BALAJI VANI Volume 2, Issue 5 May, 2008

HARI OM

The World Peace Prayer of April 5, 2008 was a great success. It was an afternoon of religious enchantment beginning with Sri Ganesha and Hanuman abhishekam at the new temple site, followed by 108 Sri Hanuman Chalisa and concluding with radiant Sri Ganesha homa. Sri N. Swamiji, along with devotees, performed Hanuman ratha yatra, with the colorfully decorated small temple on wheels with Lord Hanuman majesti-cally sitting inside. The yatra was received at the venue at George Aprilne Elementary School.

The World Peace Prayer began with the Lighting of Lamps by the Vice Mayor of San Jose, Mr. Dave Cortese along with N. Swamiji. Vice Mayor Cortese spoke about how the world community of faith, all religions and all who believe in a greater good, have never given up on the idea of peace, no matter what is going on in the world. Swamiji spoke about how love and peace go together. Swamiji mentioned that detachment allows in-ner peace to blossom and then outer peace can also bloom. We each should be selfless in whatever service we provide to mankind. Next, A. Sridharan, N. Gopal and N. Bangari, the daughters of Balaji Temple devo-tees, sweetly sang Let there Be Peace on Earth. Swamiji and V. Mayor D. Cortese then released the World Peace Prayer booklet and the new Balaji Temple Prayer Book. The first performance was by renowned classical singer Srimati Anupama Chandratreya accompanied by Maestro Satish Thare on tabla and Satish on violin along with disciples. Next, Pandit Habib Khan and his 25-member orchestra of disciples performed with amazing skill on the tabla, sitar, harmonium and vocals. Both programs mesmerized the audience and received a standing ovation. The temple committee and N. Swamiji honored devotees who selflessly serve for the cause of temple growth and prosperity. Mr K. Shridharan graciously served as Master of Ceremonies. R. Narulkar offered the vote of thanks. Swamiji blessed a few of the volunteers with shawls and fruit: M. Nihilani, R. Gopal of Cupertino Bakery, P. Dhar, Chitra & Sridharan, S. Kumar & Revathi, R. Narulkar & P. Kuruba of Denver, Co., Lakshmi & V. Suresh honored Smt Anupama Chandratreya. Swamiji honored Pandit Habib Khan. The program finished with delicious maha prasadam gra-ciously provided by Cupertino Bakery and all dinnerware donated by Selva Kumar and Revathi. This World Peace Program could not have been a great success without the enthusiasm and zeal of the volunteers. Many thanks to all who served.

April 18th &19th Devi Chara Stapana was performed for the recently ar-rived Sri Durga Devi moorthy. The life-size moorthy, donated by Alkesh and Om Prakash Choudry, family of San Jose, CA, arrived from Jaipur earlier in the week. The celebrations began Friday evening at 6pm with Ganesha puja, kalesha stapana, navagraha, navaratna, mantra diksha, pun-yavachana, mandapa puja and devi puja performed by N. Swamiji. The next morning began with Chandi homa performed by N. Swamiji, V. Das and M. Kumar. The four Vedas were recited. Then Lalita Sahasranama Stotram and bhajans were sung by devotees during the dressing of Sri Durga Devi. N. Swamiji chanted the prayers and invoked the devi prana for the moorthy, the curtains were opened and the devotees felt the beauty of the Mother. During the first darshan of the moorthy, the Choudrys lit the lamps. N. Swamiji spoke about how the moorthy came with such beauty due to the devotion of the sponsoring family and the love of the devotees at Balaji temple. Swamiji said that looking at the Mother re-moves our sorrows, takes away our pain and is why we come to the tem-ple, to remember the beauty of God. Mr. Prakash Choudry received a shawl & Mrs. Alkesh Choudry was honored by Lakshmi V. Dasi. Later in the day Hanuman Jayanti was celebrated with the recitation of 108 Hanuman Chalisa and Sathyanarayana puja was performed for poornima.

InApril, the temple received visits from several swamis visiting from India: Swami Paramananda of Haridwar, Swami from Swaminarayan Temple in Mumbai and Swami Sharanananda Maharaj from Punjab.

April Peace prevail forever.

--Balaji Temple board

OM NAMO BHAGAVATE PANDURANGAYA

Sri Durga Devi Chara Staphan & Alankaram

OM SARVA MANGALA MANGALYE SIVE SARVARTHA SADHIKE|

SARANYE TRYAMBAKE GAURI NARAYANI MAMA'STU TE||

Om, Auspiciousness of all that is auspicious! Sive! Accomplisher of all (our) desires!

Refuge (of all the afflicted)! The three-eyed-one! Gauri! O Narayani! Obesiance to

you!

N. Swamiji honoring Pt. Habib Khan & his disciples

BALAJI TEMPLE,678 Cypress Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94085Ph. #: (408) 203-1036 or (408) 733-9266Email: omvittala@balajimatha.org http://www.balajitemple.netNon-Profit Organization

REGULAR ACTIVITIESTemple open daily from 8.00 am to 9.00 pm

Daily Puja & Aarti Morning 8:00 AM Afternoon 12:30 PM Evening 8:30 PM

Every Monday Rudrabhishekam (Shiva Puja) 7:00 PM

Every Tuesday Hanumanji Puja 7:00 PM

Every Wednesday Meditation 7:30 PM

Every Thursday Shri Sai Bhajans 7:30 PM

Every Friday Santoshimata Puja 7:00 PMLakshmi Puja, Lalitha Stotram & Mahaprasadam

Every Saturday Sri Venkateshwara 8:00 AM Suprabhatam & Vishnu Stotram

Every Sunday Yoga & Childrens class by Pushpa Dhar 9:30 AMBhajans, Puja & Aarti 7:00 PM

Every Sankasthahara Chaturthi Sri Ganesha Puja 7:00 PM

BALAJI MATHA BOARD MEMBERS

President Sri N. Swamiji (408) 203-1036V. President Ashok C. (408) 499-6687Secretary Laksmi V. (650) 219-4968Treasurer Rajendra N. (408) 921-0263Exe. Member Sashi N. (510) 856-6435Newsletter Vinay Singh (510) 226-6801

MONTHLY EVENTS

May 2nd, FridayPradosham, Devi Puja 6:30 PM

May 4th, SundayAmavasya Shiva Puja 7:00 PM

May 7th, WednesdayBasavanna Jayanthi 7:00 PM

May 8th, ThursdaySri Ramanuja Acharaya Jayanthi, Bhajans 7:00 PM

May 9th, FridaySri Shankara Acharaya Jayanthi, Devi Puja 6:30 PM

May 11th, SundaySubramanya Sahsranamvalli Puja 7:00 PM

May 16th, FridayPradosham Devi Puja and Bhajans 6:30 PM

May 17th, SaturdayBalaji Abhishekam 8:00 AM

May 18th, SundayPurnima Satyanarayana Puja 6:30 PM & Sri Narasimha Jayanthi

May 23rd, FridaySankastahara Chaturthi 6:30 PM

May 25th, SundayGa Kara Shasranama (Ganesha) 7:00 PM

Third Thursday of every month Homeless feeding service

Every Purnima Sri Satyanarayana Puja 6:30 PM

OUR PURPOSE

The purpose of Balaji Temple is to form a Hindu Temple and Vedic Cultural Center on the Peninsula in the heart of Silicon Valley where people can come together to study and worship, regardless of our different backgrounds. Our aim is to promote the feeling of universal love and unity among all people.We will share the ancient wisdom of the Vedas and the Upanishads (sacred texts of India) with individuals of all ages and backgrounds. We will celebrate the One Truth behind all religions: that God is One and in all of us. Our worship service are free and open to all who wish to celebrate with us. All are welcome.We have acquired land at 5004 N. First Street, San Jose, CA 95002 to construct our new temple. Sales price was $860K, we paid $550K down, and took a mortgage of $310K. Construction is estimated to cost approximatley $1.9 million. Your generosity will make this good cause happen.

V. Mayor D. Cortese & N. Swamiji releasing the World Peace Prayer Booklet & New Balaji Temple Prayer Book