sree venkateswara temple of cleveland - … · karthika masam begins sat, ... deepavali &...

Sree Venkateswara Temple of Cleveland 4406 Brecksville Rd Richfield OH 44286

SREE VENKATESWARA TEMPLE OF CLEVELAND

Sree Padmavathi Sametha Sree Venkateswara Parabrahmane Namaha

4406 Brecksville Road Richfield OH 44286 Tel: (330) 576-5626 Temple Hours (winter): 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekends & holidays

Issue 34 Nov 2015

Board of Trustees

Dr. R. Bandi

Mr. L. Venkataraman

Dr. P. Achanti

Mr. J. Medarametla

Dr. S. Ramanavarapu

Dr. R. Taliwal

Dr. M. Lakireddy

Dr. K. Devulapalli

Mrs. N. Kulasekaran

Treasurer Mrs. S. Venna Jt. Treasurer Mr. R. Atluri Secretary Mr. R. Rambhatla Jt. Secretary Mr. Suman Pillarisetti

Pledge or donate here

Visit: www.balajiusa.org

Call: 330 576 5626 /

[email protected]

Religious Calendar:

(Detailed Calendar on Pg 5)

Fri, Nov 6

Ekadasi

Tue, Nov 10

Naraka Chaturdasi

Wed, Nov 11

Amavasya / Deepavali

Thu, Nov 12

Karthika Masam begins

Sat, Nov 14

Deepavali Celebrations 6 PM

Wed, Nov 18

Sravanam

Sat, Nov 21

Ekadasi

Sun, Nov 22

Tulasi Kalyanam 4 PM

Wed, Nov 25

Kartheeka Poornima

Pancharatra Deepam 6 PM

Sat, Nov 28

Sankatahara Chaturthi

Pages 1&2: Deepavali & Significance; Celebrations on Sat, Nov 14, 2015 at 6 p.m. Page 3: Kartheeka Deepam—The Month of Damodara

Page 4: Karthika Poornima & Srinivasa Samarpana Page 5: November Calendar

Thanks to all who attended the Raas Garba Night and Poolangi Seva!

.

The Significance of Deepavali

Deepavali is called the “festival of lights”. It is celebrated by Hindus in India and all over the world. It is also called

Diwali. Deepavali festival can last from 4 to 5 days. “Deepam” means light/lamp and “avali” means a sequence or

series of. Hence the literal meaning of Deepavali is “Lights arranged in an ordered sequence”.

These lights or deepams have the effect of illuminating the new moon night in the month of Karthika. Houses are

cleaned, decorated and adorned with lights. Friends and relatives visit each other and exchange gifts and enjoy various

kinds of foods, especially sweets. Additionally, kids and adults alike, celebrate the festival with fireworks ranging

Oh! Dhana Lakshmi, the bestower of prosperity, You engross in rhythmic sounds like ‘Dhim dhim’. You are worshipped with divine sound of the conch and other instruments,

and by the Vedas and the Puranas. You show us the Vedic path. Victory! Victory to Dhanalakshmi, the dear consort of Madhusudana!

http://balajiusa.org/donations.html

http://www.balajiusa.org




4406 Brecksville Road Richfield OH 44286 Tel: (330) 576-5626 Temple Hours: 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekends & holidays

Issue 34 Nov 2015

from simple sparklers to explosive firecrackers.

The significance of Deepavali varies depending on the region. In North India, it is celebrated as the day Lord Rama and Sita Devi returned to

Ayodhya after 14 years in exile. Lord Rama's coronation took place after his victorious return to Ayodhya from Lanka, after vanquishing Ravana.

Without Lord Rama, Ayodhya had been plunged in darkness . The forests he wandered were filled with light. The return of Rama was hailed by the

people of Ayodhya as the return of divine effulgence, and hence they celebrated the event by the lighting of lamps everywhere. In South India,

Deepavali is celebrated as the day Lord Krishna, who, along with his wife Satyabhama, who vanquished the demon Narakasura and freed the world of

fear. People in other parts of India celebrate Deepavali because Lord Vishnu in his Vamana avataram took three steps and sent king Bali, a demon, to the

nether world. Also, it is celebrated because Lord Krishna lifts the Govardhana Hill with His little finger to protect the people and cows from torrential

rain and thunder sent by Indra. It is also believed that Goddess of wealth, Sri Lakshmi, arose from Ksheera Saagara (Ocean of Milk) and married Lord

Vishnu during the Karthika Amavasya time. Lamps were illuminated and placed in rows to mark this occasion.

Overall, Deepavali/Diwali signifies the victory of good over evil. It refers to the light of higher knowledge dispelling all ignorance, right over wrong

and inner light over forces of spiritual darkness.

Deepavali is a very auspicious time to worship Sri Lakshmi Devi. In many parts of the country, it is considered the beginning of the new-year. It is an

auspicious time for inner reflection and to weed out darkness within us and fill it up with light, hope, positive energy, happiness and new goals for

life. Sri Lakshmi is the Goddess that fulfills these new goals or ”lakshya”. She is worshipped as mother, “Ma” or “Mata” or “Ammavaaru”; full of

compassion and mercy. She bestows wealth (material and spiritual) and prosperity to her devotees. The wealth comes in many forms such as money,

food, shelter, vehicles, courage, strength, victory, patience, health, knowledge and children. All these are achieved by worshipping the eight forms of

Sri Lakshmi known as Ashtalakshmi. They preside over the eight aspects of wealth and represent Sri Lakshmi’s powers.

Sri Ashtalakshmi stotram composed by Sri Mukkur Srinivasa Varadachur depicts these eight forms as:

•Aadi Lakshmi (The primal mother Goddess, Mahalakshmi)

•Dhana Lakshmi (One who showers wealth)

•Dhaanya Lakshmi (Food – one who eliminates hunger)

•Gaja Lakshmi (Power and Strength)

•Santhana Lakshmi (Children)

•Dhairya Lakshmi (Courage and Strength)

•Vijaya Lakshmi (Victory)

•Vidya Lakshmi (Wisdom and knowledge)

Aadhi Lakshmi verse of the Ashtalakshmi Stotram:

Sumanasa vandita sundari madhavi chandra sahodari hema maye |

muni gana mandita moksha pradayini manjula bhashini veda nute ||

pankaja vasini deva supujita sadguna varshini shanti yute |

jaya jaya he madhu sudana kamini adi lakshmi sada palaya mam || 1 ||

Meaning: Oh! Aadi Lakshmi, the primordial goddess, protect me always. Pious-hearted devotees bow to you. You are the beautiful spouse of Madhava, sister of

the moon, golden, worshipped by sages, and bestower of salvation. Your speech is sweet. You are extoled by the Vedas. You stay on the lotus flower.

Devatas worship you. You shower virtues. You are serene. Victory! Victory to you, the dear consort of Madhusudana!

Sree Venkateswara Temple will be celebrating Deepavali with Mahalakshmi abhishekam at 11am and Ashtalakshmi Archana at 7pm on Novem-

ber 11th and Ashtalakshmi Puja at 6pm on November 14th followed by Annadaanam and fireworks. Please join us on this auspicious occasion in receiving Ashtalakshmi’s blessing and grace.

Looking for a venue for your next big celebration? Look no further...check out the Community Hall at the

Sree Venkateswara Temple of Richfield.

“Annadanam Samam Danam Trilokeshu Na Vidyathe" Annadanam is supreme among all danas and incomparable to any other. Devotees can donate for Annadanam in the Temple for im-

portant festivals in 2015. Interested devotees, please contact the Temple Management to reserve a day. For further details click here.

http://balajiusa.org/Database/Forms/Festival%20Annadanam%20Sponsorship.pdf





Issue 34 Nov 2015

Kaartheeka Deepam (Nov 25) —The Month Of Damodara by Dr. Narender P. Reddy The month of Kartheeka, also called the month of Damodara, is a very auspicious month as it is filled with wonderful and divine events, and is

very dear to Lord Vishnu. Kartheeka is the month when the Supreme Being, who dwells inside and outside this Universe, was bound by a mere cow-

herd lady. Srimad Bhagavatham describes the event as follows:

Mother Yashoda wanted to tie child Krishna with a rope because of His pranks. However big the rope she purchased, it always was short by two

inches to encircle the belly. Yashoda got tired and started sweating.

“Swamaathuh swinna-gaathraaya visrasthakabara-srajah, Drishtvaa parishramam Krishnah krupaya-aseeth swabhandane! (Bhagavatham

10:9:18)”.

Meaning: Krishna saw His mother who was trying to tie Him with a rope. Her whole body was wet with sweat, her braid came loose and the garland

she was wearing in the braid was falling down. Then, Lord Krishna out of mercy, let her tie Him.”

What a wonderful event! The Supreme Being Sri Krishna the controller of all entities in all the universes, including Brahama, Shiva, Indra etc., was bound by a Cowherd lady

Yashoda. This shows that He is Baktha-Paraadeena (under the control of His true devotees).

“Naayam sukhaapo Bhagavaan dehinaam Gopikaasuthah, Gnyaaninaamcha aathma bhoothaanaam yadaa bhakthi mathaamiha. (Bhagavatham

10:9:21).” Meaning: Gopikaa’s son (Krishna) is not attainable by great sages, people of supreme knowledge, or even by great yogis, as he is attaina-

ble by pure devotees who believe in Him alone.

Since Lord Krishna’s belly has been tied, He is called as Damodara (Daama = constrained/tied, Udara =Belly).The month of Kartheeka is called the

month of Damodara. There are two systems of the Lunar Calendar: Poornimanth (starts the day after Poornima and ends in Poornima) and Ama-vasyanth (starts the day after Amavasya and ends on Amavasya). The Poornimanth month of Kartheeka is referred to as the month of Damodara.

In the month of Kartheeka, the day after Deepavali, Sri Krishna lifted the Govardhana hill for seven days and provided shelter to the cows and cow-

herds from Devendra’s wrath of continuous rains/thunderstorms. For this kind act of Krishna, the celestial cow Surabhi came down to install Sri

Krishna as their king and gave Him the title Gava-Indra (King of cows; Gava=cows, Indra=king). Over the time, in cowherds’ usage, the word Gava-

Indra became GOVINDA. Lord Venkateswara is thrilled by this word GOVINDA as it is His earned title.

Tulasi plant is the dearest to Lord Vishnu. Tulasi appeared from the milky ocean during the month of Kaartheeka. Tulasi vivaham or mar-riage of

Tulasi with Saalagraama stone (an incarnation of Vishnu) is performed on the dwadashi (twelfth day) of ascending moon of the month of Kartheeka.

This marriage is also performed on the full moon day of Kartheeka. Also, Tulasi is glorified with lighting lamps.

Lord Sriman Narayana wakes up from His Yoga-nidra during the month of Karthika on the Ekadasi of the ascending moon. This Ekadasi is called

Prabhodana Ekadashi. This Ekadashi marks the end of four month long chathur-masya vratham by the sanyasees, and marks the beginning of their

traveling to teach the spiritual knowledge (Prabhodana=Teaching).

In the month of Kartheeka, Lord Vamana (an incarnation of Vishnu who appeared in Ashada month) performed the wonderful act of meas-uring the

earth and the entire Universe (three worlds), with his two steps, showing that everything belongs to Him. He placed the third step on King Bali and

sent Bali to the neither world (the planet Rasaa thala), thus restoring Devendra as the ruler of the planet of the demi-gods.

According to Padma puranam, any devotional act toward Lord Vishnu like puja, lighting of lamps, meditation, or any meritorious act per-formed to

Vishnu during the month of Kartheeka, destroys sin accumulated in many births, and brings a hundredfold results. Padma pura-nam specifically

advises everyone to glorify Lord Vishnu during the month of Kartheeka by lighting a lamp.

Why the Lamp (Deepam)? Lamp destroys darkness and is used for glorification. The lamp of knowledge removes ignorance. By merely thinking of

the divine past times of Lord Krishna (Sriman Narayana) performed in Kartheka, we come to realization that devotion to Sriman Narayana alone

fulfils all human goals. When we begin to glorify Him, all desires get fulfilled. We tend to develop devotion and spiritual understanding.

In the following solar month of Margaseersha (Dhanur-masam), Andal, through her famous composition Thiruppavai, shows us how to put this

knowledge and devotion into practice for the eternal Bhagavad anubhavam.

Let us all offer Lamp(s) to glorify Lord Sri Venkateswara (Vishnu, Krishna) during the month of Karteeka to fulfil our desires and begin our spiritual

journey.

Thanks to all for your consideration in following our Temple Etiquette

BHAJAN CLASSES

There will be open Bhajan classes held twice a month in the Temple Auditorium during the Prajna class, from about 10:00 AM to

10:45 AM on the second and fourth Sundays, starting in February and ending in June. Srivishnu Pasumarthy has kindly agreed to

teach these Bhajans. There will be a fee of $116 charged by the Temple to students who do not currently attend Prajna. For further

details, please click here.

http://balajiusa.org/TempleEtiquette.html

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Issue 34 Nov 2015

The lighting of a lamp brings auspiciousness, prosperity, good health, abundance of wealth and removes ignorance and

negative feelings. The light (God’s grace) destroys darkness.

Deepajyothi Parabrahma

Deepajyothi Janardhana

Deepo Me Hara Tu Paapam

Deepaa Jyothir Namostute

Meaning: I fold my hands before the Lord, the maintainer of this creation, in the form of this light. I adore this light,

which destroys all the pains resulting from my omissions and commissions.

Karthika Poornima November 25, 2015

Pancharatra Deepam at 6:00pm

Sponsorship $11

Satyanarayana Puja at 7:00pm

Sponsorship $51

Please help the Temple to pay back the loan !


SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1

Sree Venkateswara Abhishekam 11 AM

2

3

4

5 Hanuman Ashtothara Puja Hanuman Chalisa 6:30 PM

6 Ekadasi Purva Phalguni Lakshmi Sahasranama Archana 6:30 PM

7 Uttara Phalguni Garuda and Hanuman Abhishekam 11 AM Sree Venkateswara Sahasranama Archana 6:30 PM

8 Srinivasa Kalyanam 11 AM

9

10

Naraka Chaturdasi

11 Amavasya Deepavali Sri Mahalakshmi Abhishekam 11 AM Ashtalakshmi Archana 7 PM

12 Kaartika Masam begins Hanuman Ashtothara Puja Hanuman Chalisa 6:30 PM

13 Lakshmi Sahasranama Archana 6:30 PM

14 Sree Venkateswara Sahasranama Archana 6:30 PM Deepavali Celebrations 6 PM

15 Srinivasa Utsava Murthy Abhishekam 11 AM

16

17

18 Sravanam Utsava Murthy Abhishekam 11 AM



21 Ekadasi Bhudevi (Andal) Abhishekam 11 AM Vishnu Sahasranamam 11:30 AM Bhudevi Ashthothara Archana 12:00 PM Sree Venkateswara Sahasranama Archana 6:30 PM

22 Dwadasi Tulasi Kalyanam 4 PM

23

24

25 Kartika Poornima Pancharatra Deepam Satyanarayana Puja 7 PM



28 Sankatahara Chaturthi Ganesha Abhishekam 11 AM Ganesha Ashtothara Archana 12:30 PM Sri Ganesha Sahasranama Archana 6:30 PM

28 29

30 31

1

2

3




Issue 34 Nov 2015

Om Sriman Narayana!

Content collated and edited for Sree Venkateswara Temple Of Cleveland By Sravanthi Vallampati

Daily Pujas: Suprabhatam 9am Nitya Aradhanam 9:30am & 5:30pm Sayanotsavam 7:30pm

For up-to-date puja schedule, special events info etc. visit the temple website at http://www.balajiusa.org

Temple Kitchen Now Open

On Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays

From 10.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Stop by to chat with our new Thaliha Swami (cook)!

Lunar: Asvija/Kartika Nov 2015 Solar: Aippasi/Kartikai

http://www.balajiusa.org

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