With Lord Ganesha’s grace we are nearing a successful conclusion to an-

other exciting school year. This is only made possible through the tireless and

selfless service of our volunteer teachers, parent volunteers and the parents who

have entrusted the education of their children in Indian culture and religious values

to us. I am particularly thankful to Ram Kaushik and Shanti Venkatraman for the

past leadership of the Education Committee that made it easy for me to transition

into the new role as the Committee Chair.

Thanks to strong support from many board members and gracious hospital-

ity of the temple priests, this year we moved all our classes to the New Priests

Quarters. We were able to welcome a number of new teachers who brought fresh

ideas and energy to the team. We kicked off the year with a very successful fall

picnic at Percy Warner Park in September. The Teen Sevaks participated in a num-

ber of volunteer projects such as helping with the lunch boxes, organizing the pic-

nic, participating in the Habitat for Humanity build and sorting and packing food

at the 2nd Harvest Food Bank. We started actively participating in the aarti after

classes on Sunday thanks to active support from the teachers and the parents. We

also had a number of interesting talks including one on Yoga by Dr. Gurjeet Bird-

ee of Vanderbilt Integrative Health and the other by Dr. Rajan Sachdeva of Ni-

rankari Mission - on three paths to Harmony and Peace. Finally, I am happy to re-

port that we have started an introductory class for parents between 11:20-12:20

and I hope that more parents will avail of this opportunity in the coming year.

Eventually our goal is that it will grow into many classes for different levels. Fi-

nally, the temple board has very ambitious plans for building a large expansion to

the temple to house religious classes, music and language class, a senior gathering

place as well as space for a library. It is very important that we all join together in

financially supporting this endeavor, which will be our future home!

Hari OM,

Hemant Dandekar

A Note from Education Committee

BAAL VAANI

J U N E 2 0 1 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1 3

P A G E 2

Sunday School Teacher Interview: Reita Aggarwal Fondest childhood memory: Reita auntie’s fondest memory was playing

outside with her friends in second and third grade. She especially remem-

bers playing cops and robbers as a group.

Favorite book: Reita Auntie enjoys Richard Bach’s books: Jonathan Sea-

gull, Illusions,. Also she enjoys Vivekanada’s volumes and Mahabharta

If could go anywhere: Even after travelling many places, Reita Auntie

wants to visit Amarnath in the Himalayas

Best thing you ever ate: Reita auntie likes to eat ice cream, especially fa-

looda kulfi

Person you admire most: Reita Auntie admires Swami Vivekananda

Most afraid of: Reita Auntie claims she is not afraid of anything that is im-

aginable. “I do fear the mistakes I make and unknowingly hurt someone.

Three things you do every day: Before bedtime, Reita Auntie analyzes her

actions and situations, and reads something philosophical every day. Of

course debate with Hershey, and listen music

Best part of teaching Sunday school:Reita auntie feels that the best part of

teaching Sunday school is learning about religion in a different perspective.

Teaching also helps her perfect herself spiritually.

Reita Auntie is most Thankful to god for everything that is with her, around

her and not with her. Most importantly teaching her to learn how to handle

challenges and take every situation positively.

What you want to do as a child- Reita Auntie always wanted to be a doctor

and open a big hospital in India.

Favorite Hobby-Reita auntie used to enjoy playing the sitar. She still listens

to it with great pleasure.

By

Hersheyth Aggarwal

B A A L V A A N I

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1 3

Sunday School

Picnic Pictures

Pictures taken by

Janani Gurukkal

P A G E 4

Jatayu

Alligator and the Monkey Once upon a time an alligator lived with its family on the bank of a river, at

the same time; a monkey

lived in a tree. They soon became friends. Hearing about the alligator’s

friend, his wife wanted to eat

about the monkey and advised her husband to bring the monkey. They

then planned a trick to bring him. Somehow the monkey came to know of

this plan and escaped. The foolish alligator lost his good friend forever.

MORAL: Do not cheat your friends.

Main Idea: Greediness will invite harm

Author: Adi Biju—2nd Grade

B A A L V A A N I

Jatayu was a bird in the Ramayana. He was a demigod in the form of a

bird. Jatayu was the king of air. He was the son of Aruna and the nephew

of Garuda. Jatayu was also Sampati’s brother. When they were younger

they used to compete and see who could fly the highest. Jatayu flew so

high; the sun’s deadly rays almost burned him. Jatayu had fought with

Ravana bravely but as he grew older it was very simple to defeat him.

Ravana did not want to quarrel with him but he did. Ravana didn’t like

Jatayu’s persistence. Ravana pulled out his bow to kill Jatayu but with his

sharp beak and claw he tore up the bow. Pain began to set in and Jatayu

became blind. Once Ravana was aware of this Ravana pulled out his sword

and killed him. When Ravana took Sita, Jatayu tried to battle Ravana, but

Ravana was too powerful. When Rama and Lakshmana came, Jatayu point-

ed them in the direction where Sita had been abducted. Soon after that,

old Jatayu, died. Also, he was loyal to his older brother Sampati, when

Sampati's winds were burned away. Rama also accepted Jatayu as an older

brother and performed the funeral for Jatayu.The last words Jatayu spoke

were Sita is alive! THE END

By,

Arushi Mehta—5th Grade

Rama

P A G E 5 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1

Rama was the 7th incarnation of Vishnu and the 1st son of Dasharatha, the king of Ayodhya

and Kausalya.

The 7stages of his life or kandas are Balakanda, childhood, Ayodhakanda, growing up,

Aryanakanda, being exiled for 14 years, Kishkindakanda, he meets the monkeys while trying to

save his wife (Sita) from Ravana ,the demon lord, Sundarakanda ,Hanuman ,one of the monkeys, flies to

Lanka and finds Sita in Ravana's clutches, Lankakanda ,Rama goes to Lanka to get Sita back (in a war) ,and

Yuddhakanda , after the war. Rama was very obedient to his elders.

One example is when sage Vishwamitra came to ayodha he did everything the sage told him

to do like kill the demons Taataka, Mareecha and Subahu.Rama also freed Ahkalya who was

cursed to be a stone by her husband. After that sage Vishwamitra takes them to the marriage

of Sita .The challenge at the marriage is to string Shiva's bow in his attempt to string the bow

he breaks the bow thus proving he is strong. Rama's father plans to crown Rama king but is

stopped by kaikeyi,1 of Dasharatha's other wives, who uses 2 boons to exile Rama and crown

Bharatha , one of rama's brothers, Lakshamana and Sita accompany Rama into the woods.

In the middle of Rama's exile Ravana,the king of demons,lures Rama and Lakshmana away

from Sita and then captures her. Rama and Lakshmana quickly pursuit after Ravana. Soon,they

meet Sugreeva's monkeys who help them locate Sita in Lanka .After they find Sita they build a huge bridge

of rocks to get to Lanka with the monkeys to defeat

Ravana and get Sita back. Finally, after the war Rama and Sita are united but to make sure

Sita is the same. Rama makes sita go into the fire to test her and Sita comes out unscathed.

Rama was a great,noble and obedient man but he sent Sita to the forest because of something

a washer person said. This shows that at times Rama isn't caring ,but overall Rama is a great

man and one of the greatest people to ever step on earth.

By,

Ashwin Balaje

P A G E 6

Hanuman By Suchetha Shashi - 5th Grade

Manthara Many stories say that Manthara was Saraswati Mata who was sent in her

form to misguide Kaikeyi so that she could become the means for Rama to

fulfill his purpose on earth. Many believe she did this because Rama is Lord

Vishnu in disguise. Manthara as we all know has been Kaikeyi’s maid and

caretaker from her childhood. This name Manthara’s name means, 'slow

in', lazy, tardy, indolent, dull, stupid, silly, low, hollow, bent, curved, and

crooked. Manthara had a way for everything to go how she wanted it to.

Go. She was a bit self centered, but took good care of Kaikeyi when she

was a little girl. Manthara is very persistent. That is one of her good and

bad characteristics. An example of being persistent is the boons Dasharata

gave Kaikeyi. Manthara was telling Kaikeyi, it would be better for you if

Rama goes away and Bharata becomes king. Then again, Manthara got her

way. But Manthara wasn’t mean, because it was doing a favor to everyone,

Rama going to the forest, Sita getting captured all of that was all Manthara.

She was great at being persuasive and getting her way. She was bad and

good. Manthara was a huge roll in the epic Ramayana.

By Neha Mehta—5th Grade

Hanuman is half monkey and half human. He was born to his mother Anjana

and Kesari his father. Anjana and Kesari were praying for a birth of a son to

Shiva because Anjana’s curse would be expelled. Shiva gave them a boone

for a son which was incarnated by Shiva. Hanuman was in many Indian epics

such as the Ramayana. He was very devoted to Rama and Sita by their love

to hanuman. His journey throughout his life was mostly in the Ramayana. In

his child hood he was known for mistaking the sun as a mango and trying to

eat the mango. As a result of trying to get the mango he got wounded on

his jaw by indra. This is how hanuman got his name because “hanuh” means

“jaw”. In his childhood he also got blessing from Indra, Surya, and Brahma to

have the power of water, fire, wind and the power to be immortal. He

helped lots of people and animals in the place he was living from Rakshsas

for example the rishi’s were preforming a yagna when the Rakshasas were

disturbing the rishi’s, with hanumans powers that he got from the gods In-

dra, Surya, and brahma he fought and destroyed the Rakshasas .Hanuman as

he grew older he began meditating for years in the forest. .

B A A L V A A N I

Sabala By Shakitdar -5th Grade

P A G E 7 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1

Sabala is the mother of all cows. She provides her owner with anything he/she desires. In iconography she is generally shown as a white cow with a woman’s head and breasts or as a white cow holding different types of deities within her body. She is also called Kamadhenu.She was born during the churning of the cos-

mic ocean. She is not worshipped as a goddess, but people worship all cows as her.

Sabala belonged to Vasista.Vasista went to king Vishvamithra.Vasista offered a grand reception and requested the king to be his guest. The king said no because, he thought the sage could not feed a large army. But,Vasista said “Do not worry. I have a wish fulfilling cow named Sabala/Kamadhenu.” Vasista called the cow.Vasista says “Sabala was born during the churning of the cosmic ocean” and told Sabala “Make a feast for the king and his army.” Then, a huge feast appeared in front of the king and his army. Everyone had a great feast. Vishvamithra loved the cow’s powers. The king went to Vasista and told him “This cow is more useful to me than you. So, can I have the cow?” Vasista said “No.” Then Vishvamithra got angry so he captured Sa-bala. Sabala escaped and ran back to Vasista and asked him “Why did you abandon me?” Vasista told her that he had not abandoned her and asked to make her own army to fight Vishvamithra. Sabala created her own

army and defeated Vishvamithra.

Extra Fun Facts-

Vishnu asked Sabala “I want to be somewhere secret so nobody would know I am here.” Sabala an-

swered “You can live inside of

me.” That’s how Sabala is magic.

Kamadhenu translated in English means…. “Salutations to the great Goddess The one who fulfills their devotees’ wishes, The one who lived as a seed for all cows, Salutations to her, the mother of the uni-

verse.”

The Four names of Kamadhenu and their meanings

1. Sabala means The Spotted One

2. Surabhi loosely means The Fragrant One

3. Matrika means The mother or the one who sets an example

4. Kapila means The Red One

What Kamadhenu means…. Kamadhenu means cow of plenty.

Hinduism considers the cow as the most sacred symbol. The four legs of Kamadhenu embody the four Vedas and are considered to be as strong as the Himalayas. Her thorns symbolize the Divine Trinity of Brahma at the tip, Vishnu in the middle part and Shiva at the base of the horn. In her eyes reside the sun and moon Gods. Agni, the God of Fire, and Vayu, the God of Wind, reside in her shoulders. In general, it is be-lieved that all major deities exist within the person Kamadhenu. This is also how Kamadhenu is usually repre-

sented in portraits.

Hanuman (cont’d) By Suchetha Shashi - 5th Grade Rama was in his 14 years of exile in the forest along with Lakshmana and was looking for Sita who was been abducted by Ravana. During their search they came across the Mountain Rishyamukha, where Sugriva was hiding from his brother ValiHanuman approached Rama and Lakshman as a Brahmin by this Rama recognized the Brahmin as hanuman, and then Hanuman undisguised himself and falls at Rama’s feet to help Sugriva from Vali. Rama helps Sugriva from Vali and crowns him as king of the palace Kishkinda. In return the Kish-kinda kingdom and hanuman help Rama find Sita. Because of this Rama and Hanuman become close friends and this is how Hanuman becomes devoted to Rama and Sita. Even till today we have been told about Hanu-man’s devotion, friendship, and dedication to Rama and Sita.

P A G E 8

Kaikeyi By, Ritika Senapathi - 5th Grade

Kaikeyi was the mother of Bharta. Her mother was a stubborn women and

that is how Kaikeyi got that type of attitude. Kaikeyi knew that Dasaratha liked Kai-

keyi the most and that he loved her a lot. Kaikeyi was happy to here that Rama was

going to be the new king. Dasaratha was happy too. Then Mantara came to tell Kai-

keyi that she should not be happy. Mantara brainwashed Kaikeyi so that she would

feel all jealous. Mantara did this so that she would get the advantage and also be-

cause Mantara always took care of Kaikeyi. Kaikeyi went to Dasaratha and said to

him that she wanted Bharta (her son) to be the king. After hearing that Dasaratha

became shocked.

Then Kaikeyi reminded him about the two boons that he promised to give

her. First boon that she picked was that Rama goes to the forest for 14 years. Then

the last boon was that Bharta be the king. Dasaratha had to keep his promise so he

gave Kaikeyi the 2 boons. Dasaratha died after Rama went to the forest. Bharta got

mad at Kaikeyi and told her what she did was wrong and to go back and get Rama

from the forest. The only way Kaikeyi offered Rama to come back was by Bharta’s

saying. Bharta did this because he didn’t want to be king because the people wanted

Rama to be the king and he did not want to be ashamed by his mom by what she

did.

Bharta wanted his brother to be king all along. Bharta told Kaikeyi to go get

Rama back from the forest. Rama did not agree and stayed in the forest for 14

years. Kaikeyi was also a little ashamed by what she did. Sense Rama did not agree

to go back to the kingdom Bharta told him to give him his crown so that he could

put it on the throne. Rama agreed to do that. While Rama was gone the crown was

sitting there on the throne. Kaikeyi still was a stubborn women and she would get

whatever she wanted somehow. That is one of the main stories of Kaikeyi.

B A A L V A A N I

Kindergarten Artwork

AJAY

NAMYA AVEE

SIDDHI

1st Grade– Quotable Quotes

P A G E 9 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1

What is your favorite part of 1st Grade Sunday School class, what have you learned in Sunday

school class?

Ananya-“I like singing songs”

Maya- “I have learned aarthi”

Akshay -“I have learned slokas”

Aayush- “What I like is learning aarthi bhajan”

Nila- “I liked to learn how to do crafts”

Ashna- “I liked learning about Diwali”

Preteka- “I have learned slokas”

Ameya- “I liked going outside and doing rangoli”

Dithyae- “I like learning about Diwali, and decorating the candles”

Shreya- “I like art”

Parth- “I liked learning about Diwali”

Aryan- “I liked learning about Lakshmi, Durga and Saraswathi”

Nandini- "I love Sunday School class for I get to read and hear stories that have a moral and it helps me

learn something good to become a good human being"

Chaitanya "I love stories. I love snack time"

Artwork by 1st Graders

P A G E 1 0

Pre -K Art

Kindergarten Artwork (cont’d)

B A A L V A A N I

SID AADI

VEDA

SAYAN

Inside Story Headline By Sithara Samudhrala

P A G E 1 1 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1

1. What is Ishvara?

Ishvara is philosophical concept in Hinduism, meaning the Supreme Being or Controller who has created

this world, and enter everything in it.

2. Give and explain one example of Ishvara? Ex. Waves in an ocean, or water in a rainbow.

One example of Ishvara is ice and water. Say if the ice cubes represented the people, and if the water is

the Ishvara, or the spirit invisible power of the universe. Just as ice is the solid form of water, we, the

people are also visible forms of Ishvara.

3. Does a spider have Ishvara in it? Explain.

Yes, because spiders exist in this world, and Ishvara flows through everything in this world.

4. We see Ishvara through our eyes of mind and knowledge that awakens our inner soul. What are the

three steps that allow our mind to be able to see this?

1.Belief we are weak, small, and humble and that there is a more powerful (Ishvara).

2.See Ishvara through the eyes of our mind and knowledge.

3. Follow steps and disciplined life to tune the mind with knowledge to see Ishvara.

Hinduism approach to Ishvara

Many paths…one destination to peace and happiness

Question 1: What “space suit” does ishvara wear to live on Earth?

Answer 1: Just as we need to put on space suit to visit moon/space; similarly our Spirit/ Ishwara wears a

space suit called body to come to live on earth. We existed before in our bodies, and we will exist when we

leave our bodies.

Question 2: What does “looking through the hole in the paper” represent?

Answer 2. Our vision of other people or world is peephole vision. Just as you are able to see only fragments

of one another through the hole, similarly you are really seeing or understanding of any other person or situ-

ation in fragments. Iceburg!

Question 3: What should we do to hear/see Ishvara within us?

Answer 3: Stay open-minded and humble to see Ishvara with the “eyes of knowledge” and wisdom of spirit

within.

Question 4: Why aren’t you able to throw or mutilate the picture of someone you love?

Answer 4: You are attached to the picture and love the person in it. Even the picture represents the person

inside of it. Same is true about Idol Worship!

Question 5: When we are open-minded how we can make Ishwara guide us?

Answer 5; Only by staying open minded, will we be able to tune to Ishwara’s judgment and rely on the wis-

dom of spirit within to guide us through any situation. Otherwise it is impossible to hear the Spirit/Ishvara

within us.

Concepts of Ishvara

P A G E 1 2 Karma Yoga In our quest for eternal happiness, we see—all too soon— the hindrances of our innate urges.

These urges, termed Vāsanās,act as chains that limit us from reaching mental tranquility and contentment.

The removals of Vāsanās are simple and can be done without major deviation from our normal lives. Yet,

if they are so simply removed, we must ask ourselves why they are prevalent today. We find our answer

in the fact that our society generally embraces Vāsanās without realization. Vāsanās manifest themselves

in egocentric actions and removing them requires a frame of mind, termed Karma Yoga.

Karma Yoga acts to purify the mind to exhaust our Vāsanās. The general message is that we must

continue working hard in our daily lives, but change our mental attitude. Instead of working for self grati-

fication, we must work selflessly with the same dedication. Those who master Karma Yoga bless human-

kind with every action and have attained a state of freedom that brings a long-lasting satisfaction and con-

tentment, rather than the short term happiness we may received from actions done solely for oneself.

This idea of selfless actions is not new, but has been present throughout the centuries. The Gita

tells us to act without desire and attachment. Arjuna, the famous archer of the Pandavas, excelled be-

cause he attained a lack of attachment (Gita III:7). When we work with a higher ideal, we allow ourselves

to use our mental energy efficiently to accomplish greater feats than the inefficient use of energy without

Karma Yoga. We have all the resources, abilities, energy, and power needed, but it must be directed in

the way the most beneficial way. By mastering Karma Yoga, we will be able to be fully utilize these re-

sources in a way that is most beneficial to ourselves and the world around us.

By Neel Kurupassery

Eliminating Vāsanās Before one even wants to remove vāsanās, they must know what they are and their effect on

them. The word itself means "fragrance" in Sanskrit and is defined as impressions left by selfish motives in

our minds and can also be thought of as unmanifest tendencies (behavior that is not clear to the eye). For

example, a vāsanā in peoples' minds around the world would be drinking coffee. They are drinking coffee

for none other than the reason that they wish to satisfy that yearning desire to drink coffee. Their drink-

ing coffee benefits no one else or effects anyone else other than themselves - a selfish motive.

Vāsanās are the very source of desire. If one eliminates vāsanās, they will, in turn, eliminate all de-

sires. As seen in the example of coffee, the desire for coffee prompted the unmanifest tendency. In other

words, elimination of desires will result in the elimination of unmanifest tendencies therefore resulting in

happiness.

The happiness equation can be used to explain this process. For those who do not know the hap-

piness equation, it states that the number of desires fulfilled divided by the number of desires is equal to

one's happiness. The fewer desires, the more happiness. When the number of desires reaches zero,

which occurs when there are no vāsanās, happiness is infinite. From this, you can see that the benefit of a

complete elimination of vāsanās is infinite happiness.

The next step, now that you have an understanding of vāsanās, is to eliminate them, and to elimi-

nate them, the path of action, karma yoga, must take place. The way to eliminate the vāsanās is by doing

the actions selflessly, not selfishly. By doing this, all selfish motives will be terminated, vāsanās will disap-

pear, and your happiness will be infinite.

By Varun Gudibanda