MTNA Newsletter

7/23/2019 MTNA Newsletter

1/8

A New Religious Event at MTNASubramanya LaksharchanaSaturday, November 14, 2015

100 Devotees will chant Subramanya Sahasranamam(1008 names of Lord Murugan)

At 5:30 pm in the MTNA prayerhall

Please join us and bring flowers and/or fruitAdvance Registration Fee: $11

MURUGAN TEMPLE OF NORTH AMERICA

Oct. Dec. 2015

NEWSLETTER

tl mbkhpff KUfdMyak

MTNA GALA FUNDRAISER EVENTSATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2015

5 pm 10 pmLaurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center7120 Contee Road, Laurel, MD 20707

LIGHT MUSICDELICIOUS CATERED VEGETARIAN FOOD

DOOR PRIZES AND RAFFLE

SPONSORS WELCOME

AN UPDATE ON THEMURUGAN TEMPLE RAJAGOPURAM PROJECT

The construction of the five tier temple tower is nearingcompletion. There are beautiful sculptures of Sri Murugan,Sri Dhakshinamurthy and Sri Brahma and two Dhwara-palaka figures on each tier facing east. Other intricate or-namental work adds to the majesty of the tower. The pro-

portions of thestatues in-stalled are

c a r e f u l l ymatched to theheight of thetower in eachtier. We areexcited to seethis phase ofp a i n s t a k i n gwork by silpisbeing com-pleted.

Architectural work in the main prayer hall will continue as the silpis get prepared to take it on in the very neafuture. On the top part of the south side wall, MeenakshiSundareswarar Thirukkalyanam is being depicted. Twexpert silpis are in the process of creating Murugan-VaThirukkalyanam sculpture to be installed on the north sidwall. The plastered walls in the prayer hall will be used tdisplay the Arupadai Veedu as well as the Nallur anKathirgamam versions of Lord Murugan.

| fzgjp iz

ahkpUf f

gankd


2/8

MAJOR CELEBRATIONS AND RELIGIOUS EVENTS AT MTNAOCTOBER DECEMBER 2015

Please check the details in the 2015 MTNA calendaror visit our website: www.murugantemple.org

Information is available with the Temple manager at:301-552-4889

PLEASE DONATE GENEROUSLY TO THE MTNARAJAGOPURAM AND

TEMPLE EXPANSION PROJECT

Lord Murugan devotees are captivated by the steady progress of the

Rajagopuram project. This is a project of the devotees, by the devoteesand for the devotees. The Fundraising Team is pleased with the re-

sponse thus far from the devotees in terms of the donations andpledges so far. But, the project calls for steady stream of more funds tomove forward. Please contact the temple manager at 301-552-4889 to

see about the mode of donating to the project.

PLEASE DONATE TODAY!You can donate online too!

Details at: www.murugantemple.org

OCTOBER

Tues. Oct 13 Wed. Oct. 21 Navarathri (page 4)Sponsorship:All 9 days: $251Any single day: $51Durgashtami day(Tuesday, Oct. 20): $101

Thursday, Oct. 22 - Vijaya Dasami

NOVEMBER

Thurs. Nov. 12 - Tues. Nov. 17Skanda Sashti(page 5)Six day sponsorship: $251

Sat. Nov. 14 - Subramanya Laksharchana

Sat. Nov. 21 - Skanda Sashti andThiruchendur Vetri Vizha CelebrationSponsorship: $151

Sat. Nov. 28 - Karthigai Deepam andSwamimalai Guru Vizha Celebration(page 5) Sponsorship: $151

DECEMBER

Thurs. Dec. 31 - New Years Eve CelebrationCultural Program11:00 pm BhajanSpecial Midnight Puja

SRI KALA SAMHARAMOORTHY

The above is a sketch of Sri Kala Samharamoorthyform of Lord Shiva who granted immortality (forever sixteeyears of age) to Markandeya when the latter was to btaken by Yama. This form of Lord Shiva is worshipped iThirukkadaiyur in Tamil Nadu; the sivalingam at this tem

ple is known as Amrithakadeshwarar. Another name foLord Shiva at this place is Lord Mrithunjayamoorth(conquorer of death).

A granite statue of Sri Kala Samharamoorthy will be installed at MTNA, facing north, in between Sri Durga Sannidhi and Lord Shiva Sannidhi. It is believed that MTNAwill be the first temple in the US to install this deity. Thosewho wish to receive Lord Shivas blessings for a long lifare sure to find this a welcome addition to our temple.

Dear Murugan DevoteesIt is that time of the year to make your

Annual Year-End taxdeductible contribution to MTNA

PLEASE DONATE GENEROUSLY TO THE MTNARAJAGOPURAM ANDTEMPLE EXPANSION PROJECTS

PLEASE DONATE TODAY!You can donate online too!

Please contact the temple at 301-552-4889 to see about themode of donating to the projects.

Details at: www.murugantemple.org

2


3/8

Skanda Shasti Mahotsavam and ThiruchendurVerri Vizha Celebration 2015

At MTNA Skanda Shasti Mahotsavam will be cele-brated for six days from November 12 to 17 and culminatein a special celebration as Skanda Sashti and Thiruchen-

dur Vetri Vizha on Saturday, November 21, 2015. Thisholy week will include homam, abhishekam, kavadi, palku-dam, laksharchana, religious talk, and Murugan thirukaly-anam. Please consult the temple calendar for details aboutthese events and sponsor an event of your liking.

As per Skanda Puranam, devas were being trou-bled by the demon Surapadman and for relief from this de-mon, the Devas and Indra asked Lord Shiva for help. LordShiva told Indra, "I am to get a son who will put an end toyour sufferings." Lord Shiva created Muruga through histhird eye. Lord Muruga went to battle with Surapadman, hisbrothers and his army. Devi Parvathy gave her son LordMuruga the powerful spear (Vel). In the battle, Lord Muru-gan won over Surapadman. Using the Vel (spear), LordMuruga split Surapadman in two pieces. These two piecesbecame the peacock (Lord Murugans vahanam) and therooster (the symbol in Lord Murugans flag). The moral ofthe story is not only victory over evil, but also the forgive-ness of the wrong doing of your enemies to make foes intofriends. Skanda Shasti is celebrated to mark Lord Muru-gans victory over demon Surapadman.

Skanda Shasti is celebrated in all Murugan tem-ples from North America to the Batang caves in Malaysia,and beyond. However, it is more grandiose at Thiruchen-dur Temple. Thiruchendur temple is one of the six homes

of Murugan; and is believed to be the place of the battleagainst Lord Murugan and Surapadman. This temple islocated on the seashore facing south. The epic written inseventh century, titled Skanda Puranam, narrates the storyof the war between Lord Murugan and Surapadman. InThiruchendur, this scene is enacted on the last day of theKandar Shasti. We, at Murugan Temple of North America,will have similar enactment on November 17 at 7:30 pm. Itis a nice opportunity for young children to learn the story bywatching the enactment. During Skanda Shasti, devoteesrecite the Kandar Shasti poem written by Devaraya Swami-gal.

"Thuthiporkku val vinai pom, Thunpam pom,pathiporkku selvam palithu kadithongum

Nishtayum kaikoodumNimalar Arul kanthar sashti kavacham thanai Nenjil "

The poem says:

The great sufferings and sorrow will vanish for those who pray,The riches will increase for those who paste it in their mind,

All penance will surely bear fruit,

FUTURE SCULPTURES IN THE PRAYER HALL

Four samples of 16 Different forms (amsams) ofLord Subramanya

Dwarapalakas for Sivan and Murugan Sannidhis

Somaskandan

3


4/8

MTNAGALA

FUNDRAISEREVENT

Saturday, Dec. 5, 20155 pm10 pm

Laurel-Beltsville Senior ActivityCenter

7120 Contee RoadLaurel, Maryland 20707

LIGHT MUSICDELICIOUS CATEREDVEGETARIAN FOOD

RAFFLES AND DOOR PRIZES

SPONSORS WELCOME

Please mark your calendar and attend

the event to support the MTNARajagopuram andTemple Expansion Projects

NAVARATHRI CELEBRATIONS, 2015Tuesday, October 13

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

DailySchedule

11:00 am Meenakshi Special Abishekam (Day 1 - 4

and Day 7 & Day 9 - these are week days)10:30 am Meenakshi Special Abishekam

(Day 5 & 6: Sat. Oct. 17 and Sun. Oct. 18)

Evenings: Lalitha Sahsranamam (After other scheduled

weekly Abishekams)

Note: Please consult the MTNA calendar for start time

of Lalitha Sahasranamam

Durgashtami on Tuesday, October 20, 2015

9:00 am Chandi Homam

1:00 pm Durga Special Abishekam

Sponsorship for all 9 days: $ 251.00Sponsorship for Durgashtami Day: $ 101.00

One day sponsorship for other days: $ 51.00

Special Alankaram to Meenakshi Amman every day!All are invited!!

4


5/8

MURUG N TEMPLE OF NORTH MERIC

Skanda Sashti MahotsavamNovember 12 - 17, 2015

Full sponsorship for 6 days (Nov 12-17) $251

Day 1 Thurs. Nov 12 Day 2 Fri Nov 13

Day 5 Mon Nov 16

Day 3 Sat Nov 14

Day 4 Sun Nov 15

Skanda Sashti Day

Tue Nov 17

9:00am Ganapathi

Homam and

Abishekam

9:00am Ganapathi

Abishekam

9.45am Subramanya

Homam, Palkudam

& Kavadi

9:30am Palkudam &

Kavadi

10:00am Palkudam &

Kavadi

9.30am Subramanya

Homam, Palkudam &

Kavadi

11:00am Murugan

Abishekam

10:00am Murugan

Abishekam

11:00am Murugan

Abishekam

11:00am Murugan

Abishekam

6:00pm Murugan

Sahasranamam

6:00pm Murugan

Sahasranamam

6:00pm Murugan Sa-

hasranamam

7:30pm Soora

Samharam

Sponsorship: $101 Sponsorship: $ 75 Sponsorship: $ 101 Sponsorship: $ 101

MTNA Offers Tamil and Religious ClassesFor Children

The Murugan Temple offers Tamil, Bhajan, and Religious classes forChildren. Classes are on alternate Sundays from 10:15 AM until 1 PM and

include a short lesson on Hatha Yoga. Tamil language classes arecertified by theAmerican Tamil Academy (ATA).

Please contact Dr. Pathmathevan Mahadevan,[email protected] OR

Mr. Vayudeva Varadan, [email protected] for details.

2015

Wednesday, Nov. 25Karthigai DeepamAll day sponsorship: $1516:00 pm Annamalai Deepam6:30 pm Palani Andavar Special Abishekam

_________________________

Saturday, Nov. 28

Karthigai Deepam andSwami Malai Guru Vizha Celebratio

9:30 am

Ganapathi Puj10 amPalkudam and Kavad11 amMurugan Special Abishekam

Bhajan and Short tal12:30 pmDeeparadhana

6:00 pm Deepam

All day sponsorship: $151

5


6/8

Temple as the Source of Culture

For some twenty-five years, from about 1975 to2001 my guru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami was instrumentalin helping temples get established. Gurudeva guided 37temples in the United States, Canada, Guadeloupe, Den-mark, England, Fiji, Germany, Mauritius, New Zealand,

Reunion, Russia, Sweden, and Sri Lankagiving eachcommunity or temple an icon of God, usually Lord Gane-sha, and guidance when needed. Lord Ganesha icon in-stalled and worshipped in MTNA was a gift of Gurudeva.

Why did Gurudeva devote so much energy to help-ing establish the temples of organizations with no formalties to his? He did it because of a strong conviction that it isthe temple that perpetuates the culture. In other words, ifHindus move to a country and do not build a temple, after afew generations Hindu culture will have been lost.

Gurudeva stated: Its our relationship with God,the Gods and the Goddesses that establishes our relation-ship with men, women and children. Culture comes frombeing sensitive to other peoples feelings as we are sensi-tive within the temple to the feelings of the Gods and thevibration emanating from the inner sanctum. Without relig-ion in ones life and the practice of that religion in the homeshrine, in the temple, and pilgrimage once a year to a faroff place, culture quickly fails and the competitive culturecomes into play. As long as religion and worship and thepractice of pilgrimage and all the refinements of our greatreligion are present, culture will be there.

The Hindu temple can act as a powerful spiritualhub that radiates out Hindu culture and devotional prac-

tices into the homes of those families who attend regularly.Regularly means at least once a week. The process ofstrengthening culture can happen on a number of levels.

The most basic is simply learning and following themany traditions and protocols associated with visiting atemple. No devout Hindu will approach the sacred home ofGod without proper preparation. The simple necessitiesinclude a bath, donning clean clothes and preparing anoffering tray, whether simple on a normal day or elaboratefor a festival. These acts are all important parts of temple-going.

On arrival we need to wash our feet and handleshoes in the specified way. Then the customary prostra-tions to the Deities, followed by circumambulation and pre-senting our offerings with a loving heart. When attendingpuja, men and women may be required to sit on separatesides of the mandapam. At key points throughout the riteswe pray and respond in specific ways. As children followthe parents traditional protocols, they develop an apprecia-tion for worship and sacred objects, respect for elders, anunderstanding of the importance of physical cleanliness

and mental purity, and a fondness for familial and communal devotion.

After years of such practice, essential charactequalities, such as humility and devotion, can deepen. Devotion here means love of God. These qualities, which arpresent in every cultured Hindu, may not develop in an individual growing up in the West unless he or she particpates in regular worship.

The second level of the temples influence on thhome begins when a shrine is established in the home anworshipped at daily. Wherever possible, it should be separate room, not in a cabinet or on a shelf. Such a dedcated space makes everyone living in the home think morabout God, reflect more on their behavior and be less inclined to become angry or argue, as they are living iGods presence.

Going to the temple every week can actually brinsome of the temples sanctity into the shrine room. My gurtaught that lighting an oil lamp in the shine room after coming home from the temple brings the temples shakti int

your home. That devotional act brings devas who were athe temple into the home shrine, where, from the inneworld, they can bless the family and protect the home.

The temples third level of cultural influence beginwhen a family member, generally the father, performregular puja in the home. In a sense, he becomes the family priest, emulating the temple priests while following simpler, non-public liturgy known as atmartha puja. Such full puja done daily steadily strengthens the homes relgious vibration.

The fourth level of temple influence on the hom

begins when the shrine is strong enough that we feel thathe main Deity of the shrine, for example Lord Murugan oLord Siva is the head of the house. When that happens, wwould never think of having a meal without first offering portion to God. We would naturally want to always worshiGod, even if briefly, before leaving the home and upon returning. Nandri. Vanakkam.

(Speech given by Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami at theNallur Festival, MTNA, August 8, 2015.)

6


7/8

LIFE MEMBERSHIP

At the Annual General Body meeting in July, 2015the Board of Trustees of MTNA got an unanimous approvalof the list of Life Membership awarded to the followingdevotees of the temple. The list includes six memberswho were previously awarded the status of Life Member-

ship.

BALASUBRAMANIAN, V.

CHANDRA B. CHANDRAN

CHELLAM SUBRAMANIAN

ELYATHAMBY VIGNARAJAH

GOPAL GURUSWAMY

KANAGASABAI LOGANATHAN

KANNAPPAN

KEN KANAGALINGAM

KRISHNAN RAMASWAMY

KRISHNAN S. KUMAR

KUMARATCHI KRISHNAMURTHY

L. SEENIVASAN

M.N. KRISHNAN

MALATHI KUMERSAN

MANI SHANKAR

MANICKAM KRISHNAMURTHY

MOUNA P. SELVAM

NATARAJAN RAVENDRAN

NIGEL S. SIVA

NIRANJAN SARAVANAPAVAN

PATHMINI SARAVANAPAVAN

PUVANESWARY SATCHITHANANDAM

RAMANATHA SRIDHARAN

RAMU ARUMUGAM

SABA KULATHUNGAM

SAMBANDAM BASKARAN

SARASWATHI RANGANATHAN

SARAVANAN MANIMEKALAI

SENTHAMARAI GANDHI

SIVA NAVARATNAM

SRIDHARAN S. IYENGAR

SRINI V. SRINIVASAN

SRINIVASAN V. SARMA

SUSEELA KRISHNAN

TIRUNILAYI SESHADRI

VIJAY JANAKIRAMAN

VIJAYAKUMAR KANDASWAMY

RECENT RELIGIOUS EVENTS AT MTNA

Sri Kovai Jayaramans Thiruppugazh Bhajan, July 2015

Guru Peyarchi Puja, July 2015

Nallur Festival, August 2015

Sri Rudra Homam, September, 2015

7


8/8

Murugan Temple

of North America

6300 Princess Garden Parkway, Lanham,Maryland 20706, USA

www.murugantemple.org

301-552-4889

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Devotees are the foundation of any temple. Volunteers are the pillars. MTNA needs more volun-teers. We cordially invite the devotees to volunteer a few hours a month to help on various occa

sions. Please join the dedicated team of volunteers to show your devotion to Lord Murugan.Please contact Dr. Manimekalai Saravanan at the temple phone number.

You can find us on the Face Book athttps://www.facebook.com/MuruganTempleNorthAmerica

The Murugan Temple of North America is a traditionalHindu Temple. It has a floor area of 7000 sq. ft withmain sannidhi for Murugan (Karthikeya) and separatesannidhi for each of the other deities: Vinayaka(Ganesha), Durgai Amman, Siva, Meenakshi Ammanand Palani Andavar. Navagrahas are featured as well.Visit our web site: www.murugantemple.org

TEMPLE HOURS: Monday Friday 9 am 12 noon & 5 pm - 9 pm

Saturday, Sunday, & Holidays 9 am9 pm.

TEMPLE SERVICES: MTNA Priests are available to perform religiou

ceremonies for devotees. Please call the Temple Manager to discuss you

needs and make prior arrangements for ceremonies at the Temple or in you

home. Also, ask for information about local hotels for your short stay durin

visit to the temple.

AUDITORIUM: The Temples auditorium capable of seating about 200 peopl

in the basement is available for rent by Devotees. The Temple has also ampl

parking space. Please call the Temple Manager at 301 552-4889 fo

reservations.

DIRECTIONS TO MURUGAN TEMPLE: From I-95 (also 495, Capita

Beltway), take exit 20-A, Lanham (Rte 450 East), then follow the signs to

Princess Garden Parkway. Turn right on Princess Garden Parkway. Muruga

Temple is on your left within half a mile (6300 Princess Garden Parkway).

From Baltimore-Washington Parkway take Exit to Rt. 193 East Greenbe

Road. Turn left on Greenbelt Road. Turn right on Hanover Parkway, whic

becomes Princess Garden Parkway. Drive about 2.5 miles. The temple will be

on your right.

MURUGAN TEMPLE PUJA FUND

We use flowers and garlands, milk andfruits for deities for daily pujas as well as for spe-cial occasions. Please donate generously to theMTNA PUJA FUND. Contact 301-552-4889for online donation or for other ways to donate.

cUtha mUtha csjha; yjha

kUtha kyuha kzpaha xspaha

fUtha capuhaf;fjpaha tpjpaha

FUtha tUtha mUs;tha;Ffnd

- fejh; mEg{jp

Xk;KUfhntYk;kapYk;Jiz

FUTURE ADDITION TOTHE PRAYER HALL

On the left is thegranite sculpture of SriBhairavar to be in-stalled in the northeastcorner of the prayerhall, near the Nava-graha sannidhi. Sri

Bhairavar is consid-ered to be the guardiandeity of abode of LordShiva.

8
https://www.facebook.com/MuruganTempleNorthAmericahttps://www.facebook.com/MuruganTempleNorthAmericahttps://www.facebook.com/MuruganTempleNorthAmerica

MTNA Newsletter

Documents