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Mahasankatahara ChaturthiMonday, Sept 3, 2012

Special Abhishekam to Ganesha5:30 pm Kalasa Sthaapanam (9 Kalasams), Chanting of Ganapati Atharva Sheersham 21 (Eka Vimshati Vaaram) times by devotees7:00 pm Ganesha Abhishekam8:30 pm. Prasadam DistributionSponsorship for Special Abhishekam: $25

Ganesha Chaturthi CelebrationsWed., Sept. 19 – Sun., Sept. 23, 2012

Ganesha Chaturthi day this year falls on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012 and the temple will be celebrating this festival from Wednesday, Sept

19 through Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012– Ganesha Chaturthi Day9:00 am Anugnay, Ganesha Puja, Mahaganapathy Homam, Ganesha Abhishekam, Dwara Ganapathy, Narda Ganapathy, Kanni Moola Ganapathy and Prakara Ganapathy Abhishekam, Archana, Deeparadana12:30 pm Prasadam Distribution7:00 pm Ganesha Sahasranama Archana & Deeparadhana

Thursday, Sept. 20, 20129:00 am Mahaganapathy Homam, Ganesha Abhishekam 7:00 pm Ganesha Trisati Archana & DeeparadhanaFriday, Sept. 21, 20129:00 am Mahaganapathy Homam, Ganesha Abhishekam 6:00 pm Ganesha Sahasranama Archana & DeeparadhanaSaturday, Sept. 22, 20127:00 am Kalasa Puja, Mahanyaasam10:00 am Ekadasa Rudra Abhishekam (Abhishekam with 11 ingredients to recitation of Rudram 11 times), Archana, Deeparadhana (Devotee Archana to Dwara Ganapathy will be continuously performed)1:30 pm Prasadam Distribution4:00 pm Sahasramodaka HomamDevotees: Please Note: Only deep fried Modakams will be used as homam offering as they are considered more appropriate. Steamed modakams will be offered as naivedyam.Sunday, Sept. 23, 20129:00 am Mahaganapathy Homam, Utsava Ganapathy Abhishekam 10:30 am Ganesha Puja by Children 12:00 pm Utsava Ganapathy Temple Procession1:00 pm Prasadam DistributionSponsorship: Any one Homam and/or Abishekam $25; Ganesh Cha-turthi Day (Sept 19)- Entire Day Puja $51 & Entire Celebration $101

Newsletter, Vol 21, No. 9 September 2012

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

“Abheda Darshanam Jnanam” - Experience of Oneness is True Wisdom

Sri Siva Vishnu Temple

MahaSudarshana Homam(Yagnam)

Sat., Sept. 29 – Sun., Sept. 30, 2012Sudarshana, 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 wor-ship 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 fol-lowed by an abhishekam on Sunday, September 30, to enable devotees to obtain all the beneficial effects of the worship of Lord Sudarshana.Saturday, September 297:00 pm Anugnay, Swasthi Vachanam, Sri Viswaksena Aradhana, Sri Bhagavad Vasudeva Punyahavachanam, Rakshabandanam, Kalasa Sthapanam, Mangalanusasanam, Theertha Prasada Viniyogam.Sunday, September 307:00 am Suprabhatam, Dhaama Pradakshanam, Yagasala Pravesham, Viswaksena Aradhana, Sri Bhagavad Vasudeva Punyahavachanam, Arani Manthanam, Agni Prathishta, Sudarshana Sathaka Homam, Pancha Sukta Homam, Parivara Homam, Poornahuthi11:00 am Mahasudarshana & Yoga Narasimha Abhishekam, Alankaram, Sudarshana Ashtaka Parayanam, Archana, Sengolam, Saathumurai Seva, Maha Mangala Arathi, Theertha Prasada ViniyogamSponsorship: Yagnam: $51

Mahalaya PakshaSunday, Sept. 30 – Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012

The fortnight (15 days) preceding the Navaratri is knows as Mahalaya Paksha or Pitr Paksha. This period is important for honoring our ances-tors. Men, whose fathers have passed away, offer their obeiscence (shraad-dha) to their ancestors during this period. The ceremony is performed as a “Hiranya Shraaddha,” details of which are available in the temple. Due to the increasing awareness and faith in these rituals and in order to meet the needs of maximum number of devotees the temple is scheduling time slots of half hour duration for 3 or more hours per day during this fortnight. Please call the manager to reserve your slot. A donation of $71 which in-cludes Dakshina to the priest applies for this ceremony.

Vishesha Satyanarayana PujaSaturday, September 29, 2012

Vishesha Satyanarayana pooja will be conducted in the temple on Saturday, September 29, 2012. For additional information please call the temple managers at 301-552-3335. The starting time of Puja at the temple is 4:00 pm.

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Religious Calendar

Weekly Abhishekams(at 9:30 am except as noted)

Daily Ayyappa, Siva and AnantapadmanabhaMonday Ganesha, Sri RamaTuesday Durga, AnjaneyaWednesday Andal, Sharada, NavagrahasThursday Krishna, SubrahmanyaFriday Mahalakshmi, Parvati, Sudarshana/Yoga NarasimhaSaturday Venkateshwara (10:15 am)

Weekly AradhanasTuesday Sri Rama (7:45 pm) & Hanuman Chaleesa (8:00 pm)Friday Lalitha Sahasranamam to Parvati (7:15 pm)Friday Mahalakshmi Aradhana (8:00 pm)

Weekly Sahasranama Archanas(at 5:15 pm except as noted)

Monday Ganesha, Siva, RamaTuesday Durga, Subrahmanya, AnjaneyaWednesday Andal, Anantapadmanabha, AyyappaThursday Sharada, Krishna, VenkateshwaraFriday Mahalakshmi (5:15 pm) & Parvati (7:15 pm)

September 201201 Sat. 4:00 pm Srinivasa Kalyanam03 Mon. 9:30 am Special Mahaganapati Homam (Maha Sankatahara Chaturthi) (with chanting of Ganesha Atharvaseersha and using 8 Ingredients) 5:30 pm Maha Sankatahara Chaturthi Evening Puja (with chanting of Ganesha Atharvaseersha by devotees 21 times) (please see details)06 Thu. 9:30 am Subrahmanya Abhishekam (Shashti & Krittika)07 Fri. 10:00 am Durga Abhishekam08 Sat. 4:00 pm Krishna Abhishekam (Rohini)09 Sun. 9:30 am Navagraha Homam & Abhishekam11 Tue. 10:00 am Rama Abhishekam (Punvarvasu) 7:00 pm Anantapadmanabha Abhishekam (Ekadasi)13 Thu. 7:00 pm Siva Abhishekam (Mahapradosham)14 Fri. 10:00 am Mahalakshmi Abhishekam15 Sat. Amavasya (Purvaphalguni) 4:00 pm Andal Abhishekam (Purvaphalguni)16 Sun. Kanya Month Begins 9:30 am Ayyappa Puja (Uttaraphalguni)17 Mon. Saama Upakarma (only one batch starting at 7 am)18 Tue. 7:00 pm Swarna Gowri Vratham (if sponsored)19 Wed. Ganesha Chaturthi Day Festival Begins (please see details) 9:30 am Sudarshana/Yoga Narasimha Homam & Abhishekam (Swati)20 Thu. 9:30 am Subrahmanya Abhishekam (Shashti & Vishaka)21 Fri. 10:00 am Sharada Abhishekam 7:15 pm Bhagawati Seva22 Sat. 4:00 pm Anjaneya Abhishekam (Moola)23 Sun. Ganesha Chaturthi Celebration concludes (please see details) 10:30 am PUJA BY CHILDREN25 Tue. 9:30 am Utsava Srinivasa Abhishekam (Sravana) 7:00 pm Anantapadmanabha Abhishekam (Ekadasi)27 Thu. 7:00 pm Siva Abhishekam (Mahapradosham)28 Fri. 9:30 am Nataraja Abhishekam

10:00 am Parvati Abhishekam29 Sat. 4:00 pm Vishesha Satyanarayana Puja (Poornima)30 Sun. 7:00 am Mahasudarshana Homam (please see details) Mahalaya Paksha Begins (please see details)

October 2012*03 Wed. 9:30 am Mahaganapathy Homam (Sankatahara Chaturthi) 7:00 pm Ganesha Abhishekam (Sankatahara Chaturthi)04 Thu. 9:30 am Utsava Subrahmanya Abhishekam (Krittika)05 Fri. 9:30 am Subrahmanya Abhishekam (Shashti) 10:00 am Durga Abhishekam 10:00 am Krishna Abhishekam (Rohini)06 Sat. 4:00 pm Srinivasa Kalyanam07 Sun. 4:00 pm Rama Abhishekam (Punarvasu)11 Thu. 7:00 pm Anantapadmanabha Abhishekam (Ekadasi)12 Fri. 10:00 am Mahalakshmi Abhishekam 11:00 am Andal Abhishekam (Purvaphalguni) 7:00 pm Siva Abhishekam (Mahapradosham)13 Sat. 9:30 am Ayyappa Puja (Uttaraphalguni)14 Sun Amavasya (Hasta) Mahalaya Paksha Concludes (please see details)15 Mon Sharada Navaratri Begins (please see details)16 Tue Tula Month Begins 9:30 am Sudarshana/Yoga Narasimha Homam & Abhishekam (Swati)(Rest of October in Next Newsletter)* The Sarpabali scheduled on Oct 10 will instead be performed on Wednesday, Nov 7. Inconvenience caused to devotees is regretted.

Discourse Theory and practice of Religion

followed by question and answerby

Sri Vidwan Vellukudi Krishnan Swamy Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm

Sri Vidwan Vellukudi Krishnan Swamy hails from a distinguished lineage of Sri Vaishnava bhagavathas. His illustrious father, Vidwan Sri Velukkudi Varadachariar Swamigal trained Swamy at home from very young age in Vedas, Divya Prabhandam, related scriptures and Sanskrit. He has been following up his father’s footsteps in public discourse under his tutelage from age 8. Swamy graduated as a CA and with an ICWA to join a multinational firm in early 90’s but sac-rificed the lucrative career to “dedicate himself to Upanyasam and related activities”. His discourses on various aspects of devotion are filled with his knowledge of and insights from Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagawat Gita, Ramayana, Bhagavatham, Divya Prabandham and Vishnu Saharasranamam. He shares his Ananda of speaking about the Lord with the listeners taking them closer to Divinity thereby leaving a lasting, transformative effect in them. Swamy has been a strong proponent for cultivating and practicing bhakti right from the young age. He explains the meaning and practice of bhakti in his lucid style and commanding voice holding the audience spell-bound. He has travelled extensively around the world and released more than 2000 hours of his upanyasam in digital form. Swamy is also active in renovating old temples, and finding support for paatashaala (tradi-tional schools) of Vedas and Divya prabhandham. SSVT is happy to host Sri Vellukudi Krishnan Swamy on Sunday September 2, 2012 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm (Topic : Theory and practice of Religion - the problem and suggestion) at the premises.

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Sharada NavaratriMonday October 15 - Tuesday Oct 23, 2012

Sharada Navaratri, as it is called since it occurs during the fall sea-son (Sarad Ritu) is one of the most popular Hindu festivals spanning a period of nine nights. The Goddess in the form of the Universal Mother is commonly worshipped during the nine nights and ten days and hence it is also known by the name of Devi Navaratri. Three aspects of the Divine Mother, namely Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are worshipped during the nine nights, the tenth day being celebrated as Vijaya Dasami. It is considered auspicious to start new ventures, especially in the field of education, on Vijaya Dasami. Reading the Durga SaptaSati (also known as Devi Mahaatmyam) and Ramayanam is also common during the Navaratri. Special Pujas are scheduled in the temple during the ten days. Devotees are encouraged to partici-pate personally in the Sahasranama Archana daily. (Sponsorship is not a requirement for participation in this archana). Daily Program11:00 am Lalitha Trishati Archana, Durga Sapta Shati (Devi Mahaatmyam) Parayanam (8:00 am on Saturday)5:00 pm Sundara Kanda (Valmiki) Parayanam7:15 pm Lalitha Sahasranama Archana, Deepaaradhana,Mahishasura Mardini Stotram, Devi Namaskaram (6:00 pm on Saturday and Sundays)8:45 pm Prasadam Distribution (7:30 pm on Saturday & Sundays)Special ProgramsMonday, October 159:30 am Ganesha Puja, Purvanga Puja, Kalasa Sthapanam, Durga Aavaahanam, Devi Pancha Sukta (Durga, Sree, Medha, Bhoo, Bhaagya Sukta) Homam, Devi Gayatri Homam, Abhishekam to Durga and Mahalakshmi, DeeparadhanaTuesday, October 169:30 am Durga Suktha Homam, Abhishekam to Parvati & Durga Wednesday, October 179:30 am Swayamvara Bala Parvati Homam, Abhishekam to Sharada & AndalThursday, October 189:30 am Devi Pancha Sukta Homam, Devi Moolamantra Homam, Mahalakshmi Avahanam, Abhishekam to Parvati and MahalakshmiFriday, October 199:30 am Sri Sukta Homam, Devi Moolamantra Homam, Abhishekam to Mahalakshmi and SharadaSaturday, October 209:30 am Lalitha Sahasranama Homam, Abhishekam to Parvati and Andal6:00 pm Lalitha Sahasranama Archana, MahishasuraMardini Stotram, Devi NamaskaramSunday, October 217:00 am Mahaganapati Homam & Chandi Homam, Saraswati (Sharada) Avahanam11:30 am Suhasini, Kanya & Bhairava Puja, Abhishekam to Durga and Sharada1 – 5 pm Devotional Music by Devotees6:00 pm Lalitha Sahasranama Archana, MahishasuraMardini Stotram, Devi NamaskaramMonday, October 22 (Durgashtami)9:30 am Devi Moolamantra Homam, Abhishekam to Durga and AndalTuesday, Oct. 23 (Saraswathi Puja & Vijaya Dasami)9:30 am Medhasukta Homam, Devi Moolamantra Homam, Abhishekam to all Devis.10:00 am Conclusion of Sundara Kanda Parayanam,

Sri Rama Pattaabhishekam10:30 am Vidya Aarambham for Children (am Session)11:30 am Devi Navaratri Concluding Pujas.7:00 pm Vidya Aarambham for Children (pm Session)Sponsorship: One day Abhishekam $25 per deity; One day Homam $25; Suhasini Puja $51; Kanya Puja $51; Bhairava Puja $51; Sundara Kanda Parayanam & Sri Rama Pattabhishekam $51; Sri Rama Pattabhishekam $25; Durga Sapta Shati Parayanam $51; Vidya Arambham $25; Sahasranama Archana $15 & Entire Navaratri Celebration $151

Sri Venkateswara JayanthiTuesday, October 23, 2012

The incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the form of Venkateswara occurred on Vijaya Dasami day on Sravana Nakshatra. This day is celebrated as Venkateswara Jayanti.8.00 am Suprabhatam8.30 am Kalasa Puja, Utsava Srinivasa Abhishekam (Sravana), Andal Abhishekam, Sahasranama Parayanam, Archana, Deepaaradhana, Prasadam distribution.Sponsorship: $25

Sri Vedanta Desika JayanthiTuesday, October 23, 2012

11:00 am Sri Vedanta Desika Acharya Aradhana, Recitation of Stotras composed by the Acharya, Archana, Deeparadhana, Prasadam distribution.7.00 pm Sevakalam, Sathumurai, Teerthaprasadam distribution.Sponsorship: $25

SSVT Community Service

SSVT Senior Citizens Group Meetings on Sept. 12 & 26, 2012 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm

The mission of SSVT Senior Citizens’ Group is to enhance the quality of life of its members so that they can live a healthy, happy, active and indepndent life with dignity as well as serve and enrich the community. The Group strives to enhance physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being of all members through education, training, enter-tainment, and other assistance to attain successful aging. The current pro-grams include talks by members and/or by invited guests on successful aging, music, devotional songs, etc. (11am-1pm), and lunch (1-2pm). We cordially welcome all SSVT Senior devotees to participate in our group activities and enjoy a successful aging. For further information and to know any change/s in day/s as well as in timing/s, please call Mr. Umakant Rajguru at 301-890-0652 or email shakurajguru@yahoo.com

Sandwiches for Homeless – September 8, 2012On the second Saturday of every month, volunteers make sandwiches for the homeless. 1500 sandwiches are made and delivered to Martha’s Table, a DC shelter. If anyone wish 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 call Chitra Raj at 301-216-2019

Annual Ganesh Puja by ChildrenBalavikas of Fairfax, in association with Durga Temple, will be con-ducting their Annual Ganesh Puja at Durga Temple, Fairfax Station, VA, on Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 10:30 am. All, especially children, are welcome to participate. The specialty of this event is Children will explain the steps of the Shodashopachara Puja and con-duct the Puja. Puja will be followed by lunch prasadam. For more information please visit www.balavikas.org.

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White House, Pentagon, Indian and Maryland State Government and Local Law Enforcement Representatives Join Diverse Local Interfaith Community to Stand United Together in Prayer

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Around four hundred people from many dif-ferent faiths gathered in solidarity on Saturday for an act of healing at a vigil organized by the Siva Vishnu Temple and the United Hindu Jain Temples of Washington, D.C.The memorial for the victims of last week’s shooting at a Sikh Gurudwara in Oak Creek, Wis. was held at the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in Lanham, Md.“We all share the sorrow of our Sikh brothers and sisters at this time of need,” said Dr. Suryanarayana Siram, chair of the board of trust-ees of SSVT. “We must pull together as one community.”“Events like this bring all religious people together to show support and solidarity,” added Mythili Bachu, president of the United Hindu Jain Temples of Washington D.C., which has 14 temples in the sur-rounding area. “It also presents an opportunity to educate the com-munity and take us out of ignorance. The Obama Administration has done a superb job. It’s a comfort to know that they are just there.”Indian ambassador to the United StatesNirupama Rao spoke at the event, citing President Barack Obama’s outreach to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh following the tragedy. Addressing a large gathering of people of varied ethnicities and religions, Nirupama Rao, Indian Ambassador to the US said, “We are gathered here, united in our sadness and sorrow about the tragedy that took place in Oak Creek last Sunday.” Rao, who visited the community within a couple days of the “horrific tragedy,” said she went there “in order to share the grief and sorrow that we felt as part of the larger Indian community with our

Sikh brothers and sisters” “There was shock and disbelief writ large on the faces,” of widowed women and orphaned children as they struggled to come to terms with the tragedy, noted Rao.Speaking in a voice laden with emotion and eyes on the brink of tears, Rao recalled her feelings during her visit to Oak Creek, just two days after the tragedy, saying, “Words failed me on that occasion. My emotions were very difficult to control.”Gautam Raghavan, associate director of the White House Office of Public Engagement repeated the president’s thoughts and prayers and Lt. Ravi Chaudhary reflected on the important role Sikhs have played in defending America.Maryland Attorney General Douglas Genslar commended the Sikh community’s response to the tragedy, calling it a “teaching moment” one that shows how to respond to hatred with nonviolence, peace and love. Representatives from Governor Martin O’Malley’s office and the Maryland state legislature joined Attorney General Genslar, sharing their sympathies and comforts too. Deputy Secretary of State Rajan Natarajan, House of Delegates Majority Leader Kumar Barve and Delegate Aruna Miller were also among the speakers at the memo-rial. Bhai Gurdharshan Singh, a leader in the local Sikh community em-braced the outpouring of support, reflecting on the support that was received by Sikhs across the country. “Powerful are not those who destroy. Powerful are those who unite,”BhaiGurdharshan Singh said quotingGuru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.

Solidarity meeting and Community Prayer held at Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in support of the Sikh Community on August 11, 2012

WASHINGTON CAPITAL AREA INTERFAITH COMMUNITY HOLDS SOMBER MEMORIAL FOR OAK CREEK SIKH TEMPLE SHOOTING VICTIMS

Cont’d on page 5

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Awakening with Brahmakumaris Meeting on every 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm at SSVT For more informa-tion contact Meditation Museum at 301-588-0144 SAT Classes – Sep 2, Sep 16, Sep 30 -3:00pm -5pm . Students and parents are encouraged to sign-up for one on one session with professionals for guidance on SAT preparation and high school course planning. Email SAT@ssvt.org to sign-up.Upanishad Series – Sep 09, 10:30am -12:30pm.Bhagavatam – 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Saturdays Krishna Leela – Dasama skandham – Krishna entering Mathura and getting ready for Kamsavadham.Akaar Sessions Will Resume on Aug 25 - 1:00 pm – 2:00 pmHanuman Chaleesa & Gopikaa Geetam, learning sanskritPlease register at ssvtkids@yahoo.com for slokas, stories, bhajan, art, drama and fun for kids, follows Poorna Vidya. Advanced Su Jok classes on every Saturday, 5:00-7:00 pm from 9 June, 2012 Kindly register with shamnarula@gmail.com

SSVT Education Programs

Volunteers for Flowers RequiredSSVT is looking for additional volunteers for making flower garlands in the temple premises on Thursdays, Fridays and Sat-urdays. No prior experience required and it is very easy to ac-quire the skill. Children and adults of all ages can volunteer on any of the above days. Temple will provide service learning hour credits for student volunteers. Please contact at Bhavani Sivara-makrishnan at flower@ssvt.org

Mitra MandalaMitra Mandala offers free community service providing confidential and professional counseling and senior services for families in need. Please contact R.G. Nagarajan at 301-279-9328 nagarajan51932@gmail.com or Ramah Muralidharan, 301-455-8318, ramahmurali@gmail.com for support services.

Teachers NeededSSVT SAT Program is seeking committed volunteer teachers willing to tutor students in SAT (Math, Reading and Writing). Training and development to selected volunteers will be provided by the SSVT SAT Program coordinator(s). SSVT is also looking for volunteer teachers to conduct English classes to our priests and other non-English speak-ing community members. Please send an email to sat@ssvt.org

Annual Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar and Sri Syama Sastri Music FestivalCo-Sponsored by SSVT and Geethamrutha Music School

Sat., Nov. 3, 2012 (8:30am to 8:30pm) & Sun., Nov. 4, 2012 (8:30am to 7pm)This annual music festival is a homage to two of the most prominent composers in

Carnatic Music Sri Mutthuswamy Dikshitar (1775-1835) and Sri Syama Sastri (1762-1827)Sat, Nov 3 will highlight the contributions of Sri Dikshitar, and include a Lecture/Dem-onstration by Smt. S. Sowmya at 11 am followed by special presentations by local music teachers. The Grand Finale of the day is a Vocal Music Concert by Smt S.Sowmya at 5:00 pm. (Admission Free. Donations welcome). The agenda for Sun, Nov 4 will high-light the contributions of Sri Syama Sastri, and includes a group rendition of Syama Sastri’s Ratna Trayam (his 3 majestic swarajatis and other selected krithis). On Sunday evening there will be a Vocal Concert by our upcoming young local musician Sri Gokul Iyer. The festival is open to all music lovers of the greater Washington DC metro area to attend and participate in individual and group singing. (Rendition of either Sri Dikshtar or Syama Sastri Krithis welcome) Please contact mdaradhana@gmail.com before Octo-

ber 20 for participation and additional information. Due to time limitation, participation is based on a first come first serve basis. Group participation is encouraged in order to accommodate a larger number of participants.

Classes and group practice sessions for the group rendition of Syama Sastri’s Ratna Trayam and other selected krithis will be pro-vided by Smt Nirmalaa Ramaswamy (Director of Geethamrutha Music School, Bethesda MD) on all Sundays from Sep 23 to Oct 28, 2012 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at her residence. (The classes are free). All are welcome to learn and participate. Please contact nirmalaramaswamy@yahoo.com for participation and additional information before the September 15, 2012.

SSVT Community Service Cont’d

Shiridi Baba Bajan at SSVTFirst Thursday of each month at 7pm .

Please contact Shobha Prasad 240-568-9151

Sikh priests from the Silver Spring Gurudwara led the audience in the singing of Kirtans, holy prayer songs. Jessie Singh, chair of the South Asian Commission, and Sonny Ahuja of the Silver Spring Gurudwara joined in the prayers and reflected on the tragedy. Throughout the event, community leaders talked about talked about the importance of understanding the different faiths that exist freely in the U.S. The Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington distributed literature about the 11 most prominent religions in the United States, including those represented at the event. The speakers emphasized the need to engage with one another and promote aware-ness in the community to prevent ignorance that leads to such acts of hatred in the future.The event culminated with prayers by all SSVT priests and a viewing of excerpts from the PBS documentary, “The Asian and Abrahamic Religions: A Divine Encounter in America.” Jerry Krell, filmmaker of the documentary, prayed with others in the audience. Officers from the Lanham Police Department shared their prayers as well, urging the community to play their part by remaining alert and reporting any suspicious activity.Bel Leong-Hong, chair of the Democratic National Committee’s Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus,was touched by the inter-faith gathering. “It was a moving experience,” said Leong-Hong.Also standing in solidarity with the Sikh community at the event were AcharyaVivek from Chinmaya Niagara, RizwanJaka from Next Gen Adult, Clark Lowenstein from the Interfaith Conference, Ahmad Chaudhary from Ahmadiyya, Dr. HasanJalisi from the Maryland Mus-lim Council, Harshit Shah from the Jain Society,Nisim Rubin from the Jewish communityand dozens of representatives from the Tamil Nadu, Buddhist, Zorastrian, Catholic, and Ba’hai communities.

Community Prayer Cont’d from page 4

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Swathi Thirunal Music FestivalSri Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma was the Maharaja of the state of Travancore in India. Besides

being an able ruler, he was a patron of music and a musician himself. He encouraged both broad systems of Indian music, Hindustani and

Carnatic music, though he was essentially a connoisseur of the Carnatic music tradition. He is credited with composing over 400 compositions in Carnatic music as well as Hindustani music. The king was fluent in a number of languages such as Malayalam, Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Tamil, Oriya and English. The festival will begin with a customary group sing-ing of Bhavayami Raghuramam ragamalika and three hindustani compositions of Swathi Thirunal. The practice sessions will be coordinated by T. Prabhakar. If interested, you may join the group singing practice from 2:00 - 4:00 pm in the Aakaar Room

on all Sundays from August 5 through September 9. For further information, please contact the SSVT Cultural Committee (cultural.

ssvt@gmail.com), Sri M.G. Menon (menonmg@hotmail.com) or T. Prabhakar (prabjay@yahoo.com).

Temple Hours:Weekdays: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Weekends / Holidays 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

The Temple is open all day on all Important Holidays

From Baltimore / Wash-ington D.C. Take B.W. Parkway to NASA God-dard Space Center. Left turn at Rte 193 (Green Belt Road)

Go approximately 1 mile on Rte. 193. Make right turn onto Cipriano Road. The Temple is on the left at 6905 Cipriano Road.

From Silver Spring, Bethesda, Tysons Corner: Take I-495 (Beltway) to Exit 22A (B.W Parkway towards Baltimore), Exit immediately towards NASA Goddard Space Center. Left turn at Rte. 193 (Greenbelt Road).

From Andrews Air Force Base, Alexandria, Springfield: Take I-495 (Beltway) to Exit 22A (B.W Parkway towards Baltimore), Bear right following signs to NASA Goddard Space Center, and merge to Rte. 193 (Greenbelt Road).

Daily Puja ScheduleMorning Puja 9:00 am Monday-Friday Suprabatham 9:00 am Daily Evening Arathi 6:00 pm Monday-Sunday Abhishekam 9:30 am Daily Venkateswara Abhishekam 10:15 am Saturday

Upcoming Cultural EventsSRI SIVA VISHNU TEMPLE

6905 Cipriano RoadLanham, MD 20706

Non ProfitU.S. Postage Paid

Permit #6038Suburban, MD

Date Time Event Artist Admission VenueSat, Sep. 15, 2012 All day Swathi Thirunal Festival Multiple Artists Free SSVT AuditoriumSat, Sep. 15, 2012 5.30pm Vocal Concert Sri. Sankaran Namboothiri Free SSVT AuditoriumSat, Sep. 22, 2012 5pm Vocal Concert Sri. O.S. Thyagarajan Ticketed SSVT AuditoriumSat Sept 29, 2012 5pm Kathak Dance Performance Dance Troupe TBD SSVT AuditoriumSat. Oct 6, 2012 5pm Vocal Concert Sri. T.V. Sankaranarayanan Ticketed SSVT AuditoriumSat. Oct 13, 2012 5pm Violin Smt. Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi and Ticketed SSVT Auditorium Jugalbandhi Smt.Kala RamnathSat Oct 27, 2012 5pm Kalarasana Series Dance/Laya/Lec Dem Free SSVT AuditoriumSat, Nov. 3, 2012 All Dikshatar and Multiple Artists Free SSVT AuditoriumSat, Nov. 4, 2012 day Syama Sastri Festival ArtistsSat, Nov. 3, 2012 TBD Vocal Concert Smt. Sowmya Free SSVT AuditoriumSun, Nov. 11, 2012 3pm Vocal Concert Sri. Bharat Sundar Ticketed SSVT Auditorium

Announcements regarding these programs will also be available via Temple notice board, website etc. Please email cultural.ssvt@gmail.com or cc@ssvt.org for further details regarding upcoming events. Also visit http://www.facebook.com/srisivavishnu for current updates. Starting 2012, the temple offers two membership levels for cultural events (basic or premium). Please visit the temple website for further details.

The listing of SSVT sponsored concert CDs is now posted online at www.ssvt.org under Upcoming events. Those interested in these CDs are requested to please contact ssvt@ssvt.org.