With Devi Sharadamba adorned as shown below , the year 2015 was welcomed with grandeur atSVBF. Approximately 600 devotees participated in this event.

January 3, 2015Sampoorna GitaParayanam

The regular monthly fullSrimad Bhagavadgita chantingtook place on January 3rd,2015. On the first Saturday ofevery month, Srimad Bhaga-vadgita recitation occurs. Alldevotees are welcome to attendand participate in this event.

New Year’s DayJanuary 01, 2015

327, Cays Rd, Stroudsburg, PA 18360, USA.(570) 629-7881, 1-800-45 HINDU, www.svbf.org

Brahman is that basic principle of reality responsible for the creation,maintenance and dissolution of the universe.-

Letter sent out by SVBF board of trustees to devotees

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An auspicious Hindu festival, MakaraSankaranti is celebrated throughout Indiain myriad cultural forms, marked withgaiety, devotion, and prayer. Signifyingthe onset of the sun’s northern journey, italso marks the start of auspiciousUttarayana. The sun moves from MakaraRasi (Capricorn) to Karkataka Rasi(Cancer) on this day.

As per the Vedas, Uttarayana is a holyperiod when our departed elders return toearth to bless their kith and kin, and returnto Punya Loka at the beginning ofDakshinayana (July 16th). This is anauspicious period to undertake meritoriousdeeds like Annadanam, Vastradanam aswell as samskaras such as Upanayana etc.It is also the start of the Hindu weddingseason.

Lakhs of people take a dip in places likeGanga Sagar (West Bengal) andthroughout the Indo-Gangetic plain. InPrayag (Allahabad), the famous MaghaMela commences on this day by the banksof the Triveni Sangam. In Punjab, thisfestival is celebrated as Lohri, a bonfirefestival marked with singing folk songs andfeasting. In Maharashtra, a mixture ofsesame seeds with jaggery is exchangedwith the intention of speaking pleasingwords and maintaining lasting friendship.In Gujarat, colorful kites adorn the sky; andin Karnataka, people exchange pieces ofsugarcane as well as a mixture of roastedsesame, jaggery pieces, dry coconut pieces,peanuts, and fried gram.

The significance being that sweetnessshould prevail in all exchanges. A similarexchange is made in Andhra Pradesh;however, the harvest festivity is extendedover four days, namely Bhogi, Sankranti,Kanuma, and Mukkanuma.

In Tamilnadu, this time is very special asthey celebrate the Pongal festival. The firstday is celebrated as Bhogi in honor of LordIndra, the celestial king and ruler of theclouds that enable us to enjoy a rich harvestwith plenty of rain.

On Pongal day, devotees perform the pujaat home. They boil rice and milk in a potto the point of overflow, and thensymbolically offer this preparation to thesun-god along with other oblations. Allpeople wear traditional dress and niceclothes.

The following day is known as MattuPongal, a special day for the cows. Theyare decorated with beads and tinkling bells,as well as worshipped and fed Pongal.Finally, Kanu is celebrated. The ladieswash a banana leaf and place it on theground. The leftover sweet Pongal andother rice items are served on the leaf withbetel leaves and nuts for cows.

The women perform this ritual before theirbath, and ask for blessings for their familiesas well as longevity for their brothers.Arati is performed for the brothers, and thewater is sprinkled on the Rangoli adorningthe house entrance.

Makara Sankaramanam,Uttarayana PunyakalamJanuary 14, 2015

saurabheyaḥ sarvahitāḥsarvapāpapraṇāśinaḥ ।pratigṛhṇantu me grāsaṃgāvaḥ trailokya mātaraḥ ॥

Daylight and darkness dusk and dawn, winter and springtime come and go. Time plays and life ebbsaway. But the current of desire never leaves.-

सौरभेयः  सर्वहिताःसर्वपापप्रणाशिनः ।प्रतिगृह्णन्तु मे ग्रासंगावः त्रैलोक्य मातरः ॥

Please go and see the cow(Lakshmi) and the calf (Sharada)at the SVBF temple Goshala.Enquire at temple front desk forthe Goshala timings.

Jan 13 2015 - Bhogi, Jan 14 2015 - Pongal, Jan 15 2015 - Mattu Pongal

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JagadguruannouncesShishya Sweekara

BrahmachariSri Kuppa VenkateshwaraPrasada Sharma

January 6, 2015

Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha theMahaswamiji, the 36th JagadguruShankaracharya of the unbrokenlineage of Dakshinamnaya SriSharada Peetham Sringeri, hasannounced His divinely ordaineddecision to nominate

as His successor-designate.

In a public function organised inSringeri on January 4, 2015, theJagadguru expressed that with thedivine will of Goddess Sharada, Hewould initiate BrahmachariVenkateshwara Prasad Sharma intoSannyasa on Jan 23, 2015, tocontinue the Guru Parampara of the1200 year old unbroken lineage thatstretches directly back to Sri AdiShankaracharya.

Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri SriBharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji, thepresiding Acharya of the Peethamand the thirty-sixth in the GuruParampara, is a scholar nonpareil.Since becoming the Peethadhipatiin 1989, the Jagadguru haspropagated and spread the tenetsof Sanatana Dharma and the

Vedanta philosophy. The Jagadguru hasconsecrated many new temples andrenovated dilapidated ones. TheJagadguru has fostered Vedic learning byestablishing traditional Pathashalas. WithAmidst His various duties as aPeethadhipati, the Jagadguru has upheldHis Sannyasa Dharma like His illustriouspredecessors.

On January 4, 2015, devotees assembledin large numbers in Sringeri to celebratethe silver jubilee of the Jagadguru’sPeetharohanam. During this historicevent, the Jagadguru announced Hisdecision, as divinely ordained byGoddess Sharadamba, to acceptBrahmachari Sri Kuppa VenkateshwaraPrasada Sharma as His successor-designate.

The Shishya Sweekara ceremony will takeplace on the 22nd and 23rd of January2015 at Sringeri. The Jagadguru willinitiate the Brahmachari into Sannyasa on23rd January 2015.

The commemorating occasion ofthe silver jubilee celebrations ofPeetharohana of Jagadguru Shan-karacharya Sri Sri Bharathi Theer-tha Mahaswamiji was conductedat SVBF, Stroudsburg, PA onJanuary 10th, 2015. The programstarted with Athavaseersha proktaMahaganapati Homam (with 108modakas) followed by paduka pujaand abhishekam to His Holiness’spadukas, and concluded with aceremonial procession.

Shanthi mantras were chanted andthe 15th chapter of Bhagavadgitawas recited by children and youth.SVBF Chairman Dharmatma Sri.S.Yegnasubramanian shared hisexperience of his Sringeri visit toparticipate in the silver jubileecelebrations that took place inSringeri on January 3rd & 4th of2015. He specifically elaboratedon how His Holiness Jagadguru SriSri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswa-miji made the Shishya Sweekaraannouncement on January 4th,2015. As always, the programconcluded with mahamangala artiand mahaprasadam.

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Jagadguru Shankaracharyaof Sringeri Anoints HisSuccessorPreserving the Oldest UnbrokenHeritage of Sanatana Dharma

Just as in this body, the embodied one passes through boyhood, youth old age,so does one pass into another body. With reference to this (birth, aging anddeath), the wise man is not disturbed. -

Today, on January 23, 2015, continuingthis unbroken Guru-Shisya lineage thatstretches directly back to Sri Adi Shan-karacharya, the 36th Jagadguru Shanka-racharya of Sringeri Sharada Peetham,Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamijianointed His successor. In a traditionalceremony, the Jagadguru initiated Brah-machari Sri Kuppa VenkateshwaraPrasada Sharma into Sannyasa andbestowed upon him the Yoga Patta(monastic name) of Sri Sri Vidhushek-hara Bharati.

Pre-monastic life of the Successor-Designate Sri Sri Vidhushekhara

BharatiSri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Swamijiwas born as Sri Kuppa VenkateshwaraPrasada Sharma on the auspicious NagaPanchami day - July 24, 1993 in Tirupati,Andhra Pradesh. Born as the second sonof Sri Kuppa ShivasubrahmanyaAvadhani and Smt.Seetha Nagalakshmi,He belonged to the Kaundinya Gotra andis a native of Anantavaram, GunturDistrict in Andhra Pradesh. His familyhas a long lineage of illustrious VedicPandits who were all ardent disciples ofthe Sringeri Jagadgurus.

ChildhoodFrom a young age, Sri Prasada Sharmadeveloped a deep devotion towards LordKrishna and visited the krishna templenear his home, every day. Seeing hisson’s devotion, Sri ShivasubrahmanyaAvadhani performed his Upanayana(sacred thread ceremony) at the age offive. His first lessons in KrishnaYajurveda were taught by hisgrandfather, Sri Kuppa RamagopalaVajapeya-Yaaji. Showing rapidprogress, Sri Prasada Sharma continuedhis studies up to Krishna Yajur VedaKrama under his father. He grew up inan environment steeped in devotion toGod and adherence to a vedic way of

.living. Hamsaladeevi is a holy place in AndhraPradesh where the Krishna river meets the ocean.There, on the banks of the river, is a beautifultemple dedicated to Venugopala Swamy. For thelast 95 years, without a break, his family hasconducted an annual Bhagavata Saptaha at thistemple. Sri Prasada Sharma attended this sacredevent from an early age. He also accompanied hisfather on pilgrimages to holy places such asAyodhya,Haridwar,Hrishikesh, Kashi, Kalady,Madurai, Mathura, Pashupathinath (in Nepal),Rameswaram and Ujjain.

Education in SringeriStarting in 2006, when he was 13 years old, SriPrasada Sharma began to accompany his father andgrandfather who were participating in the Dharmicevents at Sringeri Sharada Peetham. During hisfirst visit, the Darshan of the present Jagadguru,Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji had a profoundimpact on him. He visited Sringeri again in 2008,and during his subsequent visit in early 2009, heexpressed to the Jagadguru his desire to studyShastras under Him. Touched by the young boy’ssincerity and impressed with his intelligence, theJagadguru blessed him and Sri Prasada Sharmatook refuge under the Lotus Feet of the Jagadguruin June 2009. Under the guidance of the Jagadguru,he rapidly gained mastery in written and spokenSanskrit. Sringeri Vidwan Sri TangiralaShivakumara Sharma taught him Sanskrit poetryand literature. He also learned the basics ofVyakarana Shastra under Sringeri Vidwan SriKrishnaraja Bhat.

Observing his Guru Bhakti, humility, intelligenceand dedicated application to his studies, theJagadguru was pleased and decided to personallyteach him the Shastras. The Jagadguru began toteach him the Tarka Shastra in 2011. Sri PrasadaSharma grasped the teachings quickly and thelessons moved at an intense pace. Even during thehectic Vijaya Yatra of 2012-13, the Jagadgurucontinued to teach him without missing even asingle day. The Jagadguru soon transformed himinto a great Tarka scholar. When he spoke atSringeri Sharada Peetham’s prestigious GanapatiVakhyartha Vidwat Sadas, an annual conference

of the nation’s foremost Shastric Pandits, theattendees were taken by surprise at the youngman’s scholarship.Under the guidance of theJagadguru, Sri Prasada Sharma also studiedMimamsa Shastra. He regularly attended thenightly Chandramoulishwara Puja performed bythe Jagadguru. During this Puja, he also chantedthe entire Krishna Yajur Veda Moola and the entireYajur Veda Krama. Sri Prasada Sharma always hada pleasing and helpful demeanor. Stories about hisintelligence and learning capabilities spreadquickly. Soon, other students started seeking hishelp. While pursuing his own learning, he alsobegan teaching the Vedas,Sanskrit literature andTarka Shastra to other students. He subsequentlybegan his studies in Vedanta under the Jagadguru.

Through these five and half years of intense study(2009-15) under the direct tutelage of theJagadguru, Sri Prasada Sharma became steeped inthe Vedic tradition and blossomed in many waysas a student, scholar, teacher and devotee. TheJagadguru was pleased by his Guru Bhakti,devotion to God, deep immersion in his studies,scholarship and respect towards elders. He wasbeloved by all and had developed a strong innercore of dispassion and discrimination for pursuinga spiritual path.

ConclusionThe Sringeri Guru Parampara lineage has beencentral to the preservation and growth of SanatanaDharma. The induction of Sri Sri VidhushekharaBharati Swamiji is therefore an event of historicimportance to followers of Sanatana Dharmathroughout the world.

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● Maha Maghi● Thai Poosam

Maha Sivaratri(see SVBF web page for

detailed program)

Vasanta Pancami is a Hindu festivalcommemorating the spring season. Vasantameans spring and Pancami refers to the fifthday of the lunar month, Magha. VasantaPancami is also referred to as Lalita PancamiThe festival is celebrated enthusiastically as itmarks the birthday of Goddess Sarasvati. Asthe embodiment of purity and giver of spiritualknowledge, Sarasvati is worshipped withdevotional fervor. Spring time heralds renewaland rejuvenation, and therefore, by extension,creation! Incidentally, the celebration day thisyear was more akin to a spring rather than awinter day. Several devotees sponsoredAksharabhyasa so as to initiate their childreninto developing their writing skills with Devi’sgrace.

Vasanta PanchamiJanuary 24, 2015

This festival falls on the seventh day of thebright half of the month of Magha. It iscelebrated as Surya Jayanti or Surya’s birthday.This is also regarded as the day when the sun’schariot turns northward. This chariot is said tobe drawn by seven white horses. The sevenhorses and the seventh day of the month areperhaps a reference to the seven colors of therainbow and the seven suns – Aroga, Bhraja,Pathara, Patanga, Svarnara, Jyotisiman andVibhasa. In Hindu numerology, seven is asignificant number as there are seven Rishis,seven oceans, seven islands, seven books of theRamayana etc. RathaSaptami is dedicated toSurya Bhagavan, and the Lord is worshippedfor good health and wellbeing. This day ismarked by the recitation of Aruna Prashnamwith Namaskarams at the end of eachanuvakam (section.) The temple conducted aspecial puja with the chanting of ArunaPrashnam, Navagraha and Naksatra Suktams.

Ratha SaptamiJanuary 24, 2015

To err is human. Accepting one’s error and correcting oneself is a mark of nobility. Humility is the primary path toachieving nobility.- Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamigal

February 2015

Calendar of Events

Rathasapthami event at SVBF temple

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