriSivaVishnuTemple/_2021AyyappaMahotsavamSponsorhsip If you prefer to use Zelle, our Zelle address is [email protected]

7 Sri Siva Vishnu Temple 6905 Cipriano Road, Lanham MD 20706 Tel: (301) 552-3335 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: https://www.ssvt.org/ SSVT Celebrates Onam On Saturday, August 21, 2021

You are cordially invited for a Happy Traditional ONAM FEAST Onam Onam Sadya starts at 11:30 AM

Scenes from Ayyappa Mahotsavam

8 Education Committee Updates - July 2021 Family Dharma Class Annual Students Recital held June 20, 2021 Students from the Family Dharma Class hosted their Annual Student Recital on June 20, 2021. Students have learned various shlokas and under the tutelage of Sri Roopesh Acharya and had the opportunity to recite a sampling of what they have learned. Students also heard from Brahmacharini Shweta Chaitanya, the Hindu Chaplain of Emory University. Brahmacharini Shweta Chaitanya spoke about the Upanishads/teachings she learned and found impactful in her life. The students learned about the four throughout the year - Karma (Actions), Bhakthi (Faith), Dhyana (Meditation), and Jnana (Knowledge). From shloka recitations, weekly Yoga and breathing exercises, to planting marigold saplings (photos below), cleaning up the playground, and preparing for their final projects - the students have learned so much over the year and exemplified the four Yogas. To view the Recital - please click here.

Congratulations to the Winners of the final projects - Arjun (7y), Devi (7y) and Nandana (12y). To view all the final projects, click here

Family Dharma Class Students: Plant-a-Sapling, June 6, 2021 As part of their studies of the four Yogas (Karma Yoga), students from the Dharma Class planted Marigold saplings they grew at home. The students received the Marigold seeds when they helped clean up the temple playground earlier in the Spring.

9 Garden Committee Updates Formed this Spring, a group of volunteers have come together to form the Garden Committee at SSVT. This Committee has spent the last several weeks cleaning up our temple grounds, and establishing a community garden on our temple premises. As our Chairperson noted in his Chairperson’s Corner address, this group of volunteers have gone above and beyond to help beautify our grounds, to help welcome devotees back as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. We thank the local chapter of the Boys Scouts of America for there immense help. We sincerely thank these volunteers for their service to beautify our temple. If you are interested in joining, please contact Raji Ramesh at [email protected], or Murali Elambilan at Melambilan@gmail. com. As with all volunteer opportunities at our temple, students attending Public Schools will be eligible for Student Service Learning (SSL) hours.

10 Akshaya Vata Sandesh

June & July 2021- Calendar of Events

Date Day Event 09 Jun 2021 Wednesday Utharayana - Vasantha Ritu - Rishaba Maasa (Vaishaka) - Krushna Paksha – Darsha Amavasya (No Moon Day) 10 Jun 2021 Thursday Utharayana - Vasantha Ritu - Rishaba Maasa (Vaishaka) - Surya Grahana (Partial Solar Eclipse 15 Jun 2021 Tuesday Utharayana - Greeshma Ritu – Shadsheethi samanjasa Mithunaravi (Aani) Sankramana

09 Jul 2021 Friday Utharayana - Greeshma Ritu - Mithuna Maasa (Jyeshtha) - Krushna Paksha – Darsha Amavasya (No Moon Day) 16 Jul 2021 Friday Dakshinayana - Greeshma Ritu – Dakshinayana samanjasa Katakaravi (Aadi) Sankramana

1. Grahana Punya Kaalam => The mind is connected with the moon, the body is connected with the Earth and the Sun is connected with both. The time when all three come in alignment is good for spiritual practices | Thursday, 10 Jun 2021 => Partial Solar Eclipse Duration for our Geo-Location, SSVT, MD, USA Sunrise - 05:41 AM - Eclipse End Time - 06:29 AM 2. Recommended for everyone to recite during Surya Grahanam

योसौ व&धरो देव: आदद,यानाां0भ ◌ु त5म : । सू य9म होऩरागो,थ9हऩीडाां @यऩोहत ु । १ । योसौ दांडधरो देव: यर◌् ो द5हषवाहन: । सू य9म होऩरागो,थ 9हऩीडाां @यऩोहत ु । २ । योसौ श ◌ू ऱधरो देव: पऩनाकI वष ◌ृ वाहन: । सू य9म होऩरागो,थ9हऩीडाां @यऩोहत ु । ३ ।

yOsou vajradharO dEva: AdityaanaaM prabhurmata:| sUryagrahOparaagOtthagrahapIDaaM vyapOhatu | 1 | yOsou daMDadharO dEva: yamO mahiShavaahana: | sUryagrahOparaagOttha grahapIDaaM vyapOhatu | 2 | yOsou shUladharO dEva: pinaakI vRuShavaahana: | sUryagrahOparaagOtthagrahapIDaaM vyapOhatu | 3|

“Akshaya Vata” (The eternal tree) provides a holistic platform for our community in providing the facility, resources including not limited to priestly services, guidance and materials needed to perform. We give great importance to our dharmic tradition, unique way of remembrance, thanksgiving and celebration of life. It is the least that we can do our forefathers and pay our obeisance to them. We provide these services through two distinct facilities Paschima Gaya (Paścimā gayA – पि#चम गया) & Paschima Kashi (Paścimā Kāśi – पि#चम काशी) for Pitru Karma & Apara Karma respectively.

To know more, avail the services of Akshaya Vata, please reach out to [email protected]

SSVT Newsletter Jun 2021 Akshaya Vata Sandesh 11 May 2021

11 UPCOMING CULTURAL EVENTS Date & Time Event / Artist Venue & Admission Fee July 24, 2021 Annamacharya Day Online/Virtual All in-person Cultural events are canceled until further notice! YouTube Cultural Committee channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeh6oZq9u2rsf3fmc1QPooA Please subscribe and share with your friends and family. Contact the Cultural Committee at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Sri Annamacharya Festival

Saturday, July 24, 2021 9:00 am to 9:00 pm (virtual)

We will be honoring compositions by Sri Annamacharya through Saptagiri Samkeertana, Individual, Group Presentations, Mini Concerts, Dances, and Main Concert.

NOTE: All mini concerts strictly restricted to 30 min. Last date for receiving the videos is Friday, July 16, 2021

Main Vocal Concert by

Sri Prata Krishna Murthy

Accompanied by M. Satyanarayana Sarma (Violin) M. Surya Prasadarao ()

Your kind support and generous donation for the festival is greatly valued.

Click here to Donate

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS Digital Youth day Competitions 2021 - Balavikas of Fairfax, July 29th to August 1st, 2021 Balavikas of Fairfax will be conducting their Annual Youth Competitions from July 29th to August 1st. Children of all ages are invited to participate in the events including Coloring, Shloka Recital, Story Telling, Essay, Speech, and Recitation. There is no cost to participate. Complete details, including how to submit your entries digitally, can be found at www.balavikas.org. For questions please email [email protected] or call Medha Boddu at (571) 502-8177. The Air Tiger Robotics Club will be hosting a STEAM Coding Camp in July and August for six weeks, 20 hours per week, with four hour python coding for 12-14 year olds. This free event will be held at the Wagner Gym at 8401 Good Luck Road. Students will showcase their robots at the annual Labor Day Parade on Monday, September 4th at 10 AM. For more infor- mation, please contact Vijay Kowtha at [email protected] 12