Bhoomi Puja Usually the time chosen is in accordance to the ‘Vaastu Muhurtam,’ which is the time when the ‘Vaastu Purusha’ (energy surrounding the site) is believed to be in full strength.!!!Page 2

Working Committee With the greatest pleasure we welcome you once again to the SHSK working committee. Feel free to sign in one or more committees to help this organization move forward with your expertise. We encourage you and empower you to take active part.!Page 4

Vedanshi

Lord Vinaayaka!Om Ganeshaaya namah!

Mahaaganapati has several names. The familiar ones are Ganapati, Ganesha, Vinaayaka, Gajaanana etc. He is the God of plenty, wisdom, good fortune, peace and spiritual success. Pleased by our prayers, He removes all obstacles in the path of any work we undertake. So He is called Vighneshvara. He stands for OM, for His figure with an elephant’s trunk resembles the form of OM. Hence He is also called Pranava Svaruupa.!

He represents perfect wisdom. He has an elephant head. We are all familiar with the story how He got the elephant head. But it has a great symbolic explanation. A common word for elephant in Sanskrit is ‘gaja’. Ga means the ‘gati’ or the final goal towards which the entire creation is moving. Ja stands for ‘janma’, birth or origin. Hence ‘gaja’ signifies God from whom the worlds have come out and towards whom they are progressing to merge in Him at the end. His large ears indicate continuous and intelligent listening to the teacher. We know how sage Vuaasa dictated the big book of Mahaabhaarata to Ganesha and Ganesha wrote down continuously without leaving a word and at

the same time understanding the meaning fully. It shows how sharp His hearing was and how deep His concentration.!

He has a long trunk. The trunk of an elephant can pick up a pin and at the same time, it can uproot a big tree. It means that He can handle any work big or small. If a poor and humble man prays, Ganesha fulfills his wants and if a demon challenges He

destroys him. He is most compassionate but most powerful.!

His vehicle is a small mouse. Mouse is small but not insignificant. If a lion is caught in a net it cannot escape, but if a mouse wants, it can cut asunder the net by its teeth and free the lion in no time. The mouse also represents desires. Desires are man’s enemies. If man runs after desires he perishes. Ganesha sits on the mouse and controls it. It indicates that man should control desires fully.!

Ganesha has four arms. He has a noose or rope in one hand. It signifies worldly attachments which make us suffer endlessly. Worldly attachments are a bondage like a rope. The second hand hold Ankusha or goad. It represents anger. Just as the noose binds us, anger hurts us like a goad.!

When our attachments and anger increase, life becomes miserable. The only way of escaping from the tyranny of these is to take refuge in God. It is better for us to surrender our attachment and anger to Him. When they are in His hands, we are safe. The third hand hold modaka - a sweet preparation. If we please Him by our good character and worship, He bestows happiness on us.!

…..Continued on page 4

He who perceives Me everywhere and beholds everything in Me never loses sight of Me, nor do I ever lose sight of him.!

Chapter 6, Verse 30; Bhagavad Gita

Letter from the Board “This is the very First major Milestone achieved. It is Now time for you to step forward and give your generous Donation to cont inue wi th th i s m o m e n t u m t o w a r d s building the Temple”!

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Sri Tirupati Balaji History from Puranas - Part II The Lord informed her that unless he secured Princess Padmavati, he would not be well. Vakuladevi then asked him to tell her all about the Princess, who she was, and how he came to love her.!

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SHSK Updates • Land Purchased !

• Working Committee!

initiated!

• Bhoomi Puja - Sept. 6th!

——————————!

Important dates in the

month of August and

September, 2014!

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PO Box 80362, Lafayette, LA - 70598!!shskendra@gmail.com,

www.sanatanlft.org!

A Monthly Newsletter Issue No 9: August 2014

The part of the sacred knowledge

S A N A T A N H I N D U S A N S K A R K E N D R A

Issue No 8: July 2014, Lafayette, Louisiana " 1

August Important Dates!

September Important Dates!

For more details please refer DrikPanchang.com!

Sanatan Hindu Sanskar Kendra!PO Box 80362, Lafayette, Louisiana - 70598!

Email: shskendra@gmail.com, Website: sanatanlft.org!Tax Id: 46-2580905

Durga Sita Ram Ganesh Krishna Shiva

!Bhoomi Puja!

September 6th, 9 am to 10 am!Address: 110 Hapsburg Lane!

Lafayette, LA 70506!Bhoomi is Mother Earth, Our Mother Land. We are so grateful to our motherland that we can never appreciate enough her grace on us - she is sustaining us, has given us all critical resources of our life - water, Air (oxygen), food and clothes. Now we are getting ready to build a Temple of God on this great land of SHSK. Let us come together and honor our mother land by performing Bhoomi Pujan on September 6th, 2014 at 9 am.!

Bhoomi Puja is a ceremony performed to inaugurate a new site for the construction of a Temple. This ceremony is conducted in strict conformance to Vaastu Shastra, the ancient Indian science of structures and architecture.!

According to Hindu beliefs, by performing this ‘puja’ the right energy and natural elements surrounding the site can be propitiated. Usually the time chosen is in accordance to the ‘Vaastu Muhurtam,’ which is the time when the ‘Vaastu Purusha’ (energy surrounding the site) is believed to be in full strength. Bhoomi Puja is usually carried out in the morning, which is considered most auspicious for this ceremony. That time is 9 am on September 6th , 2014 on Saturday for us. Don’t miss this Golden Opportunity to come and get blessings of our Mother land.!

Bhoomi Pujan will start with [1] Shree Ganesh Pujan, followed by [2] Punya Vaachana, followed by [3] A pit will be dug of approximate size of 2 ft wide x 2 ft long x 2 ft deep, and Bhoomi Kurm & Sharpa

Puja will be performed, followed by [4] Aarati, followed by [5] Mahaprasad brunch.!

This is a Golden Opportunity for you to Donate and be part of a very strong Foundation of this Temple to last for centuries to come. According to our hindu belief, it is extremely a rare opportunity to get a chance to perform a Bhoomi Pujan and get a chance to make a sankalpa with a donation to have a strong

foundation for a highly spiritual and a very successful Temple.....now in Lafayette. Everyone shall get blessings on this day, either by the joy of performing all four parts of above listed pujas and donating $1001, or by performing any individually listed puja above and donating $250, or Join the Aarati and donate. Your presence is extremely important. Come and Support your Temple.!

Driving Directions!

From Mall of Acadiana on Johnston Street, drive 2.3 miles South, after passing East Broussard Rd Signal, take a right on Hapsburg lane (behind Giles Nissan used cars)

Based on Lafayette, Louisiana, US Time!

16 Saturday! Janmashtami!

20 Wednesday! Aja Ekadashi!

25 Monday! Somvati Amavas!

28 Thursday! Hartalika Teej!

29 Friday! Ganesh Chaturthi!

30 Saturday! Rishi Panchami

SHSK Updates!• Land Purchased !

• Working Committee Initiated!

• Bhoomi Puja - September 6th!- Full Bhoomi Puja Sponsor - $1001!

- Shree Ganesh Pujan - $250!

- Aarati - $100!

Find us on Facebook and get SHSK

updates!

Based on Lafayette, Louisiana, US Time!

07 Sunday! Ganesh Visarjan!

24 Wednesday! Navaratri Starts!

27 Saturday! Lafayette Navaratri!(@5:30pm Heymann Park Center, 1500 S

Orange St, Lafayette, LA 70501)!

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" Issue No 9: August 2014, Lafayette, Louisiana2

Sri Tirupati Balaji History from Puranas - Part II Lord Shrinivasa had explained them about his birth and parentage. He enquired them about their princess and her parentage and birth. When he was informed that the Princess was Padmavati (lotus-Born) the foster Daughter of Akasaraja, he loved her and made advances to the Princess. He was repulsed with stones by the maids and he urgently returned to the hills leaving the horse.!

Vakuladevi, as usual, brought dinner to Shrinivasa comprising various delicious dishes. But she found him lying on his bed love-sick. She enquired the cause of his sickness. The Lord informed her that unless he secured Princess Padmavati, he would not be well. Vakuladevi then asked him to tell her all about the Princess, who she was, and how he came to love her. The Lord then narrated the story of her (Padmavati’s) previous birth and his promise to wed her.!

In olden times Lakshmi was staying as Vedavati in a Rishi Asrama in the forests. At that time Ravana, the lord of Lanka came there and tried to tempt her. Vedavati grew angry and cursed him that she would bring about his death. To fulfill her words, Vedavati entered into the fire but the fire-god rescued her. He took Vedavati to his house and entrusted her to his wife to take care of her.!

When Ravana was about to carry away Sita from Panchavati in the absence of Rama and Lakshmana, the Fire-God appeared on the scene and offered Vedavati to Ravana as the real Sita who was kept with him by Rama to evade Ravana.!

Ravana took Vedavati to Lanka thinking she was the real Sita, while Agni(Fire-God) took Sita to his house and asked his wife Swahadevi to look after her.!

After the destruction of Ravana, Vedavati entered the fires when rejected by Rama. Then the Fire-God offered the real Sita to Rama. Rama then questioned her as to who the other lady by her side was. Sita informed Rama that she was Vedavati who suffered all the tortures for her sake for ten months in Lanka and requested Rama to accept her also as his spouse.

But Rama declined her request saying that he was wedded to policy of having only one wife during his life time, and he promised to wed her in her next birth as Padmavati, born as the daughter of Akasaraja when he will take the form of Shrinivasa.!

There upon Vakuladevi thought that Shrinivasa would not be happy unless he married Padmavati and she offered to go to Akasaraja and his queen and arrange for the marriage. On the way she met the maid-servants of Padmavati returning from a Siva Temple. She learnt from them about Padmavathi's love-sickness and went to the queen along with them.!

Akasaraja and his queen Dharanidevi became anxious about the health of their daughter. They learnt about Padmavati's love for Shrinivasa of Venkata Hill. A k a s a r a j a c o n s u l t e d Brihaspati about the propriety of the marriage and was informed that the marriage was in the best interests.!

After the departure of Vakuladevi, Shrinivasa could not rest in peace. He doubted her success in the mission. He therefore assumed the form of a Yerukula-woman and entered the streets of the capital telling fortunes. Padmavati's maids saw her and invited her to the presence of their queen. The maid-servants went and informed the queen that the fortune-teller was hesitating to come into the palace without an invitation from the queen.!

The queen came out herself and invited the fortune-teller into the palace.The fortune-teller was taken to the presence of Princess Padmavati. The fortune-teller saw the palm of the Princess and told the queen about the cause of Padmavati's indisposition and advised to give her in marriage to Lord Shrinivasa. She also told the queen that a lady would approach her shortly to formally request Padmavati's hand in marriage on behalf of Shrinivasa. After the departure of the fortune-teller, Vakuladevi went to the queen along with the maids and informed her that she came from Shrinivasa to request the hand of Padmavati in marriage for him.!

Having consulted Brihaspati and heard from his queen about the prediction of the fortune-teller and arrival of the messenger, from Shrinivasa, Akasaraja decided to bestow his daughter on Shrinivasa and he called the palace purohits to fix a Muhurtam for the marriage. Akasaraja informed his Ministers and other Officials of his intention. Immediately a letter was drafted for being sent to Shrinivasa requesting him to come and marry the Princess.!

Akasaraja entrusted the letter to Sukamahamunin for being delivered to Shrinivasa. Suka went to Venkata Hill with Vakulamalikadevi. He presented

the Patrika to Lord Shrinivasa, who felt pleased and sent his garland through him for Padmavati. Immediately Lord Shrinivasa called for a conference of the Gods to win their consent for His marriage with Princess Padmavati. To meet the expenses of the marriage, Kubera lent money to the Lord.!

Lord Shrinivasa started for the residence of Akasaraja with his consorts and Brahma and Siva and his vehicle Garutman. At the entrance the Lord was received by Akasaraja with all honours and was taken in procession on a mounted elephant to the palace for the marriage. In the presence of all the Devas, Lord Shrinivasa took the hand of the Princess Padmavati and wedded her and thus blessed Akasaraja.!

L E T T E R F R O M T H E B O A R D !Jai Shree Krushna.........!

It gives me the greatest Pleasure to inform you that Land for Sanatan Hindu Temple has Now been Purchased in Lafayette at 110 Hapsburg Lane. Thanks to Seenu & Divya Kasturi for their generous Donation for 75% of the cost. There has been a verbal commitment that his brother Krishna Kasturi will fulfill the remaining  25% of the cost  in near future, thus making the major milestone of Land Purchase by Kasturi family.!

Just to share with you my own very first experience in this  city of Lafayette......I met their mother Lakshmi Kasturi at a very elaborate Diwali Lakshmi Pujan in 1978......what a great introduction in to this community........today, 36 years later, I am so happy to share with you that Kasturi family has carried on that legacy of  Hinduism  to put a major effort in establishing this Sanatan Hindu Temple. !

This is the very First major Milestone achieved. It is Now time for you to step forward and give your generous Donation to continue with this momentum towards building the Temple. Please plan to come and be a part of Bhumi Pujan ceremony in the next few weeks.!

Om….Tat…Sat….Iti.....!

Jayprakash Patel

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Issue No 9: August 2014, Lafayette, Louisiana " 3

The fourth hand is in the blessing pose. He blesses the whole humanity. After all we are His children and He wants us all to be always happy and cheerful.!He has a large belly. It indicates that all created worlds are contained in Him. It also shows His ability to stomach and digest all types of experiences, good and bad.!

- A prayer book for children!———————————————————————!Thank you for your support and blessings.!

Srinivasan Ambatipati!Editor

Sanatan Hindu Temple

Lafayette, Louisiana, USA

Financial Planning Committee Sharad Gunda Harikrishnan Thirumal Raju Gottumukkula Sravan Dharmabotla Seenu Kasturi Ravi Vallalar Srinivasan Ambatipati

Building Committee!Nilesh Patel!

Dixit Patel!

Vijay Kunnada!

Vasanth Halemani!

Sravan Dharmabotla!

Santosh Andem!

Alok Banga!

Rani Chandra!

Jay Patel!Fundraising Committee!Srinivasa Yerasi!

Ramesh Kolluru!

Sarika Gunda!

Nishant Puri!

Srinivasan Ambatipati!

Media Committee!Shravan Ramaram!

Suresh Golconda!

Prasanth Chintamaneni!

Uttam Nalla!

Srinivasan Ambatipati

Pooja Committee!Pallavi Pal!

Kala Jaikishen!

Usha Patel!

Sandya Padumane!

Jay Patel

SHSK Working Committee With the greatest pleasure we welcome you once again to the

SHSK working committee. Several Committees are being formed. Feel free to sign in one or more committees to help this organization move forward with your expertise. We encourage you and empower you to take

active part.

Event Committee!Prasanth Buchireddy!

Lakshmi Thirumal!

Swetha Puri!

Nimesh Patel!

Ram Subramaniyam!

Punitha Vallalar!

Prasanth Chintamaneni!

Senthil Thavamani!

Dinesh Deoras!

S A N A T A N H I N D U S A N S K A R K E N D R A

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