November 2009 BBC Announcements: NARADA MUNI Balabhavan Coordinators st Narada Muni was a great devotee of Lord Talent Day on Nov 21 , Bharathy Thridandam Nithya Sudhakar Vishnu. He was a Maharishi, a renowned 2009 Sriram Srinivasan teacher, a divine messenger and also a !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [email protected] notorious ‘mischief-maker’. The word ‘Narada’ means one who gives knowledge to mankind Please note that the Talent Class Coordinators Day is scheduled on and imparts right guidance. In Hindu st scriptures Narada is considered a partial-avatar November 21 . Get those Super-Senior Class: of God, with the power to perform miracles on dancing feet and delightful Sudhakar Devulapalli: voices ready, plan a skit or behalf of Vishnu. [email protected] According to legend Narada was born from come up with a creative act Ashok Malavalli: the mind of Brahma. He was the chief of all related to the lessons you [email protected] Gandharvas and was sent to earth because of a have learned in Balabhavan Ram Krishnamurthy: curse. He was said to have invented the Veena or pertaining to Indian [email protected] and always loved to sing songs in praise of Lord culture. Vishnu. He travelled around the three worlds Senior Class: of Swargaloka, Mrityuloka and Patalloka with a Registrations for 2010 went Renuka Krishnan: very well, thanks to Veena in his hand and “Narayana, Narayana” [email protected] on his lips! Everywhere he went, he taught everyone’s cooperation. Anitha Chidambaram: words of wisdom, and told stories of moral Those who have not [email protected] registered can reapply online values through his songs of devotion to Lord Vishnu. and admissions will be Junior Class: extended as space permits. Seetha Janakiraman: Narada is famous as a mischief-maker and was known as kalaha-priya. He told the devas BBC Team [email protected] Sangeetha Prahalad: and asuras the secrets about each other, which November Birthdays: [email protected] made them hate one another and led to wars between them. Chanting “Narayana, Toddler: Akash Anand Toddler Class: Narayana,” sage Narada went across the three worlds spreading rumors, causing rifts. How Anjana Sriram Vidya Chari: Juniors: [email protected] can we call such a person a saint? Was it right that he set people against one another by Maya Gopala Murali Chari: Seniors: spreading gossip? In Vaikuntha he would tell [email protected] Aravind Krishnan Priya Ram: the Lord merrily about his tales of mischief. “Why do you cause so much trouble, Narada?” Super Seniors: [email protected] Apoorva Mylavarapu asked Lord Vishnu. Narada replied, “I don’t do Rahul Malavalli Registration coordinators: anything. I merely test their faith in you. If Panneer Selvam: they were your true devotees, would any of them be mean, greedy, envious or proud?” Festivals of the Month: [email protected] 11-01-09 Karthikai Deepam Matangi Munukutla: Vishnu burst out laughing and blessed his [email protected] dearest devotee. Priya Ram: [email protected] Newsletter Coordinator: Please visit the website for Krishna Meduri: more details … [email protected] (http://www.shiva-vishnu.org By Arvind Krishnan 7930 Arjons Drive, San Diego, CA 92126 Phone: (858) 549-3940 November 2009 ISSUE 10 - 1- November 2009 Class Schedules Why do some Indians wear Turbans ? 11-7-2009 Are they Hindus ? -by Smyra Ramesh SAGE KASHYAPA Toddler Class: Story: Story of Durga - Valli Annamalai Sloka: Budirbalam/ Manojavam -Anandhi Sriram Sikhs wear Turbans. A Sikh is one who Bhajan: Subrahmanyam follows Sikhism or in other words "any human Subrahmanyam - Nithya S being who faithfully believes in One God; ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Sri Guru Gobind Singh; the Sri Guru Granth Sahib - the religious Super Senior Class: text; the teachings of the ten Gurus and the Discussion: Seven somayajnas baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru”. The - Lalitha Kodandapani most common symbol of all Sikhs, because of its Sloka SL: 1-44, 54, 57, 72, 100 simplicity, is uncut hair (including beards for Kashyapa was an ancient -Lalitha Kodandapani men) and turbans. sage. He was one of the Lakshmi Devulapalli Sikhism is traditionally seen as a religion of saptarishis. He was the son of Bhajan: TEST: Indiv Review of warriors who were protectors of those who Marichi. Marichi was the son Shiva and Rama Bhajans (2008 - could not defend themselves. There was a (manasa putra) of Brahma. 09) - Latha Sundar practice in Punjab where Hindu families gave Kashyapa is the father of their first born son to the Guru to be baptized the nagas, devas, asuras, and 11-21-2009- - - - - - - - - - - - - as a Khalsa Sikh and join the Guru’s army of all of humanity. He married the Toddler Class, Super Senior protectors. This practice started when Guru 13 daughters of king Prajapati Class Gobind Singh in 1699 asked the Hindu families to Daksha. Aditi was one of the TALENT SHOW-3:00 -6:00p.m give him their eldest sons to help raise the new daughters he married. She gave Regular Class Cancelled Khalsa Army to protect Dharma. Thus families birth to agni, the adityas and whose kin are followers of Sikhism have their (lord Vishnu’s 5 avatar) 11-14-2009 eldest sons baptized as Khalsa Sikhs. That should vamana. Diti another wife gave Junior Class: address the question asking if Sikhs are Hindus. birth to the daityas. Kadru gave Story: Rama deserts Sita Now let me answer the question on why they birth to the nagas. -Rama Srinivas wear turbans… He is the author of Kashyapa Sloka: Review Namaramayana The turban of a Sikh is a gift given on Baisakhi Sumhita. It is considered a -Vijaya Purohit Day of 1699 by the Tenth Master, Guru Gobind classic reference book on Bhajan: Jaya Nanda Laala Singh. During Guru Gobind Singh’s time, the Ayurveda. (p18, #27) turban, or “dastar,” as it is called in Persian, The valley of Kashmir in the - Kalpana Palakodety / carried a totally different connotation from that Himalayas is named after him. - Bala Adimurthy of a hat in Europe. The turban represented There is a legend that Senior Class: respectability and was a sign of nobility. At that Kashyapa drained the lake. Story: Agni - Nithya Sudhakar time, a Mughal aristocrat or a Hindu Rajput There the valley emerged. It could be distinguished by his turban. So, to undo Sloka: Soundarya Lahari 1-32, was named Kashyapmira. Later 43, 44, 54, 57, 72, 100 this division between the rich and the downtrodden, Guru Gobind Singh commanded it became as Kashmir, con- Lakshmi Srinivasan sidered as heaven on earth. Bhajan – Review of Krishna and every Sikh to carry a sword, take up the name Singh or Kaur, and have kesh (hair) and turban Kashyapa means tortoise. Rama Bhajans - Sangeetha There is a story saying that Kadaba/Seema Madan displayed boldly, without any fear. This effectively made his followers see themselves the whole earth was given to on par with the Mughal rulers. Kashyapa, by Parashurama. It 11-28-2009 - came to be known as Kashyapi. Junior Class, Senior Class: Yogis or Sikhs do not cut their hair. They coil or knot it on top of head on their solar center. THANKSGIVING- By Muktha Phadnis Class cancelled Wrapping a turban everyday is a declaration that this head, this mind is dedicated to God. 7930 Arjons Drive, San Diego, CA 92126 Phone: (858) 549-3940 November 2009 ISSUE 10 - 2 - November 2009 Importance of burning Origin of Hinduism Pancha Mahayagnas Incense Devout Hindus perform the Pancha Mahayagnas or Five Incense means an aromatic Daily Sacrifices, in order to herb made into a fine live harmoniously in this powder. Incense is burned for world, by becoming sensitive to oneself, to others, and to experiencing its pleasant The Hindu word for religion is Dharma. It the environment. They are: fragrance or smell. Hinduism means one that holds society together from was probably the first religion disruption and disintegration. Hindu religion is Brahma Yagna: Brahma here to use incense in pujas and ‘Sanatana Dharma’ means the eternal religion. refers to the Vedas. This yagna prayers. Almost all the According to historians, the origin of is the study and teaching of religions around the world use one’s branch of the Veda (Rig, Hinduism dates back to 5,000 or more years. incense these days. The word "Hindu" is derived from the name of Sama, Atharva, Yajur). Now let’s explore the River Indus, which flows through northern importance of this religious Pitr Yagna: It is homage India. In ancient times the river was called the ritual. First of all it removes 'Sindhu', but the Persians who migrated to offered to one’s ancestors (Pitr means Father). The ritual all the unpleasant smells India called the river 'Hindu', the land is called tarpana and consists around the sacred place. It 'Hindustan' and its inhabitants 'Hindus'. Thus of invoking the ancestors also has an indirect effect in the religion followed by the Hindus came to be our minds and thoughts. It mentally and making a physical known as 'Hinduism'. eliminates negative thinkings. offering. It was earlier believed that the basic tenets Further more it brings out of Hinduism were brought to India by the spiritual feelings. Definitely, Deva Yagna: Deva Yagna is the Aryans who invaded the Indus Valley daily worship of the gods (Deva it has a healings influence on Civilization and settled along the banks of the us. Traditional Ayurvedic means God). Worship of the Indus River about 2000 BC. According to deities is in the form of a fire Indian medicine uses incense scholars, the evolution of Hinduism may be ritual called homa. Offerings as herbal therapy for treating divided into three periods: the ancient (6500 are made into the fire while health and mental disorders.