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SPECIAL METTILOTSAVA EDITION
EDITOR: DEEPTA JANARDHAN
Kids’ Voices….
I AM A MADHWA FROM ALLENTOWN, PA and I WHAT THE METTILOTSAVA MEANS TO ME is to
would like to share how it’s like for me as a Mad- learn about God, learn slokas, make new friends
hwa growing up in the US. I love the US and In- and have fun. I always love coming here because
dia. But I live in the US, and there are some prob- it’s like a sleepover with all my friends. It is im-
lems growing up in the US as a Madhwa. One of portant to me because we come here and learn
those problems is the fact that I am a vegetarian different things with different people. There is
and it is hard for me to go to places such as my always so much things to do here there is sing-
school cafeteria without almost vomiting. It smells ing, chanting slokas, playing games, a campfire,
atrocious. The meat smell is so strong. I hate it. I going on hikes and trails and trying new things.
find it sometimes very hard to eat in my own The Mettilotsava is definitely important and I
school cafeteria. But facing such things has made don’t know what I’d be doing without it. I always
me even more of a Madhwa and respect our cul- look forward to coming here every year!!
ture. But of course there are things here that are
Reshma Krishnaraj
nice. And that is why I like to embrace the fact
that we should take the good things from each
place. It is like having the best of both worlds. BEING A MADHWA VEGETARIAN is very important.
Yogindra Raghav I am proud of this because we are the one of
the few religions that enforce this. Being a vege-
tarian makes you feel proud of yourself and gives
you satisfaction that nothing else in the world
I LIKE METTILOTSAVA because I get a chance to see
could give. One vegetarian can save over 100
some of my friends that I don’t get to see very
animal lives a year! Think about how many inno-
much. Also, the campsite is very interesting to
cent lives you are saving by not eating meat. It
explore and have a good time on. We also get to
makes you feel unique and special to be helping
do a big campfire, which is one of my favorite parts
out to make this planet a more humane place.
of the Mettilotsava. Last, but not least, I enjoy play-
I’m glad that I am a vegetarian and that I follow a
ing any kind of sport that other kids play—
philosophy that supports this concept.
especially football and basketball. Overall, Mettilot-
sava is great way to get together with close friends. Dharani Kotekal
Sreeram Venkatarao
SNACK TIME
Page 4
WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THE that it allows room and free- that’s about as far as I go. But
WORDS “family friends’ gather- dom for each individual to the beauty is that my culture/
ings” most of them moan and worship how ever they want. religion allows for us both to
groan, and immediately start For example, I know of this co-exist and help each other
complaining. Personally, I look uncle, (not a blood relative, but out.
forward to hearing them, (not we are all close enough to call
When I go to these gather-
to sound like a nerd or any- our elders “uncles” and
ings, I am allowed a chance to
thing) but in these “family “aunties”), who is considered
participate in the events, not
friends’ gatherings” I get to the head, the president, the
necessarily by taking part in the
step away from the pressures leader of our organization; his
religious parts but by being a
of assimilation, and immerse name is Bindu Madhavan (Bindu
helping hand. In these festivals
myself into my culture, my uncle), and he is one of the
we have the privilege to cook
religion, and my inheritance. most religious people I know,
for people, and the food is one
It’s an entire weekend filled he is not a zealot, but someone
of the most delicious cuisines I
with different families gathered who believes strongly in his
have ever tasted. A couple of
and celebrating our religion, religion and is very devoted.
my friends along with me,
sharing our culture, and simply Then there is me, I believe that
started as “novices” in the
bonding with each other. there is a God, and I respect
kitchen.
him, I respect myself , and I
The beauty of my religion is
respect the people around me; (cont, on page 9)
DOCTOR’S NOTE
Page 5
Another huge advantage in fasting is its physi- These overall functions have been proven to
cal health benefits. A common problem in the increase life expectancy. These are additional
western world is over nutrition. Over nutrition benefits to the mental and spiritual ones. The
usually causes diseases such as atherosclerosis, spiritual and mental benefits outweigh the physi-
hypertension, heart diseases, allergies, and dia- cal ones, but these are just recent scientific find-
betes. Fasting is known to be a natural way of ings that are restating what our ancestors knew
detoxifying the body. Fasting starts a process thousands of years ago.
called autolysis. This process allows for the
— K. N. ADISHESH
breakdown of toxins in the colon, liver, kidneys,
OUR WORLD TODAY
Page 6
Relevance of Sandhyavandane
to Myself and the World
SANDHYAVANDANE IS THE Upanayanam means ‘taken ning Sandhyavandane are
MOST IMPORTANT DAILY DUTY near’, referring to when the blocked out by school and
of every Brahman male after boy taken to a teacher to be other events throughout the
Upanayana. It is performed at educated. The period signifies year. Other than that, I still
Sandhya periods of the day: the boy’s change from child- manage to do it. Even when I
morning, afternoon, evening. In hood to boyhood after 7-10 am at a hotel, dorm room, or
each period, all three parts years. Many rituals are done to staying at other’s houses I find
must be completed: purifica- show the importance of the a way to get it done. For exam-
tion, worship through Ar- change such as the mother ple, this summer I stayed at
ghyam, and the Gayathri Japam feeding the boy food. Virginia Tech for journalism
(or Mantra). camp. Even though the hall was
After the Upanayanam, the
full of non-Hindus, I utilized the
The Gayathri Mantra is con- boy becomes a Brahmachari
quiet study room at early
sidered to be the mother of all and can learn to chant the
morning when everyone was
mantras, with the power to Vedas from his teacher. It be-
asleep. Plenty of light came into
improve Tejas, physical and comes the boy’s duty from that
the room as I turned East and
mental strength, and repel all day forth to perform
recited the Gayathri Mantra
sins. Sandhyavandane and purify his
silently.
food before eating (Aporshne).
OM-Bhur Bhuva Suvah-
My mind and body is accus-
Tatsaviturvarenyam-Bargo With the grace of Sri Hari
tomed to Sandhyavandane and
Devasya Dhimahi-Dhiyo yo nah Vayu and Raghavendra Swami
I can’t miss a day. If I forget to
Prachodayat Gurugalu, my Upanayanam was
brush my teeth one day; I can’t
done on June 24, 2007 in Man-
When this mantra is recited go out feeling dirty. For what-
tralayam, India. Most of my
after Guru Upadesha correctly ever reason I miss a day of
family were present, and many
with devotion, at the right Sandhyavandane, I have that
reiterated the importance of
times, and either 10 or 108 same kind of feeling.
Sandhyavandane. After that
times(depending on available Sandhyavandane purifies my
day, I knew I must perform it
time), it will help those chant- whole body and gives me the
every single day of my life.
ing it tremendously. The strength I need to go through
Gayathri Mantra is taught by Following almost three years, the day.
the boy’s father during the Sandhyavandane has been built
— BY MUKUND KATTI
transitional period called into my daily routine. Though,
Upanayanam. sometimes afternoon and eve-
FROM WHERE WE STAND
Page 7
Sampling of the Foods from Mettilotsava 2008: Various Gojjus, Palyas, Payasas, and Mixed Rices.
SPECIAL METTILOTSAVA EDITION
VMS Youth Group
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