6300 Princess Garden Parkway, Lanham, MD 20706

Message from the president

Annual Fundraiser on Oct 22nd featuring Bharatanatyam artist Sheejith Krishna

The Fundraiser is an annual event at the Temple. The function includes cultural programs, auction, raffles and delicious dinner. This is a great opportunity for devotees to contribute to the Temple. On October 22nd, Mr. Sheejith Krishna an o u tstan d in g Bh ar atan at ya m d an cer, choreographer, teacher and versatile artist who currently works at Kaleshetra Foundation, Chennai will be giving his solo or combined performance with Ms. Tharini Shanmugarajah. Tharini has been learning Bharathanatyam for the past seventeen years from her mother, Kalyani Shanmugarajah and has been actively involved in the Kalapeetham dance school, established by her mother in 1990. Date: October 22ndDance by Sheejith Krishna and Tharini Shanmugarajah. Time: 5:00PM-10:00PM Place: MTNA auditorium Tickets (with snacks and dinner): $30/person or $40/person for front rows.
For tickets or information, contact Lakshmi Iyengar 410-551-4308 Raghavan (manager) 301-552-4889.

Upcoming events Navarathri celebrationsSept 27thOctober 5th The grand Navarathri celebrations include special Abhishekam to Meenakshi and recitation of Lalitha Sahasranamam on all days. On October 1st, Sunday, there is Ganesh Puja by children at 4:00PM. All children are welcome. On October 4th, Durgashtami, Chandi Homam will be performed at 9:00AM. Ther is also special abhishekam to Durga at 1:00PM followed by Deeparathanai. Skanda Sashti celebrationsOctober 27th November 1st and November 5th The Skanda Sashti will be celebrated on a magnificent scale from October 27th to November 1st. The grand concluding celebrations to be held on November 5th include Sangabhishekam to Lord Murugan, procession and Thiru Kalyanam. For schedule, refer to the calendar on page 3 or Temple calendar. Thiruvannamalai Karthigai Deepam on December 8th Swamimamali Karthigai Deepam on December 10th

Nallur Festival: Ratham completes another run successfully for the third consecutive year (Refer to the blog for more photos)

Index
Fundraiser Upcoming events Message from the president List of Donors Avani Avittam Projects Calendar 1 1 1 2 2 2 3

Dear Beloved MTNA Devotees I am extremely happy to inform all our Ardent Murugan Devotees throughout the USA that our temple activities are progressing well. We had two major Festivities in the year 2011. In January 2 0 1 1 , D u r ga i A mma n Prathishtai was celebrated for 2 days in a very grand manner by offering Annadhanam to more than 500 Devotees in plantain leaves. The entire function and all the expenditures were all met by donations from $51 to $7200 each. Next we had our 12th year Maha Kumbhabishekam on May 13th, 2011 in a spectacular manner. Hundreds of Murugan devotees donated generously and lots of Volunteers did work very diligently. During that period, the main Sanctum Santorum was repaired and decorated with wooden carving ceiling; all 5 Moolasthanams have been beautified with Engraved beautiful doors. Plenty of Volunteers devoted their valuable time to make our Temple beautiful before our Maha Kumbhabishekam. Two Silpis helped us during that time to repair and painted our Gopuram & Constructed several Homaguntams. The function went on very well in a grand scale for a Week. After 2 years of hard work by the Planning committee and the architect, we have a floor plan accepted by all devotees for the Rajagopuram & Temple extension plan. Since we were busy with the Maha Kumbhabishekam, we will be ready to start our Rajagopuram project, beginning with the commercial Kitchen ASAP. Please come and participate in the committee and be a grand sponsor for the projects in the Rajagopuram and Temple extension plan. On behalf of MTNA, I would like to acknowledge and thank all dedicated Devotees and Volunteers for their financial, physical and moral support to the Murugan Temple of North America all along. Lord Washington Murugan blesses you and your family in good health and happiness. Endrum Anbudan President/MTNA

2 Combined Federal Campaign: Now available for MTNA

Federal Government Employees can contribute year end contribution to Murugan Temple of North America. CFC # for MTNA 69386.

You can now donate to your Temple through your mobile devices too.

BECOME A LIFE-TIME DEVOTEE OF MTNA DONATE A DOLLAR A DAY TO THE TEMPLE Dear Lord Murugan Devotees: The Murugan Temple of North America [MTNA] Management sincerely thanks all devotees for their devoted participation in Temple activities. There is a need of MINIMUM $28,000 PER MONTH to pay the Mortgage, Priests Salaries, Health Insurance, Utilities and other day to day operational expenses We request you to donate just one Dollar a Day for the successful operations of the Temple , which will be FULLY TAX DEDUCTABLE. By this commitment, you and your family will be honored as a Life-Time Devotee of MTNA. OUR TEMPLE NEEDS YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. DONATE FROM BANK ACCOUNT: Arrangements have been made with a local bank for an automatic transfer every month for the amount you commit to contribute from your checking or savings account. Please complete the Authorization Form for Automatic Payment (available at the Donations section of the Temple website or ask Temple manager), include a voided check and mail to the above address to the attention of M. P. SELVAM /MTNA. DONATE BY CREDIT CARD: Specify Recurring while filling in the Shopping Cart on the Temple Website. Mention Dollar a day and Sankalpam details in the Special Instructions field. Fill in the recurring payment settings such as frequency of deduction in the checkout screen. In appreciation of your contribution, the Temple will perform a special Pooja every month in your and family name. Also on the birthdays or on the day you specify, the Temple will perform an Archanai for you and members of your family. Please complete and return the Sankalpam Form. Our immediate goal is to have a minimum of 500 life-time ardent devotees. Your immediate response is highly appreciated. Remember this is Just a cost of one cup of coffee per day. Please kindly send back the forms at your earliest convenience and CONVINCE YOUR FRIENDS TOO! May Lord Washington Murugan Bless you and your family with good health and prosperity.

Thanks to all the devotees who have contributed generously to the Temple for Maha Kumbabishekam. (List of donors not included in the July-Sept 2011 issue of Seval continued ).
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Avani Avittam at MTNA: The tradition continues

On the morning of Nallur festival, the Murugan Temple was home to yet another Two of the Brahmacharis ritualistic with priest Sri Visveswaran celebratio n: The avani Avittam. More than 25 brahmacharis assembled early in the morning along the footsteps of the Temples side entrance as priest Sri. Visveswaran prepared all the materials for the ritual. The brahmacharis piously followed the instructions of Sri. Visveswaran, who initiated them into the new sacred thread. The Avani Avittam celebration stated at the Murugan Temple last year. We hope more people will join us for this auspicious event in future.

E D IS O N , N J IN D IA IN D IA IN D IA LA U D ER D A LE, F L

S H R EWS B U R Y M A B EA R D E H E R N D O N VA

L O G IS T IC S P L U S N A N C Y G R EEN

Nanadavanam
We are always looking for volunteers, plants, and any other material that you will like to donate towards the temple garden. We will be using the flowers at our daily Poojas.

Special Temple fundraiser program: Sheejith Krishna performs at Bellflower, CA on October 16th The fund raising committee of Murugan Temple of North America requests your whole hearted support for a fund raising event in Southern California. You will have one of the most beautiful experiences in life. A highly talented young Bharatanatyam artist from Kalakshetra of Chennai, India, Mr. Sheejith Krishna will perform with Miss. Tharini Shanmugaraja. All expenses for the event are being borne by devotees Raj and Brinda Prasad. So every penny of your tax deductible money will go to the temple. The temple has no Rajagopuram and the funds will go to the Rajagopuram fund. (Tax ID number for the temple is 52-1203667). The tickets will be $100, $75, $50 and $25 (students $15). Date: October 16th, 2011 Time: 04:00pm Venue: William Bristol Civic Auditorium, 16600 civic center drive, in Bellflower, CA 90706.

Diwali Mela: October 8th 2011 The Association of United Hindu and Jain Temples brings to you Diwali Mela on October 8th from noon to 10:00PM at FedEx grounds, Home of the Washington Redskins. The celebrations include fireworks also. All are invited. Please refer to http://www.dcunitedtemples.org/ut/diwalimela/for more information.

Recognition of Graduates on October 2nd

We will be recognizing our new graduates, and the students who learn Tamil during their out-of-class hours at the Temple on Sundays from Virginia, Bethesda, and Ellicott City. please send us the name, address, and other details fresh graduates. The ceremony will be held at 3PM before Pooja on the Vijayathasami Day. If they are in an out of state college, the parents can receive it for them, and forward it to them.

Swami Bodhinatha gave a stellar talk on Sacred Temples describing t he importance of Temples in our spiritual development during the Nallur festival.

Thanksgiving Meal on November 19th

We annually feed the men, women and children in the shelters at Prince Georges County - Prince Georges House & Shepherd Cove. We also provide each of them with a bath towel. If you like to make a large or small tray of food, or donate towards the items to be purchased including containers, napkins, cutlery, and towels, please let us know. For more details, contact the Temple manager or Elyathamby Vignarajah at temple.projects@gmail.com

3
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) $51 Ten Bricks $1,010 North or South Gopuram $250,000 SubTotal Rajagopuram Contribution ....................$________ 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 ..........................................$________ Please indicate desired dates _________________ MTNA Newsletter Printing and Mailing .................$__________ Kavasam for Peedam in silver for Murugan, Valli, Theivayanai....................................................$__________ Check Enclosed for................................................................$__________ Name Address City State _________ ZIP ___________________ Phone ____________EMail ________________________________ Family Gothiram _________________________________________ Birth Star (el : j ; p k ) _____ Name of Family Member r j u ;

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

Navarathri Day 5Oct 1st 10:30AM Meenakshi Special Abhishekam 06:00pm Lalitha Sahasranamam Navarathri Day 6Oct 2nd 10:30AM Meenakshi Special Abhishekam 04:00pm Ganesh Pooja by children 06:00pm Lalitha Sahasranamam Navarathri Days 7 & 9Oct 3rd & 5th 11:00AM Meenakshi Special Abhishekam 07:30pm Lalitha Sahasranamam Navarathri Day 8Durgashtami Oct 4th 09:00AM Chandi Homam 01:00pm Durga Abhishekam 01:45pm Deeparathanai 07:30pm Lalitha Sahasranamam Sani PradoshamOct 8th 06:00pm Siva Special Abhishekam DeepavaliOct 25th 07:00pm Meenakshi Special Abhishekam 07:30pm Lakshmi Kubera Pooja Skanda Sashti Celebrations Day 1Oct 27th 09:00AM Ganapathi Homam/Abhishekam 09:45AM Subramanya Homam 10:30AM Kavadi and Pal Kudam 11:00AM Murugan Abhishekam 08:00pm Murugan Sahasranamam Day 2 & 5Oct 28th & 31st 09:30AM Kavadi and Pal kudam 10:00AM Murugan Abhishekam 08:00pm Murugan Sahasranamam

Day 3 and 4Oct 29th & 30th 10:30AM Kavadi and Pal kudam 11:00AM Murugan Abhishekam 08:00pm Murugan Sahasranamam November Day 6Nov 1st 09:30AM Kavadi and Pal kudam 10:00AM Murugan Abhishekam 08:00pm Murugan Sahasranamam Skanda Sashti grand celebrations Nov 5th 08:30AM Ganapathi Abhishekam 09:00AM Subramanya Homam 10:00AM Kavadi and Pal kudam 11:00AM Sangabishekam 12:45AM Deeparathanai 01:30pm Lunch 03:00pm Thiru Kalyanam and Murugan procession Annabishekam for SivaNov 10th 10:30AM Annabishekam Sani PravesamNov 15 09:00AM Navagraha Homam and Abhishekam December Thiruvannamalai Karthigai Deepam Dec 8th 09:00AM Ganapathi Homam 10:00AM Siva Abhishekam 10:30AM Kavadi and Pal kudam 11:00AM Murugan Abhishekam 07:00pm Palani Andavar Special Abhishekam
th

Vinayaka Vratam begins (21 days) Dec 9th 09:00AM Ganapathi Homam 09:30AM Ganapathi Abhishekam 07:00pm Ganapathi Sahasranamam Pillaiyar Kathai will be read on all 21 days after Sahasranamam Swamimalai Karthigai Deepam Dec 10th Vinayaka Vratam endsDec 29th 09:00 AM Ganapathi Homam 09:30AM Ganapathi Abhishekam 07:30pm Ganapathi Sahasranamam 08:15pm Ganapathi procession New Year eveDec 31st 07:00pm Lakshmi Kubera Pooja Monthly events PradoshamOct 24, Nov 7 & 22, Dec 7 & 22 06:00pm Special Abhishekam to Siva Thirumurai recitalOct 9, Nov 13, & Dec 11 Noon Thirumurai recital in front of Siva PoornimaOct 11, Nov 9, Dec 9 07:00pm Meenakshi Special Abhishekam Karthigai -Oct 14, Nov 11, Dec 8 07:30pm Palani Andavar Special Abhishekam Adhi Parasakthi Pooja at 02:30pm Oct 30, Nov 20, Dec 18 Friday Bajans at 08:00pm Oct 7 & 21, Nov 4 & 18, Dec 2 & 16

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

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 I95 (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)

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.

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.