Satsang Sandesh A monthly news magazine of India Temple Association, Inc. Hindu Temple, 25 E. Taunton Ave, Berlin, NJ 08009 SOUTH JERSEY ♦ DELAWARE ♦ PENNSYLVANIA Vol. 38 No. 2 Phone: (855) MYMANDIR (855-696-2634) www.indiatemple.org FEBRUARY 2012 MAHA SHIVRATRI CELEBRATION ON February 20, 2012 Abhishek of Lord Shiva from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Also, there will be Rudrabhishek and Abhishek performed in the afternoon from 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm One of the most religious Hindu festivals, Maha Shivaratri falls on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Phalguna (February- March), and is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. Maha Shivratri is the night when He is said to have performed the Tandava Nritya or the dance of pri- mordial creation, preservation and destruction. The festival is observed for one day and one night only. Maha Shivratri is universally observed by all pious Hindus with fasting, singing of bhajans, recital of Sanskrit shlokas, offering of prayers, flowers, fruits and food that is specially prepared in honor of the deity and his divine consort, goddess Parvati. The Puranas contain many stories and legends describing the origin of this festival. According to one, during the samudra manthan, Religious Calendar a pot of poison emerged from the ocean. This terrified the Gods and demons as the poison was capable of destroying the entire world, and they ran to Shiva for help. To protect the world from Feb 3, Friday its evil effects, Shiva drank the deathly poison but held it in his throat instead of swallowing it. Jaya Ekadashi This made his throat turn blue, and he was given the name Neelakanta, the blue-throated one. Shivaratri is the celebration of this event by which Shiva saved the world. According to another Feb 7, Tuesday legend in the Shiva Purana, on the 14th day in the dark half of the month of Phalguna, Shiva first Purnima manifested himself in the form of a Linga, and this day is especially auspicious and is celebrated Feb 17, Friday as Mahashivaratri. Worshipping Shiva on this day is believed to bestow one with happiness and prosperity. Vijaya Ekadashi Mahashivaratri is thus not only a ritual but also a cosmic definition of the Hindu universe. It dis- Feb 20, Monday pels ignorance, emanates the light of knowledge, makes one aware of the universe, ushers in the Maha Shiv Ratri spring after the cold and dry winter, and invokes the supreme power to take cognizance of the Celebration in Mandir beings that were created by Him. Mar 4, Sunday Special Prayers Amalaki Ekadashi ITA has a program whereby you can have prayers performed on your behalf every year on a special day in your life by pledging $301. Also, at your request, Shri. Bhupendra Shuklaji will perform a special puja on your behalf, or the regular temple puja performed on the designated Monthly Activities day will be dedicated in your name. Below are the donors for this month. Feb 3, Friday Vishnu Sahasranama Parayanam Sushil Bhatnagar Feb. 03 Ghanshyam Dave Feb. 20 Akshay Amin Feb. 06 Maya & Mason Doshi Feb. 20 Monthly Bhajans Narendra Amin Feb. 06 Priti Patel Feb. 23 Kiran Doshi Feb. 07 Gopal Patel Feb. 23 Feb 17, Friday, 8-9 p.m. Naresh Talati Feb. 07 Champak Patel Feb. 25 Satya Sai Baba of Medford P.K. Prabhakar (856) 596-3147 Rushikesh Parghi Feb. 13 Manoj Shah Feb. 26 Sesha Vemuri (856) 751-0867 Jadev Gajera Feb. 14 Samit Desai Feb. 28 Vaishali & Rajubhai Patel Feb. 16 Jagdish-Maya Shah Feb. 16 Other Bhajan Groups will Neel Kadakia Feb. 17 be rescheduled from Spring Senior Citizen’s Program Thursday February 16, 6:30 pm to 9:15 pm Topic of Insurance: Insurance affects all business and personal economic transactions in the modern world. Understanding the business of insurance well enough and various regulations governing insurance is important. In exchange for your premium (a relatively small, periodic payment), the insurance company issues a policy (legal contract) and assumes the risk (liability) for the loss to you. It pays the covered claims when the damage occurs. For seniors, insurance coverage pro- vides a relatively inexpensive way of protecting their health and wealth.Bal We-Vihar have invited Updates Sri Kirit D. Patel, PE, CLU, who is also our member, to review and demystify the business of insurance for us. Taking examples from insurance of life, health, auto, and property, he will explain how one chooses a qualified and experienced Bal insurance-Vihar agent, started types this of insurers, year on insurance Sunday, plans, September their important 26, features 2010 at such Cherokee as liability Highlimits (yourSchool financial with obligation a record to num- others), exclu- sionsber and inclusions,of children conditions participating. and exceptions With (what over is or 200 is not children typically covered)signed byup a forgiven the kind 2010 of policy,-2011 how year, to file the cla enthusiasmims accurately frometc. etc. both This in- formation will help you choosing what is best for you. This will afford us the peace of mind. Please remember that unsuitable insurance choices may childrennot properly and protect parents you wasfrom evident.all risks and Registration losses. The talk for will the be2010 followed-2011 by year a question is now- answerclosed; period. however, a waiting list will Bus beTrip: maintained. For each of the ten sessions, children will learn not only about Hindu heritage and culture, but The alsosenior about citizens‘ the group various is arranging Hindu festivals.a bus trip on They April will 8, 2012 partake to the inWashington, both yoga DC and area Aarti to visit as twowell. Hindu As directortemples (Mu Latarug Pim-an Temple of Northplaskar America has andstated, Sri Siva “Bal Vishnu-Vihar Temple) is the placeat Lanham, where MD children and to see make the monuments, friends and and learn memorials about and their other heritage. sites of interes It willt d beuring the cherrya valuable blossom experience time of our and nation‘s an essential capital. ingredient to building confidence.” On the OctoberFor more 10th informationsession, children about the learnt program, the activities,story and and significance to join the group, of Navratri. please contact: Classes talked about the glory of Maa Durga,Suraj Maa Bhan Laxmi, Singh, and by phone: Maa Saraswati.(856) 582-5035 The or importance email ([email protected] of all goddesses) toor achieve success in all that we do was emphasized.Narsinh N. The Sangani session by phone: concluded (856) 435with-2128 lunch or email sponsored ([email protected] by Naresh and). Yamini Patel, Arun and Sapana Patel, and Chetan and Leeta Puwar. We thank them for their dedicated support. For the Diwali session on November 14th, 2010,Bal each Vihar child Programwill be individually performing a Laxmi Puja and will learn the meaning of this ritual. ―Tilgud ghya goad goad bola!‘ Take the sesame sweets and speak sweet! We are currently looking for lunch sponsors. If you are interested, please contact Chetana Giyanani for more Jan 14th is Makar Sankranti. It is the day for worshipping Sun god, praying for good crop, asking for forgive- information:ness or cleansing, communal harmony and renewing relations and friendships. On Jan 8th the Bal Vihar session began with children learning about Makar Sankranti. In India every state celebrate the festival according to their Chetanatradition. Giyanani, In North Cell: it‘s (732) celebrated 322- 6212as ‗Lohari‘, Email: in [email protected] it‘s ‗Pongal‘ and in Gujrath it‘s ‗Uttarayan‘ etc. Children learnt about the Sun god and his seven horses symbolizing rays of rainbow. They also learnt eight names of god Sun – Surya and meaning of the names. It was ended with chanting of Gayatri mantra and children enjoyed Prasad of Tilgud and other tidbits. Next month children will learn about Shiva, will participate in abhishekam to celebrate Mahashivratri. They also will enjoy a dance performedSenior about ShivaCitizens' by an older Program student of Bal Vihar. If you would like to sponsor lunch Sunday for Bal NovemberVihar group please14, 11:30 contact a.m. Dinesh to Depani3:00 p.m. AT [email protected]. (Gagan Palace) On behalf of entire group Bal Vihar we would like to thankThursday following November members for 18, sponsoring 6:30 p.m. lunch to on9:15 January p.m. 2012. (Temple) 1/8/2012—Sangeeta & Nilesh Doshi, Alpa & Ambrish Patel, Rupal & Samir Shah Our1/22/2012 Group— Dakshahas been & Arpit organizing Raval the Annual & Diwali Function in November every year. This year's celebra- tions will be held on Sunday November 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The venue is Gagan Palace Restau- rant (located near Desi Bazaar), Stratford, Phone: 627- 6200. The fee is $11.00 for members. Mr. Bhavesh Gala and his Gunjan group haveLife graciously Members Recognition offered to perform and entertain us, creating a festive Thankatmosphere You for your with support! their Asmelodious a token of songs. our appreciation, Our members we are honoringare also youexpected through to this show newsletter. their musical The Temple talents will attempt to fulfill your many needs in the coming years by providing you and your loved ones a place to worship, to commemorate important events in your(instrumental, life, to share withvocal) the atcommunity the occasion. at large You in cultural will enjoyevents/ snacks festivals and and aattend vegetarian spiritual buffetdiscourses/classes dinner. Friends, this is your function so celebrate with gusto and enthusiasm. Please join us because in the end, " It's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years!" HONOREES Bhupesh and Sapna Vasisht In the winter months of November through February, we will have only one meeting scheduled per month at the temple premises.