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Non-profit 501(c) 3 Organization NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2014 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1

Sri Venkateswara Lotus TempleSri Venkateswara Lotus Temple

||Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha|| || Srirasthu|| ||Srimathe Varavaramunaye Namaha||

12519 & 12501 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030. Phone (703) 815-4850

h t t p : / / w w w. s v l o t u s t e m p l e . o r g

To promote and preserve rich Indian heritage and traditions through religious, educational and

cultural activities and training of the youth - future of our Society.

Sriman

Anand Bhatter

Highly qualified, experienced priests available for

your Puja needs in your home & at the temple.

To request priest services please call 703-815-4850

or email lotustemplepriest@gmail.com or submit

the request form on SVLT website at

http://svlotustemple.org

PRIEST SERVICES

Sriman

Srinivasan

Renganathan

Sriman

Bharadwaj

Kallakuntla

Sri Mahasudarshana Homam

Sunday,

January 12th

at 10:00 AM

Sri Satyanarayana Vratam

Wednesday,

January 15th

at 07:00 PM

Sri Goda Ranganatha Kalyanam

Sunday,

January 12th , 2014

at 10:00 AM

...More details on page

Religious Calender p2

Sri Godha Ranganatha Kalyanam p1

Adhyayana Utsavam p3

Kudarai Utsavam p4

Neerata Utsavam p4

Sri Vaikunta Ekadasi p4

SVLT Construction Updates p4

Mukunda Mala p5

Sri Hayagrieva stotram p5

New Year celebrations p6

Sankranti Celebrations p7

10:00 AM EDURUKOLU

10:30 AM Anugna, Vishwaksena Puja, Maha

Sankalpam, Punyavachanam

10:45 AM Jeelakarra Bellam, Paani Grahanam,

Mangalyadharanam

11:10 AM Sri Godha Astottaram and Sri Krishna

Astottaram

11:20 AM Akshataropanam. Swasthivaachanam,

Mangalasaasanam

12:00 PM Maha Mangala Harathi

12:45 PM Prasada Viniyogam

01:30 PM

- 03:00 PM Bhogi Pandlu for Kids

Sri Godha Ranganatha Kalyana Utsavam January 12th 2014 at Willow Springs Elementary

School, Fairfax, VA

Sponsorship Opportunities-

Kalyanam: $51

Kanyadanam: $251 Vastradanam: $251

Flowers: $300

Annadanam: $501

For more information-

Visit http://svlotustemple.org /

Call temple at (703) 815 - 4850

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January 2014

RELIGIOUS CALENDAR

Adhyayana Utsavam starts on January 1st 2014 and ends

on January 20th 2014. ...More details on page 3

09 Thurs Kudarai Celebrations

10 Fri 10:00 AM Sri Venkateswara Swamy Parivaram

Abhishekam as part of Neerata

Utsavam

11 Sat 10:00 AM Sri Goda Krishna Abhishekam as

part of Neerata Utsavam

Sri Vaikunta Ekadasi celebrations

12 Sun 08:00 AM Sri Goda Krishna Abhishekam as

part of Neerata Utsavam

10:00 AM Sri Goda Ranganatha Kalyana

Utsavam

14 Tues 10:00 AM Sri Ramanuja

15 Wed 10:00 AM Sri Rama Parivaram

15 Wed 10:00 AM Sri Thirumangai Azhwar

15 Wed 10:00 AM Sri Sudarsanar,

Sri Narasimha Perumal

15 Wed 07:00 PM Sri Satyanarayana Vratam

17 Fri 10:00 AM Sri Venkateswara Parivaram

abhishekam

20 Mon 10:00 AM Sri Goda Ammavaru

21 Tues 10:00 AM Sri Mahalakshmi Ammavaru

24 Fri 10:00 AM Sri Venkateswara Parivaram

abhishekam

25 Sat 10:00 AM Sri Nammazvar abhishekam

25 Sat 05:30 PM Sri Srinivasa Kalyanam

26 Sun 10:00 AM Sri Sudarsanar,

Sri Narasimha Perumal

28 Tues 10:00 AM Sri Manvalamamunigal abhishekam

30 Thurs 10:00 AM Sri Lakshmi Hayagrieva abhishekam

31 Fri 10:00 AM Sri Venkateswara Parivaram

Abhishekam

** Due to Dhanurmasam Special seva and Alamkaram, ab-

hishekam / thirumanjanam to dieties will not be performed

between December 16th, 2013 until the start of the Neeratam

Utsavam on January 10th 2014.**

Temple - Weekly Schedule

Tues 07:00 PM

Sri Anjaneya Vadamala, Hanuman Chalisa

Parayanam (Sri Rama Bhajans at 07:30 PM are re-

placed with Divya Prabandham. Bhajans will

recommence after the completion of the Adhyayana

Utsavam on Jan 20th 2014)

Thurs 07:00 PM Sri Hayagrieva Aradhana/ Elachi Mala

Samarpanam and Bhajans

Fri 10:00 AM Sri Mahalakshmi Abhishekam

10:00 AM Sri Sookta Homam

10:00 AM Sri Srinivasa Parivaram - Abhishekam

11:30 AM Abhishekanantara Archana

12:00 PM Tomala Seva

07:30 PM Prabandha parayanam

08:15 PM Sri Mahalakshmi suvarna

pushpa Aradhana/Archana

Temple - Daily Schedule

08:00 AM Suprabhata Seva/

Darsanam 05:00 PM

Evening Dharma

darsanam

08:40 AM Praatah Kaala

Aaradhana 05:30 PM

Sayankala

Aaradhana

09:40 AM Dharma darsanam 06:30 PM

Sri Vishnu

Sahasranama

Paaraayanam

Visesha sevalu,

Harati, Archana,

Vahana puja,

Visesha parayanalu

07:00 PM Dharma darsanam

11:40 AM

Madhyanhika

Aaradhana and Raja

bhogam

08:45 PM

Srivari

Pavalimpu/

Sayanotsavam

14 Tues Ardra Sri Ramanuja

15 Wed Punarvasu Sri Rama Parivaram

15 Wed Sri Thirumangai Azhwar

15 Wed Sri Sudarsanar,

Sri Narasimha Perumal

20 Mon P. Phalguni Sri Goda Ammavaru

21 Tues U. Phalguni Sri Mahalakshmi Ammavaru

25 Sat Vishaka Sri Nammazvar

26 Sun K. Ekadasi Sri Sudarsanar,

Sri Narasimha Perumal

28 Tues Moola Sri Manvalamamunigal

30 Thurs Sravana Sri Lakshmi Hayagrieva

Nakshatra Abhishekam Schedule (Based on the Nakshatra/Tidhi of the Dieties for January 2014)

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Starting from Jan 1st and going on until 20th, SV Lotus temple will be celebrating the complete recital of 4000 Divya Prabhandam

given to us by the 10 predominant Alwars (and Pasurams from Andal and Madhurakavi Alwar). The 4000 Pasurams contain in

them the essence of ALL 4 Vedas and ALL Upanishads. Recital of Vedas have many nuanaces of intonation and proper times,

days etc. Divya Prabhandam however are given to us by the outpouring of Bhakti and almost anybody that has a little bhakti can

participate in completing the great Vratham call Adhyayana Utsavam of 4000 sacred verses on the Lord.

Lotus temple will display the pasurams on big screen TV for all to follow and recite during the 21 days.

ThiruAdhyayana Utsavam at SVLT January 1st 2014 - January 20th 2014

COMPLETE DETAILS & TIMINGS OF THE THIRUADHYAYANA UTSAVAM

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Kudarai Utsavam January 09th 2014, 07:00 AM at SVLT

Jan 09th is a very significant day, 27th day of the

Dhanurmasam . Colloquially known as “Kudarai Valli” –

this is a day, when the sweet pongal [made of jaggery with

ghee flowing] is offered to God and then shared with all near

and dear. This day assumes significance from the pasuram of

Chudi Kudutha Nachiyar – Andal. In the month of Margazhi

starting from day one, one verse of Thiruppavai is ascribed

per day and today is the 27th verse “Koodarai vellum Seer

Govinda”.

Neerata Utsavam January 10th, 11th , 12th 2014 at SVLT

Sri Vaikunta Ekadasi Celebrations at SVLT

January 11th 2014 at SVLT

06:00 AM Sri Godha Thiruppavai Sevakalam

07:00 AM Sapta Dwaara Pravesha Puja

07:15 AM Vaikunta Dwaara Darshanam

All Day Sri Godha Ranganaatha Vishesha

Archana

For more information-

Visit http://svlotustemple.org /

Call temple at (703) 815 - 4850

During the Neerattam Utsavam, abhishekam would be

performed at every day and special alankaram and

Visesha Archana and Mangalasasanam on all five

days. The ritual signifies the importance of taking bath

during the month of Margaseersham and reap spiritual

fruits.

Includes sponsorship of Abhishekham's for all deities

at SV Lotus Temple for 5 days.

SVLT Construction Updates

The temple Phase 1 construction plan from the Baalaalaya phase has seen some delays, Fairfax County had provided

the necessary permits, and Sachi Construction Company have been awarded the contract. A shortage of about

$700,000.00 to comfortably start raising the structure remains to be our challenge. The $700,000 is in addition to the

loan amount the bank will finance. The increase in cost of materials, fluctuating economic factors affecting our

donors, the on-going cost of operations including supporting existing Poojas, Utsavas, Staff, repairs, among other

factors have kept us with the reality of being very close, but not fully in concrete-pouring mode.

Sachi Construction Company is famous for exquisite temple construction and has built the Akshardham and all the

magnificent Swaminaryan temples in the USA. They have started mobilization of the site by setting up the

construction trailer and construction sign boards. They have been gathering bids from the sub-contractors and

contracts will awarded the contracts and commence the construction work. The project plan and projections to start

and completion will be announced shortly.

The Garbhalaya stone work is in progress and a shipment is planned to be sent in spring of 2014. The deity work will

also commence in spring of 2014.

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ARTICLE OF THE MONTH

Mukunda Mala Let us continue with the 5th Sloka from Mukunda Mala of Chera King Kulasekara who

came to be known as Kulasekara Alwar who in the sloka below again cries out for noth-

ing but Mukunda's grace to make him a ever devoted soul.

“nAsthA dharme na vasunichaye naiva kAmopa bhoge

yadyad.h bhavyaM bhavatu bhagavan.h pUrva karmAnu rUpam.h .

etat.h prArthyaM mama bahumataM janma janmAntare.api

tvat.h pAdAmbhoruha yuga gatA nishchalA bhaktirastu .5.”

In which if begs the Lord of Lords as below –

...will continue in next newsletter

SRI LAKSHMI HAYAGRIVA STOTRAM SERIES Hayagrieva Stotram - Slokas 11 & 12

...will continue in next newsletter

Hayagriva is God, who is the cause of all Universe. A spider spins the thread out of itself but devours it and keeps it within itself. At that stage, one does not

know what happened to the thread; but we recognize it the moment it is brought out. All the objects in the world with all their forms and names emanated

from God at the time of creation. Inside Him, nothing was distinguishable – it was the stage of non-distinction. By His will, God ensured that even if they

were indistinguishable. All things were preserved with separate identities in subtler, microscopic form; and again, by His will, brought and made them

grow. It is these that we see in their present form and name: they arose out of their embryonic state in which they had the same form and name. This is

called the stage of revelation. O Va:geswara! Learned ones who have understood Your nature thoroughly have declared that You are the sole author of these

states of non-distinction and revelation of all sentient and insentient beings.

Sriman Nigamantha Desika composed 33 slokas describing the greatness of Hayagriva. The Lord Himself made him compose the hymn where each sloka

incorporates some Bi:ja aksharas.

Cosmic administration is said to be in 33 divisions. Likewise the great ashtakshari dwayi mantras have a total of 33 syllables. Sri Desika has composed

and favoured us with this hymn in such a manner that each sloka has within it the divine power of the aksharas. Great souls have been witness to this. For

this reason, great acharyas of the past as well as learned scholars of the present times hold this hymn in high esteem as the bestower of great power of

speech and knowledge with understanding.

We have covered Sloka 1 – 10 in previous newsletters. In January 2014 newsletter we will cover sloka 11 and 12.

SLOKAM ELEVEN

“yanmu:lam i:drukprathibha:thi thathwam ; ya:mu:lam a:mna:ya maha:druma:na:m

thaththwe:na ja:nanthi visuddha saththwa:ha; thwa:m akshara:m aksharama:thruka:mthe:”

SLOKAM TWELVE

“avya:krutha:th vya:kruthava:nasi thwam;na:ma:ni ru:pa:ni cha ya:ni pu:rvam

semsamthi the:sha:m charama:m prathishttha:m;va:gi:swara! thwa:m thadupagna va:chaha”

Hayagriva Swami is the form of ‘a’, the first letter of the alphabet, which is the mother of ‘O:m’. Great sages have said that all kinds of matter in this uni-

verse have their origin in ‘O:mka:ra’. The universe consists of two types: the sentient and the insentient. Out of their combination only, all the four catego-

ries – deities, humans, animals and immobile things come. These are called the effects. All these worldly phenomena which are these objects have arisen

from God who is the form of O:m. They also dissolve in Him. If the world is the effect, the combination of sounds is the cause. For all sounds, the basis is

the O:mka:ra of the Ve:da:s. It is therefore the original cause. The root of O:mka:ra is the syllable ‘a’. All sounds emanate from this. Even if all sounds dis-

solve, this does not. That is the reason why it is referred to as the original syllable. O Lord! The learned ones with no particular preferences have declared

You are the essence of this ‘a’. This is so because You were the cause of everything in the beginning. The syllable is the only cause. Therefore, both the

cause and the effect are in You, the form of ‘a’.

(I have) 'nAstha' - no special regard for 'dharma' (being religious/righteous), nor for 'vasu' (wealth) or the accumulation of wealth, not even

for 'kAmopa bhoge' (sensual enjoyment). Let my 'purva karmAnu rUpam' be exhausted as they should be. But in the 3 line cries out his

'prArthaym' (prayer) that however many births may result out of him karma, that he should ever be blessed by the Lord with unwavering

bhakthi (nishchlA bhakthi) towards Mukunda. Poorvacharyas further clarify that by asking so Lord Kulasekara is praying that he not have

any more births resulting from his prayers for everlasting bhakthi towards Lord Mukunda (Mukthi dhadha iti - giver of Moksha).

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SVLT Community Events

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TEMPLE TIMINGS (Dhanurmasam Special) Week Days 05:30 am - 11:00 am 05:30 pm - 08:30 pm

Weekends 05:30 am - 02:30 pm 03:30 pm - 08:30 pm

The temple is open all day on all Auspicious days

Like us on Facebook and get

up - to - date info on SV Lotus Temple events:

https://www.facebook.com/SVLotusTemple

PRIEST SERVICES Priests of the Sri Venkateswara Lotus Temple (SVLT) are committed to providing you with the best possible service with

utmost sincerity, devotion and zeal (Shradda, Bhakthi and Bhavam). Their sublime devotion, rich with religious fervor,

Vedic knowledge and their deep relish for our traditions, adds to the holy ambience of the temple and any place of worship, engrossing

devotees in spirituality and delight. Our priests take honor and pride in providing quality services with your budget without cutting corners

in their service to you.

What is unique about SVLT’s priest-services is that we have made all deliberate attempts to minimize costs while maximizing services

rendered to the community. The priests share with us, a core value in focusing on your religious activity than the monetary aspect of the

services. Our priests are multilingual and can help with your preference for language such as Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and English.

They are also aware of the diverse traditions of each region and follow deliberate steps to ensure authenticity.

You could use the temple facility or your home for the Poojas. Authentic services include bringing our Utsava Srinivasa Moorthy, Satya-

narayana Pooja, Vastu, Shanthi, Punyahavachana (cleansing) Pooja and specific procedures for Gruhapravesham, Weddings, Anniver-

saries, and all occasions including sweet sixteen parties! Other services include Abhishekam, Archana and Arathi/community poojas.

Homams range from Sudarshana, Lakshmi, Ganapathi, Vishwaksena, Chandi, Navagraha, Vaastu, Rudra, Mrutyunjaya to Ayushya

Homams.

Let’s celebrate our INDIAN culture with pride and grandeur

This SANKRANTHI season!!!

SV Lotus Temple, Fairfax, will be celebrating Sankranti Festival with a grand

cultural event on January 18th, 2014 at 06:00 PM. Sankranti is a harvest festival

and is celebrated in numerable ways in different regions of India - as Sankranthi

in Andhra Pradesh, as Pongal in Tamilnadu, as Uttarayana in Gujarat and

Rajasthan, as Lohri in Punjab, Etc.

Venue

Willow Springs Elementary School

5400 Willow Springs School Rd,

Fairfax, VA 22030

Highlights of the Event

Dance performances by Top Dance Schools of the Region

An Outstanding Performance of ‘Devdas’ song – ‘Kahe ched moheee’

A Unique Classical Dance-off!! Encouraging creativity and passion for

classical dance among young dancers with FUN!!! Prizes!!

Make it your grandest Indian traditional dress ever!! Wear your region’s

traditional dress for extra points!!

Most traditionally dressed awards for mothers, fathers, kids and

GRANDPARENTS!! Prizes!!

Best Sankranthi/Traditional dish – showcase your culinary skills and win

prizes!!! Audience Voting!!! Registration required, contact below for more

info.

Audience dancing to entertaining bollywood and regional music! Family

Fun!!

Delicious food!!

SANKRANTI CULTURAL EVENING AT SVLT

SVLT is celebrating

Marghali Music Festival

at 06:00 PM to 08:00 PM

as part of Dhanurmasam

celebrations.

MARGHALI MUSIC FESTIVAL

Saturday,

Jan 04, 2014

Ragamalika Students of Maragatham

Ramaswamy and Jayashri Sankaran.

Singers - Malathi Rao, Usha

Anantanarayanan , Rohini Ravada and

Lavanya Ramakrishnan.

Mrudangam -Srikar Chittari

Violin - Sanjay Gururam

Sunday,

Jan 12, 2014

Students of Gamakam School of

Music

Vocal - J. Shivakumar , Rama

Sundaresan,Deepa Subramanyam, Shobha

Jayakumar, Aarthi Srinivasan, Latha

Mohan, Saisruthi Kannan,

Violin - Vikram Shivakumar ,

Mrdangam -TBD

Please contact Sarita Mullapudi

at coolmom2k@yahoo.com / (571) 212 3933 or

Vasanthi Aharam at vasanthi.aharam@gmail.com