NALLUR FESTIVAL 2012 INSPIRES LARGEST TURNOUT—LAUNCHES RAJAGOPURAM FUND-RAISING

With turnout of nearly a thousand devotees, this year’s Ilankai Nallur Kathirkama Kanthan Festival continued to in both size and power, drawing attendees from across the East Coast and Canada and launching the fund-raising for the Temple’s Rajagopuram and Expansion Project.

The 4,000 pound, 20 foot high, hand carved Ratham was a major highlight. It

was a delightful scene to see so many devotees, t h e i r s e lv e s immersed in devotion, draw the ornate chariot of lord Muruga with Valli and Devasena as their

tumultuous uproar of “Vetri Vel Muruganukku” and “Vel Vel Vetri Vel” reverberated in the atmosphere. Full article on the festival by Shyam Prasad Harinathan on page 2. Also refer to the message from the president for the latest on the Rajagopuram project.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR AN EVENTFUL QUARTER AHEAD

By Dr. Kalpana Ramiah

The next three months are filled with a number of festivals starting with Mahalaya Amavasai in October to the Arudhra Darshanam in December. Join the festivities and get showered with blessings from the Lord. Please check the Temple calendar and the website for more information about these events.

In October, the Mahalaya A m a v a s y a w i l l b e celebrated on the 14th, followed by nine days of grand Navarathri celebrations from the 15th to the 23rd. In addition to the nine step Golu (exhibition of various dolls and figurines), there will be Meenakshi Abhishekam and Lalitha Sahasaranamam

(Continued on page 2)

What a beautiful sight: Devotees enjoying the Abhishekam to the deity

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear MTNA Devotees:

I am extremely happy to inform you that our Temple activities are progressing well. We have a Thiruppani Kuzhu in place; authorized by the Board Of Trustees (BOT/MTNA), led by an ardent devotee Mr. Tirunilayi Seshadri, for the Rajagopuram & Temple extension plan. After several meetings and healthy discussions, the architect Fry & Welch submitted the plan of our Rajagopuram & Temple extension plan to the county government. We will be ready to start the Rajagopuram Project with the commercial kitchen as soon as our architectural drawings are approved by them. Please come and participate in our

fundraising efforts and e x t e n d g e n e r o u s f i n a n c i a l support.

Our total budget is

roughly around $ 2.4 Million. Satguru Bothinatha Veylanswami who presided

(Continued on page 2) Check out the new Temple webpage

www.murugantemple.org

6300 Princess Garden Parkway, Lanham, MD 20706301–552–4889, www.murugantemple.org

SevalSevalSeval: October: October: October---December 2012December 2012December 2012

Index

Nallur Festival 1,2 Message from the President 1,2 Mark your calendars 1,2 Avani Avittam 3 Oct—Dec Calendar 3 Announcements 3

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NALLUR KATHIRKAMA KANTHAN FESTIVAL 2012

Article by Shyam Prasad Harianathan

On August 10th and 11th, Nallur Kathirkamam Kanthan festival in our Murugan Temple in Lanham was celebrated very grandly.

The festival started with Ganapthy Homam, Subramanya Homam and fo l lowed by G a n a p a t h y a n d S u b r a m a n y a Abhishekam on the a u s p i c i o u s A a d i Kirthikai Nakshatra on August 10th. In the evening, Devotees participated in the U r c h a v a M u r t h i procession of Lord

Ganapathy at the Temple. On August 11th, many devotees (local, out of state and from Canada) took Palkudam and Alagu Kavadi procession in the morning followed by Murugan Abhishekam. During the Alankaram for Lord Murugan, Shri Bodhinatha Swamigal of the Kauvai Hindu

Monastery held a spiritual address to all devotees. Around 12:30 PM, Lord Murugan with Valli Devasena proceeded on a brilliantly decorated chariot with pomp and gaiety. In the evening, Thirukalyanam for Lord Murugam was

celebrated and followed by another procession of Lord Murugan inside the T e m p l e i t s e l f . Thirukalyanam is also an occasion where unmarried girls pray for a good husband and married men & women look for a good family life. This is the fourth successive year of the chariot run of Lord Murugan around the Temple.

Message to the soul: Bodhinatha Swamigal at the Murugan Temple

giving His discourse.

Devotees carrying Kavadi and Pal Kudam around the sanctum

Who is drawing Whom? The chariot being drawn by the devotees around the Temple

Priests performing Thirukalyanam to Lord Murugan with Valli and Devasena

recitation every day and special poojas on Durgashtami (Oct 22nd) and Saraswathi Pooja (Oct 23rd). Another festivity to celebrate for Lord Shiva will be held on the 22nd in the form of Annabhishekam. During November, the sparkling Deepavali will be celebrated on the 13th followed by six days of Skanda Shashti Celebration (November 14th to the 19th). The six days of Skanda Shashti celebrations will be filled with special Abhishekams, Archanas and Thirukalyanam for Lord Murugan. Special celebrations are being planned for the 24th, including Thirukalyanam. To finish of

the month with another festivity of lights, join us on the 27th to celebrate the Karthigai Deepam. Finally, in the month of Markazhi (December), we will recite the Thiruvempavai from 19th to 28th. The final day of the recital will be ce leb ra ted a s Arudra

Darshanam, the day when Lord Shiva’s energy is very close to the earth. On 28th, special Abhishekam to Natraja will be performed at 6 am; please join us to celebrate the cosmic dance of Lord Natraja in the pre-dawn hours. On the new year eve, we will all get ready to invite the New Year. The Temple will be open until midnight on the 31st; in addition, Lakshmi Kubera Pooja will be performed on the New Year’s day.

(Mark Your Calendars: Continued from page 1)

over the Aarambha Vizha, released the announcement booklet for Rajagopuram Fund Raising. Several hundreds of Devotees who attended the Nallur Festival received the announcement booklet and made their donations on that day, which reached $30,000. The Campaign is being continued by issuing the colorful booklet at the Temple. More devotees are coming forward every day to fund the Rajagopuram & Temple extension project. Our goal is to raise a minimum of $1.5 Million dollars within a year. The Nallur

Festival in 2012 closed with a good collection. The 2012 Festival also hosted the Rajagopuram Fund Raising Campaign. About $84,000 has so far been raised under the campaign. We have secured the approval from the county

government for the beautiful Temple entrance gate with brick work. We need sponsors for the gate, which would cost around $30K. We are hoping that many of our ardent devotees will become official Grand Sponsors for the Rajagopuram and Temple extension plan. Please support our Temple at this critical time of growth to ensure that all our devotees have a wonderful place of worship for the generations to come. On behalf of the Murugan Temple of North America, I would like to acknowledge and thank all of our dedicated devotees and volunteers for their continued support. I sincerely hope to see you all at our upcoming events. May Lord Washington Murugan bless you and your family in good health and happiness! Endrum Anbudan Dr. M.P. SELVAM, President/MTNA]

(President’s message: Continued from page 1)

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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: FundraisingCte@murugantemple.org

For Religious events: ReligiousCte@murugantemple.org

For Cultural events: CulturalCte@murugantemple.org

Tamil, Religion, and Hatha Yoga Classes For Children —The 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.

AVANI AVITTAM : MTNA CONTINUES THE TRADITION

On August 1st, the Temple conducted Avani Avittam or Yajur Upakarma. T e m p l e p r i e s t Ganesan Gurukkal p e r f o r m e d t h e Upakarma to the brahmacharis, mostly students from the U M D . Mu r u g a n Temple has been hosting the Upakarma function in a traditional fashion with all the rituals performed appropriately to the recitation of mantras for the past 3 years.

Ganesan Gurukkal

OCTOBER

Oct 14th—Mahalaya Amavasya

Oct 15—23 Navarathri celebrations 11:00AM Meenakshi Special Abhishekam

07:30pm Lalitha Sahasranamam Special celebrations on 23rd—refer to Temple calendar or website for more

details Oct 29th

07:00pm Annabhishekam to Lord Shiva. NOVEMBER

Nov 13th - Deepavali 07:30pm Lakshmi Kubera Pooja and

Kethara Lakshmi vratam Nov 14—18 Skanda Sashti celebrations See Temple calendar or Temple website

for details. Nov 18th—Skanda Sashti day

See Temple calendar or Temple website for details.

Nov 19th—Devasena Kalyanam Call Temple for details

Nov 24th—Murugan Thirukalyanam 09:30AM Kavadi and Pal Kudam 10:00AM Murugan Abhishekam

11:00AM Murugan Thirukalyanam and procession

Nov 27th—Karthigai Deepam See Temple calendar or Temple website

for details Nov 28th—Vinayaka vratam begins

07:00pm Pillayar Kathai for the next 21 days

DECEMBER

Dec 15th—Tamil month Margazhi begins

09:15AM Thirupalli Ezhuchi for Lord Shiva for the next 29 days

Dec 19th—Thiruvempavai recital 08:00pm Thiruvempavai recital for the

next 9 days Dec 28th—Arudra Darisanam 06:00AM Nataraja Abhishekam

08:00pm Thiruvempavai Pooja and conclusion of Thiruvempavai.

Dec 31st—New Year’s eve 07:30pm Ganesha special Abhishekam

08:00pm Lakshmi Kubera Pooja Temple open till midnight

MONTHLY EVENTS

Shankatahara Chaturthi—Oct 3, Nov 2, Dec 2

Karthigai—Oct 3, Oct 31, Nov 27, Dec 24

Sashti—Oct 6, Nov 4, Dec 3

Pradosham—Oct 12, Oct 26, Nov 11, Nov 25, Dec 10, Dec 25

Poornima— Oct 28 (Tula), Nov 27, Dec 27

Thirumurai recital—Oct 14, Nov 11, Dec 9

Adi Parasakthi Pooja—Oct 28, Nov 25, Dec 30

Friday Bhajans—Oct 5 & 19, Nov 2 & 16, Dec 7 & 21.

Ganapati Tunai “Why Fear? I Am Within You and Protect You Always” — Murugan

Murugan Temple Sponsorship Form

Make Murugan Temple’s Rajagopuram Part of Your Legacy First Brick (Special) - $51 Ten Bricks – $1,010 North or South Gopuram $250,000

Sponsor Festival Days Skanda Shasti All Day Sponsorship $101

Sponsor Temple Operations Full day of temple operations $750 Full month: Garlands (all deities) $900 Full month: Abhishekam and Omam provisions $450 Full month: Milk $250 A full week of Garlands (all deities) $125 One day: Simple garland for a deity........ $ 15

Choice of Deity for garland :_________________________ Please indicate desired dates :_______________________________ MTNA Newsletter Printing and Mailing $__________ Check Enclosed for $__________

Name _________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________ City State _________ ZIP _________________

Phone ____________E–Mail ________________________________ Family Gothiram _________________________________________ Birth Star (el:rj;jpuk;) ________ Name of Family Member

Please use separate sheet for additional family members Mail: The Murugan Temple of North America, 6300 Princess Garden Parkway,Lanham, MD 20706 – Please address checks to MTNA.

You can now make contributions and fill-out your donation forms on-line at www.murugantemple.org

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID So. MD

Permit No. 3958

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

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TEMPLE SERVICES: Please 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 Temple’s 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.

The Murugan Temple of North America is a traditional Saivite Temple. It has a floor area of 7000 sq. ft with main sannidhi for Murugan (Karthikeya) and 4 small sannidhis for Vinayaka (Ganesha), Nataraja (Siva), Meenakshi and Palani Andavar. We also have an auditorium that is available for community use.