MESSAGE FROM MTNA MANAGEMENT Dear devotees, We have wonderful news to share.

We are in the process of building a new sannidhi for Durgama. The construction is proceeding swiftly and should be complete when you are Durgai Amman reading this. A big sannidhi under thanks to all of our construction sponsors. Without your help we would not have been able to proceed so quickly and with such determination. Please keep your schedules free on January 21st23rd 2011, 9:00AM to 9:50 AM for the Kumbabishekam for Durgai Amman. We look forward to seeing you and your family there. The temple is going through an exciting phase of growth. We hope to have the same support pushing to advance our temple and build a stronger community together. The growth of our temple rests in all of your hands. Thank you.
Ramu Arumugam, Chair, Durga Project Committee.

MURUGAN TEMPLE CALENDAR 2011: NOW AVAILABLE AT THE TEMPLE Dear devotees, Please avail yourselves of the 2011 MTNA calendar from the Temple. The calendar includes complete details of all the festivals at the Temple in 2011 and some enchanting photos of the deities at the Temple. Please see page 6 for a sample page. MAHA SIVARATHRIMARCH 2ND-3RD 2011 As a first stage of the Thirupani, Athara Peedam and Pathmapeedam for Murugan, as well as the Athara Peedams for Valli and Theivayanai, have been completed in Silver at a total cost of $7,450. The Samarpanam took place during the Nallur Festival. The second stage of the Thirupani would include the Pathamapeedams for Valli and Theivayanai estmated cost about $5,500. Devotees are invited to participate in the Thirupani by sponsoring either in full or in part any of the kavasams. Maha Sivarathri, that falls on the 13 night/14th day of the Tamil month of Maasi is a supreme festival for Lord Shiva. Please join us at the Murugan Temple on March 2nd and 3rd for Maha Sivarathri celebrations. Refer to the calendar on Page 7 for more details.
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Navarathri at MTNA: Alankaram on Day 1. Photo feature and details inside.

MOOLASTHAPANA ALANGARAM

PANGUNI UTTIRAMMARCH 19TH 2011 Panguni Uttiram is the festival of Lord Murugas marriage with Goddess Valli. This festival underscores the importance of marriage or Grahastha Dharma in ones life. Please join us for Panguni Uttiram celebrations on March 19th at the Murugan Temple. Refer to the calendar on Page 7 for more details.

Whats inside Navarathri Photo Feature Announcements Tribute to Late Dr. Sriskandarajah Year End Appeal Jan-Mar Calendar Acknowledgements Temple Services/Directions to Temple

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This issue of Seval is dedicated to the memory of Late Dr. Sriskandarajah, the chief engineer and builder of the Murugan Temple who attained to Lord Murugas holy feet on September 23rd, 2010. See pages 3 and 4 for Memoriam and tributes.

2 NAVARATHRI CELEBRATIONS AT MTNA: SPLENDOR IS THE WORD Goddess Meenakshi Amman was adorned in the most beautiful of attires on all days of the Navarathri festival. Flowers, fruits, cotton, silk, sandal and what-not, assumed a divine glow when they adorned Her. ANNOUNCEMENTS
SIGN UP FOR THE TEMPLE BLOG: please sign up for the Temple blog http:// murugantemple.wordpress.com/ To receive e-alerts about forthcoming events at the temple and articles, photos and videos from past events. Go to the temple website www.murugantemple.org/main.jsp and choose subscribe to blog in quick links or leave your email ID at the sign-up sheet with the Temple manager. 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 410747-0019 for more information.
YOUR YEAR END CONTRIBUTIONS LETTER can now be easily obtained from www.murugantemple.us secure website. Register if not already done so. Retain this newsletter for help during registration. Click 'Register' and Click 'Help' adjacent to the DevoteeID field to obtain DevoteeID.

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SPONSORS NEEDED: MTNA needs sponsors for corporate grade printer fax machine with maintenance service and a sturdy refrigerator costing approximately $ 1,100.00 or more each. You can sponsor a badly needed replacement or addition to the Temple for items as inexpensive as $25. Please call the Temple manager 301 552-4889 to find out what items are needed at the time.

Sponsor your Temple newsletter Seval ANNUAL FUND-RAISER 2010: AN EVENING OF WHOLESOME ENTERTAINMENT The annual fund-raiser event, held on October 23rd 2010, turned out to be an amazing evening of great fun and food. Students of smt. Daya Ravi and smt. Rani David enchanted the audience with their enthralling dance performances. The great variety of songs chosen for rendition, the skillful execution of the abhinayas by the artists and the impeccable coordination between them held the audience, unconscious of time, completely glued. The raffles and the auction of sarees also greatly added to the entertainment. It was an evening to remember. RUDRA EKADASI: THE MANTRAS STILL Please join us on January 20th and 22nd for the grand Thai Poosam celebrations at the Murugan Temple. The celebrations coincide with Kumbabishekam for Durgai Amman sannidhi and Shankatahara Chaturthi. Please refer to the calendar on page 7 for details .
REVERBERATE IN THE AIR

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Please refer to the MTNA blog murugantemple.wordpress.com THAI POOSAMJANUARY 20TH AND 22ND 2011

The vibrations uplifted the atmosphere into a divine ether as hrutviks recited Rudram, the most sacred of hymns in praise of Lord Shiva on Vijayadasami, Oct 17th, 2010. Please refer to the Temple blog (http://murugantemple.wordpress.com/ ) for video and more photos.

3 IN MEMORIAM AND A TRIBUTE Dr. Thiagarajah Sriskandarajah was a simple, humble, generous and sincere person and a friend to everyone. He was an extraordinary individual whose service to the community, his unselfish charitable work towards orphanages in Sri Lanka and his other manifold social work are too numerous to even summarize in this brief treatise. Since this tribute is for the Newsletter, a publication of Dr. Late Dr. Sriskandarajah: Builder of Srisk an da rajah s b eloved the Murugan Temple Murugan Temple, we will record to its history only his enormous contribution to the Temples initiation and reality. One must truly be blessed to receive the calling to build a house of worship that bestows on man the rhythmic anthem of love and peace. Although the need for a variety of resources for such a task cannot be underestimated it is the individual who works in the trenches with dedication and resolve, who makes the sacrifices and who provides his own personal resources to make the monument of his service a reality is the person who has Lord Murugans special calling. Dr. Sriskandarajah was this individual. He was involved in all aspects of structural design and construction; he worked tirelessly with county officials in securing various permits; he spent innumerable hours changing the designs to conform to county specifications and codes, persuading inspectors to re-check the changes and gain approval at various stages; etc. He accomplished these monumental tasks often at no cost to the Temple. At the beginning the temple site was a jungle of trees and shrubs. He dedicated his companys construction equipment, which he personally drove to bring down trees, clear the bushes and personally perform other excavation work. Later workmen were hired for these tasks, but in the absence of a general contractor Dr. Sriskandarajah took charge of the coordination work at no cost to the Temple. Frequently, he purchased building materials using his personal credit cards and the Temple was able to reimburse him only after several months due to financial crunch. In his endeavor, he had the complete and wholehearted support of his beloved wife and partner, Sunthari and their loving children. Frequently, Sunthari accompanied him to the site and worked along side such as holding the tape for Dr. Sriskandarajah as he made precise markings for the location of the SANNITHIs. During the last stage of construction immediately preceding the KUMBABHISHEKAM, he was at the site every day from morn to dusk traveling all the way from and to Manassas, VA, and assured that everything will be completed in readiness for the great function. Dr. Sriskandarajah was a visionary. His foresight resulted in a practical design that required filling the ground with extra dirt so the Temple would be built at a higher elevation. Thanks to him the Temple now stands majestically visible from across the beltway, the interstate I-495/I-95 Highway. His long range thinking is also responsible for giving us a community hall with multiple uses in the basement. How can one forget Dr. Sriskandarajahs ever present smile, his politeness and his fortitude as he calmly exploited his multiple professional skills to combine wisdom and practical sense to provide us a Temple which will stand for many centuries, attesting to his lasting legacy? Dr. Srskandarajah was born in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka; attended St. Patricks College, Jaffna; and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering from the Colombo campus of then Ceylon University. After several years as Executive Engineer at the Public Works Department in Sri Lanka he moved to Baharain in the same capacity in charge of the highways. His next move was to the United States where he did his masters and PhD in structural engineering and worked as Planning Director in Prince Georges County. He took an early retirement and set up his own engineering company based in Manassas, VA.
This article is a compilation of contributions from many friends We gratefully acknowledge and appreciate their participation. Compiled by Ken Kanagalingam.

His attention to the details and politeness is noteworthy. Among the many who take birth, only a few are chosen to serve Divine causes. He was blessed." - by Mr. Sockalingam Sam Kannappan Sriskandarajah is a pearl from Srilanka and a gift from God, chosen to build the temple for Lord Muruga. by Dr. Sambandan
Baskaran

We met many long days to build a well strucutred and monumental Temple for all the Tamils. The temple stands as a monument for his unselfish hard input. - by Dr. Natarajan
Ravendran

Sris is the chief engineer and builder of Murugan Temple, He was very meticulous in building the beautiful and authentic temple with limited funds and never publicised his achievement. Sris echoes in every column and pillar of the Temple - by Mr. Nanak. We can literally say that the first column that holds the temple now was marked by Sris. He was at the site every day from morn to dusk (eating his lunch in the car) travelling all the way . by Mr. Ananthakrishnan

THE UNTIMELY LOSS Mourn do we at the untimely loss of thee No more is the vibrant spirit, thee radiated Service you fulfilled ever so voluntarily Peace and Love thee has earned for Eternity. by a Devotee

The Murugan Temple is a testimony to Late Dr.Sriskandarajahs devotion to lord Muruga. Left: The inside of Temple during construction. Right: Late Dr. Sriskandarajahs machinery.

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:12-16-1940

: 9-23-2010

MTNA THANKSGIVING MEAL IN MEMORY OF LATE DR. THIAGARAJAH SRISKANDARAJAH

By Sri. Elyathamby Vignarajah Thanksgiving lunch was provided on Saturday November 20, 2010 by us to the Prince Georges County shelters. Thanks for the food contributions from Mr. & Mrs C.K. Arora, Dr. Nala & Dr. Sivaraman, Ranjini & Dr. Ambalavanar, Luxmy & Dr. Anandarajah, Dr. Jana & Dr. Kesavan, Angela & Ken, Alamu & Sunthar, Drs. Lakshmi & Dr. Sridharan Iyengar, Manjula & Dr. Gopal, Kalpana & Meiyapan, Deepa & Dr. Srikumar, Ms. Jenny and Sothy & Vigna. Donations were received from Vasuki & Dr. Maheswaran, Dr. Shankari & Sivasailam, Mrs.& Mr. Thillairajah, Sethu & Dr. Baskaran, Padmini Saravanabavan. Towels were given as a gift to everyone: 36 gents 25 ladies, and 47 children. Angela and Ken provided the transport to Shepherd Cove and Vigna to Prince Georges House. Thanks to them. The food was donated in memory of Sris. Sunthari, Geetha, the grandchildren, Dr. Thaiyal Krishanmurthy, Mr. & Dr. Devika Ananthakrishnan were there to mark the occasion. MEMORIAL SERVICE A Memorial Service to Late Dr. Sriskandarajah was held on December 4, 2010, 2 - 5 PM at the auditorium organized by Sri. Vignarajah entrusted with the responsibility by the Temple. Family and friends of Sris and devotees attended the function. Mr. Vignarajah coordinated the Sri. Vignarajah function. Mr. Loganathan lit the lamp addressing the (memorial candles). Dr. Gurusamy, Dr. audience Paneerselvam, Dr.Ravendran, Dr. Baskaran, Dr. Krishnamurthy, Dr. Devika (on behalf of Mr. Ananthakrishnan), Mr. Loganathan, Mrs. Kanaga Ranganathan (on behalf of devotees), Mr. Nanak, Mr. Odis Johnson, Mr. Saravanabavan, Mrs. Dr. Bhaskaran dedicating Pusparani Williams (on behalf of FETNA the Pon Addai to Late Dr. & Tamil Sangams), and Atchuthan Sriskandarajah posthuSriskandarajah spoke about him, with mously. vote of thanks by Dr. Sothy Vignarajah. Dr. Baskaran read a poem he had composed about Sris and wore the "pon addai posthumously. Mr. Vayudeva, Dr. Sridhar, Mrs. Avayam, Ms. Manju Gopal, Mr. Ramu, Ms. Manimekalai, Ms. Pathmini Saravanapavan and Dr. Siva were among the many trustees present with many friends and devotees. Food was provided by the temple, devotees and friends of Sris & family.

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Dear Murugan Devotee, We cordially invite you to participate in ongoing Temple Expansion projects of our Murugan Temple. The construction of the Rajagopuram A big Kitchen Yagasala and structural Indianization of the temple Our goal is to collect at least one million dollars before we can launch the construction project in 2011 with the anticipated date of completion of the Rajagopuram by May-June 2012. We are constructing a sanctum sanctorum for Goddess Durga inside our temple and the Grand Kumbabishekam will be from 21-23 of January 2011. Beautiful Durgai Amman is here already with Full Silver Kavacham. Please participate in this auspicious event as a Sponsor and get the Blessings of Goddess Durga & Lord Muruga.

Your support is absolutely crucial to the projects planning and success We can not contemplate this huge project without your moral and financial support
Wont you consider making a substantial contribution this year, which is tax-deductible to the extent allowable by current IRS regulations? Let us know what your financial contribution will be for 2010 and what you are willing to pledge or give for the Rajagopuram project each year for the next few years. Please see the attached pledge form for your convenience and use. You can directly donate using your credit card and the MTNAs secure online donation system by accessing www.murugantemple.org. We are approaching the year end contributions to our favorite Lord.

We need your generous support today!

Let Lord Murugan be in our heart and mind and let Murugan bless us with HIS love and prosperity. Please use the attached pledge form for your convenience and mailing Sincerely, Board of Trustees My familys donation for 2010 is $______________ (Please attach a check or donate on secure web) We are willing to donate _______$ 10,000 _______$ 5,000 ________$ 3,000 or $__________starting 2010 through 2012 for the __Rajagopuram ___Big Kitchen ___Yagasala /Indianization project described above. Will send a check for $__________; Will donate using the temple secure web site $__________ ; Will give a cash donation of $__________ Name:____________________________________ Address:__________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________ Family Gothiram: __________________________ Birth Star (el:rj; jpuk; ) Name of Family Member Email: __________________________________________

Thank you for your support and generosity! May Lord Murugan shower HIS blessings on you and your family!!

THE 2011 MURUGAN TEMPLE CALENDAR IS NOW AVAILABLE AT THE TEMPLE.

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

Murugan Temple Sponsorship Form

Make Murugan Temples Rajagopuram Part of Your Legacy
_ _ _ _ First Brick (Special) Ten Bricks One Thousand Bricks North or South Gopuram $51 $1,010 $101,000 $35,000

Kavasam for Peedam in Silver for Amman .............................$__________ Check Enclosed for................................................................$__________ Name Address State _________ ZIP ___________________ City Phone ____________EMail ________________________________ Family Gothiram _________________________________________ Birth Star (el:rj;jpuk;) _____ Name of Family Member

SubTotal Rajagopuram Contribution ....................$________ 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 :_________________ Sub Total Operations ..........................................$________ Please indicate desired dates _________________ MTNA Newsletter Printing and Mailing .................$__________ Thiruvasi for Sivan ..................................................$__________

Please use separate sheet for additional family members Mail: The Murugan Temple of North America, 6300 Princess Garden Parkway,Lanham, MD 20706 You can now make contributions and fill-out your donation forms on-line at www.murugantemple.org

JANUARY Jan 1st SatNew Years Day

11:00AM Special Abhishekam to Muruga

Feb 18th FriMaasi Maham

10:00AM Special Abhishekam to Muruga

MONTHLY EVENTS
Pradosham: Special Abhiskekam to Shiva at 06:00pm Jan 1, Jan 17, Feb 15, Mar 1, Mar 17, Mar 31 First Friday Bhajan at 08:00pm Jan 7, Feb 4 and Mar 4 Third Friday Bhajan at 08:00pm Jan 21, Feb 18 and Mar 18 Sankatahara Chaturthi: Special Abhishekam to Ganesha at 06:00pm Jan 22, Feb 20 and Mar Mar 22 Purnima: Special Abhishekam to Meenakshi Jan 18, Feb 17 and Mar 18 Adhi Parasakti Puja at 01:00pm Jan 30, Feb 27 and Mar 27 Karthigai: Special Abhisekam to Palani Andavar at 07:30pm Jan 14, Feb 11 and Mar 10

MARCH Mar 2 WedMaha Sivarathri

07:30pm Ganapathi Puja, Kalasa Puja 08:00pm First Jama Puja Shiva Abhishekam, Vibhuti Alankaram, Veda Parayanam, Singing Thirumurai 11:00pm Second Jama Puja Shiva Abhishekam, Santhana Alankaram, Singing Sivapuranam Mar 3rd ThuMaha Sivarahtri (contd) 01:00AM Third Jama Puja Shiva Abhishekam, Pushpa Alankaram, Singing Thiruneetru pathikam 03:00AM Fourth Jama Puja Shiva Abhishekam, Special Alankaram, Singing Kolaru Pathikam, Deeparathanai
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Jan 20 ThuThai Poosam Day

09:00AM Ganapathi Homam/Abhishekam 09:45AM Subramanya Homam 10:30AM Kavadi and Pal Kudam 11:00AM Murugan Abhishekam 12:00noon Murugan Sahasranamam

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Jan 21st to 23rd Fri-SunDurgai Amman Sannidhi Kumbabishekam

See page 1.

Jan 22nd SatThai Poosam celebrations

09:00AM Ganapathi Homam 09:30AM Ganapathi Sahasranamam 10:00AM Subramanya Homam 10:30AM Kavadi and Pal Kudam 11:00AM Murugan Abhishekam 11:30AM Bhajan 12:30pm Deeparadhanai 01:00pm Lunch 03:00pm Murugan Procession 06:00pm Special Abhishekam to Ganesha

Mar 19th SatPanguni Uttiram

09:00AM Subramanya Homam 09:30AM Kavadi and Pal Kudam 10:30AM Murugan Abhishekam 11:00AM Bhajan 12:30AM Deeparathanai 01:30pm Lunch 03:00pm Thiru Kalyanam 04:00pm Murugan Procession

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The MTNA newsletter editorial board is grateful to Stefan Kaben, Gobinathan Balasubramanian, Ravi Radhakrishnan, Sridhar Iyengar, Vishal Poddar, Ganesan Gurukkal and K. Ramaswamy for providing photos and videos of Temple events for the newsletter and Temple blog.

FEBRUARY Feb 16th Wed

06:00pm Nataraja Abhishekam

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

8 Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID So. MD Permit No. 3958

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

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 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 5524889 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.