murugan temple newsletter - july, august, september 2012
DESCRIPTION
Murugan Temple Newsletter - July, August, September 2012TRANSCRIPT
6300 Princess Garden Parkway, Lanham, MD
20706. 301–552–4889, www.muruganTemple.org
NALLUR KATHIRKAMA KANTHAN
FESTIVAL
Murugan Temple will
celebrate the Nallur
Kathirkama Kanthan
festival with the chariot
run for the fourth
successive year on
August 10th and 11th. Please see
page 2 for more details of the
schedule.
EDUCATING THE GENX: MTNA’S FIRM
COMMITMENT AND ACTION
The Murugan Temple of North
America (MTNA), mindful of the
importance of nurturing the
glorious ancient traditions of Tamil
and Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma),
is dedicated to imparting this
distinguished cultural heritage to
the young children of its
congregation.
We believe that
it is imperative
to empower
our future
generation in a
way in which
they will be
knowledgeable,
confident and proud of their
heritage in this multi–cultural and
multi–religious society, so that they
become respectable members and
leaders of tomorrow. Teaching the
philosophy of Hinduism, especially
the monistic–theism, which is
worshiping God on the outside
(theism—taking part in the Hindu
rituals, festivals and pujas) and
(Continued on page 5)
Children rendering
bajans during a
Temple function
VINAYAKA CHATURTHI
Lord Ganesha or Vinayaka is the
remover of all obstacles. MTNA
will celebrate Vinayaka Chaturthi
on a grand scale on Sept 19th. . The
celebrat ions include Specia l
Abhishekam, Homam,
S a h a s r a n a m a m
r e c i t a t i o n a n d
Vinayaka procession.
Please mark your
c a l e n d a r s a n d
participate in the
celebrations.
KUMBABISHEKAM ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATIONS
The Kumbabishekam anniversary
celebrations were conducted on a
magnificent scale on June 1st and
2nd to coincide with Vaikasi
Visakham. The celebrat ions
included special Abhishekams,
Alankarams, Procession of the
deities around the Temple, Kavadi
and Pal kudam and Thiru
Klayanam. Devotees from different
parts of USA were present. Refer to
the Temple blog for photos from
the grand celebrations.
Index
Vinayaka Chaturthi—Announcement 1
Kumbabishekam 1
Educating the GenX—Article 1,3
Nallur Festival 1,2
Rajagopuram and Temple Expansion 3, 4
Vilakku Puja—Article 5
Nandavanam and Temple Blog 5
Saiva Saints Guru Puja - Article 6
Calendar 7
2
3
4
5
realizing God within oneself (monism—realizing the Self
God through meditation), is central and essential. To help
this, students learn to recite Hindu devotional songs
composed by our Saiva Saints in Carnatic or classical Indian
music style (Bajan), learn Hatha
Yoga and Tamil language in
classes conducted by the MTNA
Learning Center on alternate
Sundays between 10:15 AM and
1:00 PM at the Murugan Temple.
The Tamil, Bajan, Hinduism and
Yoga classes are taught
by volunteers who have in–depth
knowledge in the respective
areas. These classes at MTNA
were started about nine years ago by dedicated volunteers
with a mission to teach Hinduism and Tamil language and its
rich culture to the young generation born and/or brought up
in the USA.
Bajan classes are conducted by Ms. Rathini Vijayaverl, a
well–trained, enthusiastic and experienced guru in this field.
Hatha Yoga classes are led by a longtime practitioner of this
ancient life science and Murugan Temple member. Hatha
Yoga (also called Hatha Vidya) is a system of Yoga
described by Yogi Swatmarama—a Hindu sage of the 15th
century India and the compiler of Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
Religious classes are taught by several longtime MTNA
devotees, who are blessed with deep religious knowledge
and visualization. They are also members of the Master
Course Study Group, which strives to learn the Saiva
Siddhanda way of life leading to Self–Realization; this
Group was formed with the blessings of Satguru Sivaya
Subramuniyaswami, who established the Kauai’s Hindu
Monastery in 1970 and who was the foremost disciple of
Siva Yogaswami of Sri Lanka. Periodically, the MTNA
Learning Center receives teaching materials on Hinduism
from this Hindu Monastery and its monks offer help and
advice to the Hindu religion teachers.
The Tamil language classes are taught by volunteers who
have deep interest and knowledge in this language.
Currently, about 25 students are enrolled at the MTNA
Learning Center. There are more than ten dedicated
volunteers helping to run this Center. Based upon the
speaking and writing skills in Tamil, students follow a
structured six–year syllabus that is derived from the
curriculum put forward by the American Tamil Academy
(ATA), which is an organization that attempts to standardize
the curriculum for all Tamil schools in the USA.
(Continued from page 1)
Educating children in our
great tradition of Tamil,
music and yoga is an integral
part of the MTNA culture.
NANADAVANAM
We are always looking for volunteers, plants, and any other
material that you will like to donate towards the Temple
garden. We will be using the flowers at our daily Pujas.
Please contact the Temple manager or email to
[email protected] to volunteer or for more details.
CHITRA POORNIMA—VILAKKU PUJA
Many women participated in
the Vilakku Puja celebrations
held at the Temple on Chitra
Poornima. All Poornimas are
v e r y a u s p i c i o u s f o r
Meenakshi Amman. Chitra
Poornima, being the first
Poornima of the Tamil New
Year, is indeed very special. A
Vilakku Puja was conducted along with Lalitha Sahasranama
Archana for Meenakshi Amman to celebrate this auspicious
occasion. It is also the day when Chitragupta, the book-
keeper of all our deeds, starts his duty of book-keeping for
the year and worshipping on this occasion
guides us in good virtue. More than 50
women participated in the Puja and offered
Kumkuma Archana. This form of worship
is believed to bestow good health and well
-being to not only the women who perform
the Puja but to all their families, as it is
indeed a prayer by the motherly women to
the Mother of all worlds.
Holiness in red and yellow
hue
Prayer to the Mother
of all worlds
TEMPLE BLOG
Missed a Temple function? Want reminders for upcoming
events? You can catch up with photos from all past events and
get updates of upcoming events by signing up with blog
www.murugantemple.wordpress.com.
6
SAIVA SAINTS GURU PUJA—A UNIQUE FESTIVAL
OF THE MURUGAN TEMPLE
Saiva Saints Guru Puja is a
special celebration that is
unique to the Murugan
Temp le. T his fest iva l
commemorates the glorious
c o n t r i b u t i o n o f t h e
Nayanmars, the flag-bearers
of the Saivaite tradition, 63 of
them. Each one of them
d i s t i n g u i s h e d
themselves with their
immeasurable devotion
to lord Siva. They all
have shown us the way
to God by their lives
and deeds. We, their
fortunate descendants,
have been bequeathed a great treasure trove of
devotional literature in the form of Thirumurai,
Devaram, Thiruvempavai and many more. Each year,
this funct ion is
conducted at the
Murugan Temple on
the first Sunday of
April. This year, it was
held on April 1st. The
celebrations included
recitation of Thirumurai,
Pujas to all Nayanmars,
procession of Thirumurai
around the Temple and
religious discourse by a
Temple devotee. Students of
Temple’s religious classes attended the event and
rendered bajans. The kids also offered flowers and
fruits to the idols of the Nayanmars. Another very
special aspect of these
celebrations is that
along with the 63
Nayanmars, Late Sri.
Kripananda Vaariar, a
contemporary Saiva
philosopher and ardent
devotee of Lord
Muruga is a lso
felicitated during the
event. This is also one Temple event where the
participation of young
children is strongly
e mp h a s i z e d a nd
encouraged. And in
testimony to the
Temple’s efforts to
educate the next
g e n e r a t i o n i n
Hinduism, lots of kids
participated in the
ce le br a t io ns a nd
recited Tamil prayers and bajans.
Commemoration of
Thirumurai
Tamil Saints called the Nayanmars have bequeathed to us a
great tradition of devotion.
Procession of Thirumurai
Kids offering flowers and fruits to
idols of Nayanmars
Religious discourse by a devotee
during the guru Puja
Children rendering prayers and
Bajans was a key highlight of the
Guru Puja celebrations
7
Make Murugan Temple’s Rajagopuram Part of Your Legacy First Brick (Special) - $51 Ten Bricks – $1,010
North or South Gopuram $250,000
Sponsor Festival Days Panguni Uthiram All Day Sponsorship $101 Kumbabishekam Sponsorship: Both Days $251
Kumbabishekam Sponsorship: One Day $151
Sponsor Temple Operations Full day of temple operations $750
Full month: Garlands (all deities) $900 Full month: Abhishekam and Omam provisions $450
Full month: Milk $250 A full week of Garlands (all deities) $125
One day: Simple garland for a deity........ $ 15 Choice of Deity for garland :_________________________
Please indicate desired dates :_______________________________
MTNA Newsletter Printing and Mailing $__________
Check Enclosed for $__________ Name _________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________ City State _________ ZIP __________________ Phone ____________E–Mail ________________________________ Family Gothiram _________________________________________ Birth Star (el:rj;jpuk;) ________ Name of Family Member
___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________
Please use separate sheet for additional family members
Mail: The Murugan Temple of North America, 6300 Princess Garden Parkway,Lanham, MD 20706 – Please address checks to MTNA.
You can now make contributions and fill-out your donation forms on-line at www.murugantemple.org
Ganapati Tunai “Why Fear? I Am Within You and Protect You Always” — Murugan
JULY
Shashti—July 8th
Noon– thirumurai recital in front of
Siva sannidhi
06:00pm Murugan Abhishekam
Tamil month Adi begins—July 15th
Adai amavasai—July 18th
Adi Pooram—July 22nd
10:30AM Meenakshi Abhishekam
6:00pm Meenakshi Sahasranamam
Varalakshmi Vratam—July 27th
AUGUST
Yajur Upakarma—Aug 1st
Contact manager for more details
Nallur Festival Day 1—Aug 10th
09:15AM Ganapathi Homam and
Abhishekam
10:00AM subramanya Homam and
Abhishekam
06:30pm Ganapathi Sahasranamam
and Procession
07:30pm Palani Andavar Special
Abhishekam (Thiru Karthigai) .
Nallur Festival Day 2—Aug 11th
08:00AM Ganapathi Puja
08:45AM Kavadi, Pal Kudam and
Murugan Abhishekam
11:00AM Utsavar ascending Ratham
and procession
01:00pm Lunch
02:15pm Utsavar descending Ratham
03:00pm thiru Kalyanam and Murugan
procession inside Temple,
Sahasranamam and Archana.
Tamil month avani begins—
Aug 16th
Thiru Onam—Aug 29th
SEPTEMBER
Sept 9th
Noon Thirumurai recital in front of
Siva Sannidhi
Tamil month Purattasi begins—
Sept 16th
Sama Upakarma—Sept 16th
Vinayaka Chaturthi—Sept 19th
09:00AM Ganapathi Homam and
Special Abhishekam
07:00pm Ganapathi Sahasranamam
and Procession
Nataraja Abhishekam—Sept 28th
06:00pm Nataraja Abhishekam
Mahalaya Paksha Sraddha begins—
Sept 30th
MONTHLY EVENTS
Pradosham—July 1, 16, 30, Aug 14, 28
and Sept 13 and 27.
06:00pm Siva Special Abhishekam
Poornima—July 2, Aug 1, 30 and Sept
29.
Adhi Parasakthi Puja—July 29, Aug 26,
Sept 30 at 02:30pm
Shankatahara Chaturthi—July 6, Aug 5
and Sept 3
07:00pm Ganesha special
Abhishekam
Shashti—July 8, Aug 7 and Sept 6
06:00pm Shanmuga Abhishekam
Karthigai—July 13, Aug 10 and Sept 6*
07:30pm Palani Andavar Abhishekam
*- Abhishekam at 07:30pm
Friday Bajans—July 6, 20, Aug 3, 17
and Sept 7, 21
08:00pm Singing Bajans.
8
TEMPLE SERVICES: Please call the Temple Manager
at 301 552-4889 to make prior arrangements for
ceremonies at the Temple or in your home.
Also, ask for information about local hotels.
TEMPLE HOURS: Monday – Friday 9 am – 12 noon
& 5 pm - 9 pm; Saturday, Sunday, & Holidays 9 am – 9
pm
AUDITORIUM: The Temple’s auditorium capable of
seating about 200 people in the basement is available for
rent by Devotees. The Temple has also ample parking
space. Call the Temple Manager at 301 552-4889 for
reservations.
DIRECTIONS TO MURUGAN TEMPLE: From I-95
(also 495, Capital Beltway), take exit 20-A, Lanham (Rte
450 East), then follow the signs to Princess Garden
Parkway. Turn right on Princess Garden Parkway.
“Murugan Temple” is on your left within half a mile (6300
Princess Garden Parkway).
From Baltimore-Washington Parkway take Exit to Rt. 193
East Greenbelt Road. Turn left on Greenbelt Road. Turn
right on Hanover Parkway, which becomes Princess
Garden Parkway. Drive about 2.5 miles. The temple will
be on your right.
Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
So. MD
Permit No. 3958
Murugan Temple of North America
6300 Princess Garden Parkway
Lanham, MD 20706, USA
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
The Murugan Temple of North America is a traditional Saivite
Temple. It has a floor area of 7000 sq. ft with main sannidhi for
Murugan (Karthikeya) and 4 small sannidhis for Vinayaka (Ganesha),
Nataraja (Siva), Meenakshi and Palani Andavar. We also have an
auditorium that is available for community use.