Newsletter Vol 25, No. 6 Sri Siva Vishnu Temple SAMVATSARA MAHOTSAVAM Saturday, June 25 - Monday, July 4, 2016 6905 Cipriano Road, Lanham MD 20706 Tel: (301) 552-3335 Fax: (301) 552-1204 E-Mail: ssvt@ssvt.org Web Site: http://www.ssvt.org The Hindu Solar month of Mithuna (June 15 - July 15 this year) is very special in the history of our temple. It is in this month that many important milestones were reached like the Baalaalaya Prathishta, Bhoomi Puja, Prathistapana Kumbhabhishekams for the main Deities and more recently the Rajagopuram and Jeernodhaarana Kumbhabhishekams. Hence in keeping with the tradition, the temple will be celebrating the Samvatsara Mahotsavam from Saturday June 25 through Monday July 4, 2016. To compensate for the acts of omissions and commissions during the year and to rejuvenate the spirit of devotion and service in the minds of devotees such festivals are conducted in temples annually. During this annual ten-day festival there will be special Pujas to every Deity including special Homams, Abhishekams and Kalyana Utsavams. Devotees are requested to participate in these Pujas, especially in the Pujas to their favorite Deity (Ishta Devata) in large numbers, extend their generous physical, financial and moral support as they have done in the past and make this festival a grand success. Saturday, June 25, 2016 Ganesha Puja, anugnay, Dwaja Aarohanam, ankurarpanam Rakshabandanam Maha Ganapathi Homam, 10:15 AM Venkateshwara Abhishekam Sunday, June 26, 2016 Navagraha Homam Anantapadmanabha Abhishekam 10:30 AM Navagraha Abhishekam Monday, June 27, 2016 Ganapathy Homam, Sankshepa Ramayana Homam 10:30 AM Ganesha and Rama Abhishekam 5:30 PM Ganesha, Siva and Rama Sahasranamam Tuesday, June 28, 2016 Durga Sukta Homam, Pavamana Sukta Homam 10:30 AM Durga Abhishekam, Anjaneya Abhishekam 5:30 PM Durga, Anjaneya, Subrahmanya Sahasranama 8:00 PM Anjaneya Aradhana, Hanuman Chalisa Wednesday, June 29, 2016 Medha Sukta Homam 10:30 AM Sarada, Andal, Navagraha Abhishekams 5:30 PM Andal, Anantha Padmanabha, Ayyappa Sahasranamam Thursday, June 30, 2016 Subrahmanya Moola Mantra Homam 10:30 AM Subrahmanya and Krishna Abhishekams 5:30 PM Sarada, Venkateswara and Krishna Sahasranamams Anantapadmanabha Abhishekam Friday, July 1, 2016 Lalitha Sahasranama Homam 10:30 AM Parvathi and Mahalakshmi Abhishekam Saturday, July 2, 2016 9:00 AM Venkateshwara Suprabatham Ashtakshari Moola Mantra Homam Ananthapadmanabha Abhishekam Krishna Abhishekam 10:15 AM Venkateshwara Abhishekam Srinivasa Kalyanam Sunday, July 3, 2016 Ganesha puja, Rudra Homam Ananthapadmanabha Abhishekam 10:30 AM Siva Abhishekam 7:30 PM Ayyappa Padi Puja June 2016 Monday, July 4, 2016 Ganapathy Homam Ananthapadmanabha Abhishekam 10:30 AM Rama Abhishekam 10:30 AM Kalyana utsavams for Srinivasa, Subrahmanya and Siva 12 Noon Rathotsavam, Visesha Harati to all deities, Acharya Sambhavanam, Dwaja Avarohanam, Prasadam Distribution Sponsorship: $ 15 per Sahasranama Archana $ 25 per Homam or Abhishekam or any Kalyanam $ 51 for all Pujas for a Deity $ 101 per day Puja $ 501 for the entire Samvatsara Mahotsavam Sudarshana Jayanti (MahaSudarshana Homam) Tuesday, July 12 2016 Sudarshana, the holy discus (wheel) in the hands of Lord Narayana (Vishnu), is the embodiment of the power of Lord Vishnu in destroying the evil and protecting the righteous as he took the shape of the claws in Narasimha Avataram, arrows in Rama Avataram, axe in Parasurama Avataram and Chakra (wheel) in Krishna Avataram. Hence the worship of Sudarshana as a devata (deity) is extolled in Vaishnava agama Sastras. Worship of Sudarshana bestows good knowledge and good faculties as the syllable Su stands for Good and Darshana for Vision. SSVT will be conducting a grand Sudarshana homam followed by an abhishekam on Friday June 26, to enable devotees to obtain all the beneficial effects of the worship of Lord Sudarshana. 9:00 AM Suprabhatam, Dhaama Pradakshanam, Viswaksena Aradhana, Sri Bhagavad Vaasudeva Punyahavachanam, Agni Prathishta, Sudarsana Sathaka Homam, Mahasudarshana & Yoga Narasimha Abhishekam, Alankaram, Sudarshanashtaka Parayanam, Archana, Sengolam, Saathumurai Seva, Maha Mangala Arathi, Theertha Prasada Viniyogam Sponsorship: Yagnam: $51 Bhagawati Seva (During Kataka Month) Friday July 15 to Monday August 15, 2016 Dakshinayana marks the southern transition of sun for a period of six months. These six months are the night time for the Gods and Goddesses. The first of these six Hindu months is especially important for the worship of Devi (the Universal Mother). Bhagawati Seva which is worship of the Devi in the Kerala Tantric tradition, will be performed daily from July 15 through August 15 at 7:15 PM. All devotees are encouraged to participate by way of Lalitha Sahasranama recitation, Devi Stotram and Devi Namaskaaram. Sponsorship: $ 31 per day; $ 101 for all Fridays during the Kataka month 1
RELIGIOUS CALENDAR Wed 1 Thu 2 Fri 3 Sat 4 Tue 7 Wed 8 Fri 10 Sat 11 Sun 12 Wed 15 Thu 16 Fri 17 7:15 PM Sun 19 Mon 20 Thu 23 Fri 24 Sat 25 Sun 26 Thu 30 June 2016 Anantha Padmanabha Abhishekam (Ekadasi) Siva Abhishekam (Maha Pradosham) Parvati Abhishekam Utsava Subramanya Abhishekam (Krittika) Krishna Abhishekam (Rohini) Srinivasa Kalyanam Rama Abhisekam (Punarvasu) Ganesha Homam & Abhishekam (Chaturti) Durga Abhishekam Subrahmanya Abhishekam (Shashti) Andal Abhishekam (Purvaphalguni) Ayyappa Puja (Uttara Phalguni) Ananthapadmanabha Abhishekam (Ekadasi) Sudarshana/Yoga Narasimha Homam & Abhishekam (Swati) Utsava Subrahmanya Abhishekam (Vishaka) Mahalakshmi Abhishekam Siva Abhishekam (Maha Pradosham) Bhagawati Seva Ayyappa Puja Visesha Satyanarayana Puja Anjaneya Abhishekam (Moola) Ganesha Homam (Sankatahara Chaturthi) Utsava Srinivasa Abhishekam (Sravana) Ganesha Abhishekam (Sankatahara Chaturthi) Sarada Abhishekam SAMVATSARA MAHOTSAVAM BEGINS (See Details) Subrahmanya Abhishekam (Sashti) Navagraha Homam and Abhishekam Anantapadmanabha Abhishekam (Ekadasi) SSVT to Welcome Chinmaya Jyoti on Sunday, June 12th at 4:00 pm Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda came down from the Himalayas to share with us the knowledge of Vedanta. In honor of His Birth Centenary Year, Chinmaya Jyoti Yatra (journey of the Chinmaya Jyoti) traveled across the length and breadth of India. In the US, the Jyoti has been traveling along four separate paths, spending a month at each Chinmaya Center. CMWRC is the last stop on this journey. The Jyoti will arrive in CHINMAYAM on May 30th. Our SSVT temple is honored to welcome Chinmaya Jyoti on Sunday, June 12th at 4:00 p.m. Chinmaya Jyoti represents knowledge and the Guru paadukaas represent following the Guru. Everyone is welcome to participate in the celebration. Fri 1 Sat 2 Mon 4 Tue 5 Thu 7 Fri 8 Sat 9 Sun 10 Tue 12 July 2016 Utsava Subrahmanya Abhishekam (Krittika) Parvati Abhishekam Siva Abhishekam (Maha Pradosham) Krishna Abhishekam (Rohini) Srinivasa Kalyanam SAMVATSARA MAHOTSAVAM CONCLUDES (See Details) Rama Abhishekam (Punarvasu) Ganesha Homam & Abhishekam (Chaturthi) Durga Abhishekam Andal Abhishekam (Purvaphalguni) Subrahmanya Abhishekam (Sashti) AANI TIRUMANJANAM Ayyappa Puja (Uttaraphalguni) Nataraja Abhishekam Sudarshana Jayanti (see details) Mahasudarshana Homam Sudarshana/Yoga Narasimha Homam & Abhishekam (Swati) Utsava Subrahmanya Abhishekam (Vishaka) Wed 13 Thu14 Fri 15 Kataka Month 1, Dakshinayana Begins Mahalakshmi Abhishekam Anantapadmanabha Abhishekam (Ekadasi) 7:15 PM Bhagawati Seva Rest of July in the next newsletter DAILY & WEEKLY ABHISHEKAMS Daily Abhishekams Daily: Ayyappa, Anantha Padmanabha Siva Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: 10:15 AM Weekly Abhishekams Ganesha, Sri Rama Durga, Anjaneya Andal, Sarada, Navagrahas Krishna, Subrahmanya Mahalakshmi, Parvati, Sudarsana/Yoga Narasimha Venkateswara Temple Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM (except for special events); Saturday, Sunday, & Holidays: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Celebratory Performance by Balavidyalayam Students Balavidyalayam students shared their talents at a celebratory performance on May 14th, 2016. The students recited shloka-s, sang songs and bhajan-s inviting audience participation. Young student musicians participated offering musical accompaniments and orchestral support. A beautiful celebration! We will offer summer workshops that students can attend online such as Samskritham workshop, Bhagavad Gita recitation for children and music classes in preparation for summer performances. Please register online. 2
SSVT s First Ever Siva Brahmotsavam Grand Opening of the Founders Plaque The Founders Plaque, etched with the names of our Acharyas, Sthapati, Conducted Successfully and Founder Trustees marble stone was installed on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, on the first day of the Siva Brahmotsavam and the grand opening was conducted on the concluding day of the Siva Brahmotsavam on Saturday, May 21, 2016. The plaque is situated on the South wall inside the Rajagopuram front entrance to the temple. It is divine blessing that the installation and opening of the plaque happened during the Temple s first ever Siva Brahmotsavam. Some of the founding trustees along with a few of the current trustees were present with their spouses for this occasion. As directed by our temple Pradhaana Achaarya, Sri Siva Vishnu Temple conducted the first inaugural annual Brahmotsavam celebrations for Sri Parvathavardhini sametha Sri Ramanathaswamy (Lord Siva accompanied by Devi Parvathi) from Tuesday, May 17 to Saturday May 21, 2016. According to both Shaiva and Vaishnava Agamas, Brahmotsavam is considered to be the chief among the festivals conducted for the main deities of a temple. Legend says that Lord Brahma himself officiated the flrst utsavam to mitigate Indra s sins arising from a happenstance event. Since then, annual Brahmotsavams are carried out for both Slva and Vishnu to enable the devotees to wash away their sins and negativities. Even Lord Brahma and other Devas are said to visit such utsavams and bless the devotees. The word Brahma in Brahmotsavam, denotes the supreme Brahman - the absolute one. By performance of this Brahmotsavam, the Jeevaathmas reach the Supreme Brahman in the simplest way. The five-day annua1 event for Lord Siva started on May 17th followed by special pujas for Lord Siva every day. The days were marked by daily morning homams, sacred abhishekams, special alankarams, nava sandhi bali and daily evening processions of utsavamurthis around the temple with vedic chants, devotional bhajans, traditional songs, dance and drums. The Grand finale of SSVT Brahmotsavam for Lord Siva also fell on Vaikasi Vishaaka nakshatrarn day this year (Saturday, May 21), a special day for His Divine Son, Lord Subrahmanya. This year, Vaikasi Vishaakam also coincided with Purnima, making it even more special. Brahmotsavam was completed on this day with the officiating chief Acharya taking a holy bath known as Avabhrutha Snaanam (Holy bath of washing away sins) in front of the temple, symbolizing the culmination of penance by Indra to wash his karmic afflictions. During the Teerthothsavam on the final day of the utsavam all the jeevathmas have to immerse themselves in holy water along with the Acharya. That is why the final day is called as Teerthavari. Here Vari means water and Teertha means the Supreme knowledge. 3
Volunteer to Prepare and Serve Food for the Homeless and Needy Saturday, June 18, 2016 Community Service takes many forms but providing food for the needy can be considered as one of the best forms of service. The Food for the Homeless program had its origins in June 2007 when a group of volunteers from Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in Lanham, Maryland decided to pursue this cause and went over to the DC Central Kitchen in Washington D.C to prepare a day s requirement of 5,000 meals in the Nation s Capital. Most of the activities are carried out in the large modern facility of D C Central Kitchen, Washington DC. Every day, 5,000 meals are prepared and distributed through homeless shelters in DC and nearby jurisdictions. SSVT s turn to participate in this noble cause at D.C. Central kitchen is on Saturday, June 18, 2016. We need about 25 volunteers to help in the kitchen. If interested please contact the General Manager Mr. Atul by e-mail at gm@ssvt.org. Touched by the experience, the volunteers resolved to continue this community service activity on a regular basis. HACSI has become the umbrella organization which coordinates their activities in Feeding the Homeless activities. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS Ananth s Veda Group & Shirdi Sai Mandir Cordially Invite You To MAHARUDRAM & CHANDI HOMAM Saturday July 2 Sunday July 3, 2016 at Shirdi Sai Mandir 24770 Evergreen Mills Rd, Dulles, VA 20166 With the blessings of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetam Jagadguru s and Sri Sharadamba a Maha Rudram & Chandi Homam is being organized at Shirdi Sai Mandir, 24770 Evergreen Mills Rd, Dulles, VA 20166, USA for Lokakshema on Saturday July 2nd and Sunday July 3rd, 2016. For details: www.maharudram2016.org or info@avgusa.org DAY 1 - Saturday July 2, 2016 KUMKUMARCHANA [4:30 PM to 8:30 PM] Sri Rudra Kramarchana, Lalitha Sahasranama Kumkumarchana (Ladies and Girls), Deepaaradhana; Annadaanam. Admission is free, registration is required. Participation in Archana is limited to ladies, and girls older than 10 years. DAY 2 - Sunday July 3, 2016 MAHARUDRAM [6:00 AM to 2:00 PM] Guru Vandanam, Sabha Vandanam & Swasti Vachanam, Lakshmi Ganapathy Homam, Go Puja, Mahanyasa Poorvaka Rudra Japam [Done by over 121 ritwiks], Maha Rudrahomam [simultaneously with Rudra Japam], Vatuka & Kanya Puja, Mahapoornahuti; Annadaanam. SPECIAL CULTURAL PROGRAM [2:00 PM to ] NAVA CHANDIHOMAM [6:30AM to 2:00 PM] Guru Vandanam, Sabha Vandanam & Swasti Vachanam; Nava Chandi Homam; Kanya, Vatuka, Suvasini and Dampathi Seva; Ashtavadaana Seva; Poornahuti [12:00] Concluding Pujas of Maharudram, Deeparadhana, Paalika Visarjanam; Annadaanam Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi or Amma to Visit DC Area Friday July 8th and Saturday July 9th at Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi or Amma will be gracing us with her presence in the DC area on Friday July 8th and Saturday July 9th at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202. and go as desired. Please be sure to obtain your free token for darshan (Amma s personal blessing) in the early part of program.everyone needs a token (including infants) to see Amma and tokens are distributed starting 1.5 hour before each program and are limited to time constraints. On the 8th, the programs will be at and and on 9th, the programs will be at and Atmapuja ( group prayer for world peace) and Devi Bhava Darshan at. Parking is $15 at the hotel if you say you are visiting Amma. Free parking is available in the surrounding areas after on Friday and all day Saturday. Complimentary periodic shuttle service is available to Reagan National Airport. Crystal City Metro is accessible from the hotel. For more information, please email info@ammadc.org or visit www.ammadc.org or call 240-532-2662. Om Namah Shivaya!! Amma s public programs are free of charge and you are welcome to come 4
Program SSVT EDUCATION PROGRAMS Learn More about Your Roots & Culture Balavidyalayam Children s Educational Program Balavidyalayam children s educational program offers Samskritha shloka-s, mythological storytelling, playing games from India, singing, artwork and so much more. We invite you to volunteer in our classes and we invite your children (5 years and above) to attend our multidisciplinary educational program. Please register your student online to participate in our annual children s program on May 14th, 2016. For details: https://www.ssvt.org/home/balavidyalayam.asp. Yoga A Special Offering at SSVT, Mantra Vibrations are an important Part of Yoga Our Saturday morning sessions of Yoga at 7:30 am follows strictly the principles of Patanjali s yoga sutras. While common practices in other places are more focused on the asana component of Hatha Yoga, we combine the learnings of Tantra, Hatha and Mantra traditions in accordance to the principles of Patanjali. Experience the power of beeja mantras in cleansing the inner self to prepare for the higher yoga. You will never find this in yoga studios. Our practices are gentle that can be done by anyone in any age-group in almost any state of health. Send any questions on yoga to lifeinyoga@gmail.com and all attempts will be made to answer them as promptly as possible. Midweek Yoga Given the interest of those who attend the Saturday morning session, this new mid-week Satsang has been going on since September 24. Shri Sabnis will be leading this session. Please e-mail Shri Sabnis (sabnis@his.com) if you plan to attend. Session will be adapted to the needs of attendees. Learn Spoken Sanskrit Intermediate Level II. Please contact Swarup: dinbandhu@sprynet.com Beginner s Spoken Sanskrit Looking for volunteers. Please contact Thaila Ramanathan: thailar@yahoo.com Bhagavad Gita Classes for Adults with Guided Meditation The Bhagavad Gita is a doctrine of universal truth. It is a part of the scriptural trinity of Sanatana Dharma. The Gita deals with the most sacred metaphysical science as it imparts the knowledge of the self and answers two universal questions: Who am I? How can I lead a happy and peaceful life in this world of dualities? For info call: Smt. Rukmini Mami at 301-218-7550 Upanishad Series by Dr. Pradeep S. Kamath For more information please contact Dr. Pradeep S. Kamath: Pradeep.s.kamath@gmail.com Bhagavatam, Ramayanam Ekadasa skandham uddhava gita in Bhagavatam. Please contact Thaila Ramanathan: thailar@yahoo.com SAT Classes Meets every month on the 1st and 3rd Sundays 3:00 5:00 pm SSVT Education Room. SSVT encourages students to sign-up for guidance on SAT preparation. Classes are organized into two semesters: September - January and February - June. Email SAT@ssvt.org to sign-up Time Sundays 10:00 am - 11:00 am Saturdays 7:30 am - 10:30 am Tuesday Evenings 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Saturdays 10:00 am - 11:30 am Saturdays 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm Sundays 9:30 am - 11:00 am Second Sundays 10:30 am - 12:30 pm Sundays 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm 1st & 3rd Sundays 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Homeless SEVA, Sandwich Program, Second Saturdays, 2016 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 send email to Jaithm@gmail.com, Tribhuvannath Mishra, Contact Phone number-571.214.3198 Sri Shiridi Sai Baba Bhajans at SSVT Sri Shiridi Sai Baba Bhajans will be held at SSVT every First Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. To participate or for more information please contact: Shobha Prasad 240-568-9151; 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 The SSVT Senior Citizen Group meets twice in a month usually on the second and fourth Wednesdays in the Education room from 11 am to 1 pm followed by a potluck lunch in the cafeteria. We invite/welcome all seniors 55+ to join us at the meetings and share our seniors-related common interests. We invite speakers to talk on topics of interests to senior citizen, such as those related to primarily health and finance. We also arrange programs, such as picnics and trips to nearby places which would help promote social interaction between members of the group. All seniors are welcome. For more information please contact rameshgodbole@yahoo.com ROBOTICS CLUB ACTIVITIES & SCHEDULE The Robotics Club restarts its year in August. The makerspace is available for parents and children to come and use the resources but it wont have UMD mentors. For more information please contact vskowtha@gmail.com 5
UPCOMING CULTURAL EVENTS Date & Time Event / Artist Venue & Admission Fee Sunday, June 5, 2016 LEC/ DEM 3 PM 7 PM Nauka Charitham of Saint Thyagaraja Dr. Padma Sugavanam SSVT Auditorium Admission: Free See Details on SSVT web site Saturday, June 18, 2016 & Sunday June 19, 2016 All Day Both Days 9 AM 9 PM Saturday, June 26, 2016 4 PM 7 PM Next Gen Youth Festival SSVT Young Talent Series Concert #2 Vinay Mallikarjun Student of Smt. Usha Char SSVT Auditorium Admission: Free See Details on SSVT web site SSVT Auditorium Admission: Free SSVT IT COMMITTEE SEEKS VOLUNTEERS The IT Committee at SSVT temple continues to solicit volunteers who have expertise in the following areas: Network Administration, System Administration, Web Applications (PHP, Wordpress), Credit Card Processing, Public Audio Systems, Surveillance Video (CCTV) Systems. If interested, please send an email to prabhakar.thyagarajan@gmail.com or call 301-801-3410. SRI SIVA VISHNU TEMPLE 6905 Cipriano Road Lanham, MD 20706 Non Profit U.S. Postage Paid Permit #6038 Suburban, MD