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Ganapati Tunai

2009 2009

Murugan Temple of North America

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6300 Princess Garden Parkway, Lanham, MD 20706, USA Phone: 301- 552- 4889, FAX: 301- 552- 5043 Email: info@murugantemple.org, Internet: www.murugantemple.org

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The Murugan Temple of North America is a Traditional Saivite Hindu Temple. It has a floor area of 7000 square feet, with main Sannidhi for Murugan (Karttikeya) and four smaller Sannidhis for Vinayaka (Ganesha), Siva, Meenakshi and Palani Aandavar. We also have an auditorium that is available for community use.

MURUGAN TEMPLE WELCOMES NEW PRIEST ANNOUNCEMENTS VOLUNTEERS CORNERMAHASIVARATHRI DANCE VOLUNTEERS CORNERNANTHAVANAM PROJECT TREASURERS REPORT MAHASIVARATHRI AND THAI POOSAM 2009 RATHAM FOR MURUGAN TEMPLE SERVICES, HOURS, AND DIRECTIONS

Inside

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Panguni Uttiram

Kumbabeshakam Anniversary

MTNA CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS (See murugantemple.org to view a free on-line calendar with greater details and up-to-the-minute updates)
Wednesday, April 8thPanguni Uttiram
09:00 am Subramaniya Homam 09:30 am Kavadi and Pal Kudam 10:00 am Murugan Abishekam

Saturday, May 23rd and Sunday, May 24th Murugan Temple Kumbabeshakam Anniversary Celebration Saturday, May 23rd Anniversary Day One
09:00 am 09:45 am 10:30 am 10:45 am 12:30 pm 05:00 pm Ganapati Homam Ganapati Abishekam Kavadi Murugan Abishekam Deeparathanai Ganapati Sahasranmam Ganapati Processsion Original Tamil Play

Sunday, May 24th Anniversary Day Two

09:00 am Ganapati Puja 09:30 am Subramaniya Homam and 108 Sangu Puja 10:00 am Kavadi 10:45 am Murugan Sangaabishakam 12:30 pm Deeparathanai 01:00 pm Lunch 03:00 pm Thiru Kalyanam 04:00 pm Murugan Procession

Monday, April 13thTamil New Year (Virothi Year) Tamil Month Chittirai Begins
09:00 am 09:45 am 10:30 am 07:30 pm Ganapati Homam Ganapati Abishekam Murugan Abishekam Sankatahara ChathurthiSpecial Abishekam to Ganesha

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Saturday, April 18Panguni Uttiram and Tamil New Year Celebrations

09:00 am 09:30 am 10:30 am 11:00 am 12:30 pm 01:30 pm 03:00 pm 04:00 pm Subramaniya Homam Kavadi and Pal Kudam Murugan Abishekam Bajan Deeparathanai Lunch Thiru Kalyanam Murugan Procession

Friday, June 5thVaikasi Visakam 09:00 am Subramaniya Homam

09:30 am Kavadi and Pal Kudam 10:00 am Murugan Abishekam

Saturday, June 20thKolam Competition (4:30 pm)

Friday, May 8thSpecial Abeshekam to Meenakshi (7:30 pm)

Monthly First and Third Fridays @ 8 pmBajan Last Sunday @ 1 pm Adhi Parasakthi

MURUGAN TEMPLE WELCOMES NEW PRIEST

Thiruveezhimizhalai Sankara [Gurukkal] Sivachariar hails from a family of Sivachariars, who have devoted their lives for many generations to the service of the Veezhinatha swami at the Devasthanam Temple at Thiruveezhimizhalai, near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. Right from his early days, he was inspired by the Saivite tradition, contributions of the great Saivite Saints, the Nayanmars, particularly Sri Sundara Murthi Nayanar, and the dedication of his own ancestors and decided to continue the family tradition.. While in the US, he says he would like to make a humble contribution towards the spread and preservation of Saiva Samayam, particularly amongst the younger generation of devotees. Parampara: Adi Saiva Parampara (Sundara Murthi Nayanar) Guru: Viswanatha Sivachariar, Allur School: Allur Veda Sivagama Pata shala, run by Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Specialised Study: Veda Sivagama Siromani and study of Saiva Siddhantham. Awarded title of Siddhantha Saravali by Indian Institute of Indology. Languages: Tamil, English, Sanskrit(Grantham), Hindi. Temples; Veezhinatha Swamy Temple, Thiruveezhimizhalai ( 3 Years); Sri Murugan Temple, Mumbai, (4 Years); Sri Mangala Vinayakar Temple, Chennai (18 years). Mahakumbabishekams, Satya Chandi Maha Yagnam etc at different Temles. Also eligible to perform Special Poojas at the famous Saneeswara Bhagwan Temple at Thirunallar, near Nagapattinam.

VOLUNTEERS CORNER Over 80 Dance Students Praise The Cosmic Dancer in Honor or Maha Sivarathri
Murugan Temple of North America celebrated Maha Sivarathri with a program, Shivaanjali, dedicated to the Lord of Dance. Ten dance teachers from the local area participated with over eighty students to make this cultural, colorful, evening a grand success. The audience was treated to a scintillating array of dances, all in praise of the cosmic dancer, Lord Shiva, in a variety of Indian classical dance styles including bharatanatyam, kuchipudi, and kathak. The temple plans on

making this an annual event to provide a platform for the young local dance talents to showcase their proficiency while honoring Lord Shiva. Pictures and article submitted by Kalyani Sanmugalingam and Lakshimi Swaminathan

Murugan Temple Nanthavanam Project.

We plan to start a flower garden, a Nanthavanm and a green house in the premises of the temple to produce the flowers needed at the temple. We need volunteers, flower seeds and plants, and other materials which will be useful for this project. For more information please contact the temple or Mr. Vignarajah at (410) 788-7251. We exist because of the many devotees who have volunteered to help the temple in various ways. But there are never enough volunteers to do Murugans work! Murugan temple commitments for the future can and will be achieved with the help of devotees who volunteer. We ask your help in increasing the effectiveness and growth of the Temples operations and presence. We need two types of volunteers: Those ready to make long-term, hands-on leadership commitments (one year or more) to help with the Executive Board and other committees Those seeking project-specific assignments For example, helping during festivals, operating the audio/video system, student volunteers to answer the phone at festivals time when manager is busy and have the needed executive member or otherwise answer the call, garlands making, flower garden, feeding the poor, identify graduating students from Montessori/ pre-school, elementary, middle, high, college, and music and dance programs to recognize and appreciate their achievements so that more students get encouraged to aim higher. Interested? Please call the Temple Manager at 301 552-4889 or email mtnavolunteers@murugantemple.org.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please contact the Temple Manager as far in advance as possible for all bookings including outside services, special abeshekham, and for scheduling the Temple Auditorium. 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 ChildrenThe 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 Sannathies 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 $ 2500. The door will be available for installation during the Nallur Festival. Donations, marked for Sannathi Door are welcome.

Treasurers Report: Financial Results for 2008

Receipts mainly from Religious Services and Donations totaled about $ 389,000 as against $ 420,000 last year. However, expenses at about $ 266,000 were about $ 33,000 below that incurred in 2007. The operating surplus was about $ 123, 000 compared to $ 121,000 last year. During the year donations received towards the Rajagopuram Project totaled about $ 35,000. These contributions increased the available funds to $ 158,000. Capital expenditures and mortgage payments totaling $ 134,000 were met from these funds. This resulted in a surplus of about $ 24,000 for 2008 as against $ 18,000 in 2007.

MAHA SIVARATHRI 2009

The Mahasivarathri Celebrartion was inaugurated on Saturday 21 through Sivanjali performed by about 80 children. It ranged from solo pieces to group dances. (See article on page 2) The next day, Sunday 22, and over flowing into Monday 23 the four Kala pooja was celebrated in the presence at some time or other of about 90 devotees. Poojas and Abhishekams were sponsored by devotees contributing about $ 1500. Various Poojas, Abhishekams and Alangarams were meticulously done by Kumar and Sankaran Kurukkals and Ganeson Butter, while devotees chanted various Thevarams. By Kanagasabai Loganathan

RATHAM FOR MURUGAN

Arati during Thai Poosam

THAI POOSAM 2009

What a time to enter the Temple the morning of Thai Poosam! You could feel the vibrant energy and sense everyones excitement. You almost couldnt sit down. Through a stroke of fortune the religion teacher could not teach childrens class. And as a result, parents brought their children upstairs to witness the awesome proceedings upstairs. As is the Temples practice, celebrations went all day including Kavadi and Deeparathanai, (the passing of 108 conch shells from the Khumba pot to priests to Lord Murugan). The day ended with a profound Murugan Procession. By the Editor OUR TEMPLE EXTENDS GREAT THANKS TO THE ANONYMOUS DONOR WHOSE CONTRIBUTION ENABLED US TO PRINT THIS ISSUE IN FULL COLOR.

Picture of a similar Ratham A group of devotees in fulfillment of their Neithikadan are getting a Ratham fabricated for Murugan. The fabrication is being carried out in a Kalaikoodam overseas. The Ratham will be 19 ft high carved into the shape of Murugan's six faces. The bottom half of the Ratham will have intricate carvings of images from Kantha Pooranam and Aru Padai Veedukal with numerous Theiveeka Chitpangal. In front of the Ratham there will be two horses with Pramma in the center with the Pramma shown to pull the Ratham. The top half of the Ratham (Vimanam) will be decorated in brass plates. A Peedam carved in wood and painted in gold will also be made. The Peedam will serve to bring Murugan in procession to the Ther Muddi, which will also be constructed. The Ratham is scheduled to be ready for the Nallur Festival in August 2009.

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

Tuesday
Daily Abi shekams 9:00 am Ganesha 9:30 am Siva 10:00 am Mur ugan Thirusathi 7:00 pm Meenakshi

Wednesday
Daily Abishekams 9:00 am Ganesha 9:30 am Siva 10:00 am Murugan

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

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

Saturday
Dai ly Abishekams
9:00 am Ganesha 9:30 am Siva 9:30 am Navagraha 11:00 am Murugan

Sunday
Daily Abishekams
9:00 am Ganesha 9:30 am Siva 11:00 am Murugan 5:00 pm Durgai Abishekam Rahu Kala Puja

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 is on the right side. Page 4