Jul Aug Sept

Ganapati Tunai

2009

Murugan Temple of North America

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6300 Princess Garden Parkway, Lanham, MD 20706, USA Phone: 3015524889, FAX: 3015525043 Email: info@murugantemple.org, Internet: www.murugantemple.org

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Nallur Festival Returns to MTNA with Ratham

Maiden Run of Ratham To Take Place
Coinciding with festivals in Nallur, the two day Nallur festival at MTNA will be on Friday and Saturday August 7th and 8th. The festival will have the added value of a Ratham sponsored by Devotees. The Ratham has been fabricated in the form of a Chitra Ther modeled around the Nallur Grand Ther. Segments of Hand-Carved Ratham Before Final Assembly The festival will commence on Friday with Ganapathi Homam and Abeshekam at 8.00 am followed by Ratham Vellottam (maiden run) commencing 10:30 am. The Ratham festival will be on Saturday 8th. Lord Murugan together with Valli, Theivanai, after Theepa Alangaram, will be brought to the Ratham accompanied by Mela Thalam. Utsavar will ascend the Ratham at the auspicious time of 11:30 am. Ratham will be drawn by Devotees around the Temple outer Veethil. The Ratham will then be brought back to the base and the Utsavar dressed in green. Lord Murugan together with Valli and Theivanai will descend from the Ratham at the auspicious time of 2:30 pm. 9:45 am Ganapati Abishekam 5:00 pm Bajan 6:00 pm Ganapati Sahasranamam 7:00 pm Ganapati Procession

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami Will Once Again Preside

Saint Yogaswami of Jaffnas successor, and Bodhinathas Guru, Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (Hawaii Swami), presided over MTNA's Kumbabishekam with Sri Swami Satchidananda and Ramasamy Adigal in 1999. preside. (See page 3 for festival details.)

Above: Subramuniyaswami next to a portrait of his Guru, Siva Yogaswami of Jaffna Below: Subramuniyaswamis successor, Bodhinatha Veylanswami

MTNA CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

(See murugantemple.org to view a free online calendar with greater details and up-tothe-minute updates)

Saturday, July 18thAdi Karthigai Celebration

9:00 am Ganapati Homam 9:30 am Ganapati Abishekam 10:00 am Subramaniya Homam 10:30 am Kavadi and Pal Kudam 11:00 am Murugan Abishekam 11:30 am Bajan 12:30 pm Deeparanthanai 1:00 pm Lunch

September 19th27th Navarathiri

Saturday and Sunday September 19th and 20th Days 1 and 2 10:30 am Special Abishekam To Meenakshi 6:00 pm Lalitha Sahasranamam Monday Through Friday, September 21st through 25thDays 3 through 7 11:00 am Special Abishekam To Meenakshi 7:30 pm Lalitha Sahasranamam Saturday, September 26thDay 8 Durgashtami 9:00 am Chandi Homam

1:00 pm Durgai Abishekam 1:45 pm Deeparathanai 4:00 pm Ganesha Puja By Children (All Children are welcome to the 4 pm Ganesha Puja! Please bring Puja Items) 6:00 pm Lalitha Sahasranamam Sunday, September 27thDay 9 10:30 am Special Abishekam to Meenakshi 6:00 pm Lalitha Sahasranamam

Friday and Saturday, August 7th and 8thNallur Festival (See Page 3 for Details) Sunday, August 23rd Vinayaka Chathurthi Celebration
9:00 am Ganapati Homam 9:30 am Pal Kudam

Monthly First and Third Fridays @ 8 pm Bajan Last Sunday @ 1 pm Adhi Parasakthi
TREASURERS REPORT VOLUNTEERS CORNER ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION ANNOUNCEMENTS NALLUR FESTIVAL ANNOUNCEMENT TEMPLE SERVICES, HOURS, AND DIRECTIONS

Inside

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Treasurers Report: Financial Results for First Quarter 2009 There was a surplus from operations of about $19,640 for the first quarter, which fell short of requirements to meet mortgage payments by about $5,900. This shortfall was met from reserves. Donations towards the Rajagopuram project totaled $18,300. There were no capital expenditures.
VOLUNTEERS CORNERMURUGAN TEMPLE NEEDS MANY MORE VOLUNTEERSSTUDENTS WELCOME!
We are soliciting volunteers to help with the following temple activities categorized below: To help the 7 committees under the Executive Board 1. Religious committee 2. Cultural committee 3. Information Technology committee 4. Food committee 5. Fund raising committee 6. Newsletter committee 7. Infrastructure committee To help with the routine tasks at the temple Making Garlands Manage the devotee service desk so as to relieve the manager for other duties To help with the Nanthavanam (flower garden) To help with the following project specific assignments: Identify graduating students at different levels to celebrate their graduationfrom pre-school to Graduate studiesWe will have a date convenient to most parents during summer 2009. This will be a motivation to the children and parents and have them involved with the temple. Please send names of children to the temple manager Mr. Raghavan. A signup sheet will be at the front desk for this purpose. Operate the Audio/Video system Student volunteers to answer the telephone during festival times and weekendsIt is an opportunity for the parents to get their children involved with the temple activities and learn the Hindu philosophy. They will be rewarded with service learning hours that could be accumulated with their school service learning hours - a requirement for their High School graduation. Help serve food during important functions. Help with the beautification of the temple we will appreciate donations of more plants Jasmine, Kanakamparam, and other rare plants used for poojas. Volunteers are needed to till and prepare the plots, purchase and apply fertilizers, plant flowers. If you would like to make donations towards the project, make checks made to MTNA marked as for the Nanthavanam project. If you are interested in volunteering for any of the above, please contact the temple manager, Mr. Raghavan at 301 552-4879 or Mr. Vignarajah at 410 788-7251 or email evignarajah@hotmail.com.

MURUGAN TEMPLES 2009 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

A generous devotee's donation enabled us to perform the Lord Muruga Abishekam with 108 gallons of milk (left). As every year, we broke 108 coconuts (right).

Devotion waswell contagious!

ANNOUNCEMENTS Prasatham is now available on weekends.
If you have a suggestion or an idea for a fundraising, cultural, or religious event on behalf of MTNA, please contact: For Fundraising events: For Religious events: For Cultural events: FundraisingCte@murugantemple.org ReligiousCte@murugantemple.org CulturalCte@murugantemple.org

Tamil, Religion, and Hatha Yoga Classes For Children Will Begin Again in SeptemberThe Murugan Temple offers Tamil, Bajan, and Religious classes for children. Classes on Sundays from 10:15AM 12:00 noon. Please call Jana Kesavan at 410-747-0019 for more information. Carved Doors for Sannathi A group of Devotees has proposed that the plain door of the Murugan Sannathi be replaced with traditional carved doors with brass bells. The fabrication will be done overseas. It is estimated to cost about $ 2,500. The door will be available for installation during the Nallur Festival. Donations, marked for Sannathi Door are welcome. Ratham Sponsorship is almost complete, except for Simhasanam and Thiruvasi, estimated to cost about $ 6000. Donations are welcome. We also need additional sponsorship for the Ratham-Shed (Thiru-mutti).

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Murugan Temple of North America ILANKAI NALLUR & KATHIRKAMAM KANTHAN FESTIVAL
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Devotees Pulling the Ratham around Temple Lunch Available After 11:00 AM 2:30 PM Utsavar Descending from Ratham 3:30 PM Thiru Kalyanam ($25) Sambandar's Kolaru Pathikam Recital by Children and Talk by Satguru Bodninatha Veylanswami Murugan Procession Inside the Temple TwoDay Sponsorship $250 Sahasranamam $11, CoconutArchanai $11, Archanai $6 Love Offering (Donation) for Garlands and Mangalavathiyam (Nathaswaram and Thavil) are welcome. CONTACTS Murugan Temple 3015524889 Pathmini Saravanapavan 3013067110 Inpah Siva 3018059844 Nagulam Loganathan 3013657844 Muthukannu Guruswamy 4104610524 Kasi / Ananthan 5165479703 Siva Yogaswami Nimal 5168731168 Sathan Kumaranayagam 7183708907 If you are unable to attend on any of these days, but wish to sponsor an event or perform Archanas (please specify the deitys name), please fill out the following form and send it to: Attn. Nallur Festival 2009 Murugan Temple of North America 6300 Princess Garden Parkway Lanham, MD 20706 USA Please make check payable to MTNA and in the memo please write For Nallur Festival 2009 NALLUR FESTIVAL 2009 Please Print Name Address City ______________________ State _______ ZIP Country ___________________ Phone EMail Sponsorship for Archana to Check Enclosed for $ Family Gothiram Name of Family Member _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ Star

Nallur Murugan Temple, Jaffna, Sri Lanka (Picture Source: www.nallur.org)

The Tamil language was created by Murugan; therefore, He is special for Tamil people. They worship Him, in particular, wherever they live or migrate. The Nallur and Kathirkamam Murugan Temples in Sri Lanka are unique to Tamils living there. Those who have left Sri Lanka miss these Temples, and it is a constant reminder that they are not doing enough to create that age old Tamil Saivite tradition for their children living here. The celebration of the Nallur and Kathirkamam festival at the Murugan Temple of North America is an event that can culturally enlighten the youth to help them understand their roots. The Annual Festival of Nallur (in Sri Lanka) begins on the sixth day after the Julys new moon. The hoisting of the Holy Flag of the Temple (Kodiyetram) indicates the first day, and continues for twentyfive days. Poonkavanam (Thiru Kalyanam) is on the twentysixth day, which concludes this annual festival. Everyday, the idol of Lord Murugas Holy Vel is beautifully decorated with an abundance of flowers, and taken around the temple in procession. The Yalpanam Nallur Kanthaswami Kovil and the Kathirkamam Kanthan Kovil Annual Festival will be celebrated for two days at the Washington Murugan Temple on August 7th (Friday) and 8th (Saturday), 2009. Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami (Kauais Hindu Monastery) will preside over the Nallur Festival (see www.himalayanacademy.com). August 7th (Friday) 8:00 AM Ganapati Homam ($25) and Ganapati Abeshekam ($25) 9:00 AM Subramaniya Homam ($25) and Murugan Abeshekam ($51) 10:30 AM Ratham Vellottom (bts:nshl:lk;, MaidenRun) Devotees Hanging Bells Themselves on Ratham (Sponsorship $51 for Each Bell) August 8th (Saturday) 9:00 AM Kavadi ($21) Pal Kudam ($11, $1 for Additional Family Member) Murugan Abeshekam ($51) Bajan During Murugan Alankaram Simultaneous Pujas to Moolavar and Utsavar 11:30 AM Utsavar Ascending to Ratham

Murugan Temple of North America 6300 Princess Garden Parkway Lanham, MD 20706, USA

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID So. MD Permit No. 3958

Monday

Daily Abishekams 9:00 am Ganes ha 9:30 am Siva 10:00 am Murugan 7:00 pm Siva

MuruganTuesday of North America Temple Wednesday Thursday ILANKAI NALLUR & KATHIRKAMAM KANTHAN FESTIVAL
Daily Abi shekams 9:00 am Ganesha 9:30 am Siva 10:00 am Mur ugan Thirusathi 7:00 pm Meenakshi Daily Abishekams 9:00 am Ganesha 9:30 am Siva 10:00 am Murugan

DailyAbishekams 9:00 am Ganesha 9:30 am Siva 10:00 am Murugan 7:00 pm Palani Aandavar 7:30 pm Dakshinamurthi

Daily Abishekams 9:00 am Ganesha 9:30 am Siva 10:00 am Murugan 7:00 pm Ganesha

tl mbkhpf;f KUfd: nfhapy; ,y';if ey;Y}q fjpqfhkf; fe;jd: jpUtpHh August 7th (Friday) & 8th (Saturday), 2009

Dai ly Abishekams The Murugan Temple Daily Abishekams of North 9:00 am Ganesha 9:00 am Ganesha America 9:30 am Siva is a Traditional Saivite 9:30 am Siva 9:30 am Navagraha 11:00 area Hindu Temple. It has a flooram Muruganof 11:00 am Murugan 5:00 pm Durgai 7000 square feet, withAbishekam main Rahu Kala Puja Sannidhi for Murugan (Karttikeya) and four smaller Sannidhis for Vi n a y a k a ( G a n e s h a ) , S i v a (Sivalingham), Meenakshi, and Palani Aandavar. We also have an auditorium that is available for community use.

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

TEMPLE SERVICES: Call the Temple Manager at 301 552-4889 to make prior arrangements for ceremonies at the Temple or in your home. Also, ask for information about local hotels. TEMPLE HOURS: Monday Friday 9 am 12 noon & 5 pm - 9 pm; Saturday, Sunday, & Holidays 9 am 9 pm AUDITORIUM: The Temples auditorium capable of seating about 200 people in the basement is available for rent by Devotees. The Temple has also ample parking space. Call the Temple Manager at 301 552-4889 for reservations. DIRECTIONS TO MURUGAN TEMPLE: From I-95 (also 495, Capital Beltway), take exit 20-A, Lanham (Rte 450 East), then follow the signs to Princess Garden Parkway. Turn right on Princess Garden Parkway. Murugan Temple is on your left within half a mile (6300 Princess Garden Parkway) From Baltimore-Washington Parkway take Exit to Rt. 193 East Greenbelt Road. Turn left on Greenbelt Road. Turn right on Hanover Parkway, which becomes Princess Garden Parkway. Drive about 2.5 miles. The temple will be on your right. Page 4