August/September 2016
Guru Transit (Pravesam)
Thursday, August 11
10:30 am Navagraha Homam
and
Sunday, August 14
6:00 pm Navagraha Homam

Advised Pariharas for the Following Rasi / Nakshatras

Mesha Rasi Aswini, Bharani & Krittika (1st qr)
Mithuna Rasi  Mrigasira (3rd/4th Qrs), Ardra,Punarvasu (1st/2n d/3rd Qrs)
Kataka Rasi Punarvasu (4th Qr), Pushya, Aslesha
Kanya Rasi Uttara Phalguni (2nd/3rd/4th Qrs), Hasta, Chitra (1st/2nd Qrs)
Tula Rasi Chitra (3rd/4th Qrs), Swati, Visakham (1st/2n d/3rd Qrs)
Dhanur Rasi Moola, Poorvashadha, Uttarashadha (1st Qr)
Kumbha Rasi 
Dhanishta (3rd/4th Qrs), Satabhisha, Poorvabhadra (1st/2nd/3rd Qrs)
Friday, August 12
Varalakshmi Vratam
7:00 pm: Lakshmi Puja
Special Hiranya Alankaram to Goddess Lakshmi

During Sravana Masam 
Every Friday, August 5, 12, 19, & 26
7:00 pm:
Sravana Sukravara Lakshmi 

Monday, August 8, 15, 22, & 29
Sravana Somavaram
7:00 pm: Rudrabhishekam

The Hindu Lunar month of "Sraavanam" is considered very auspicious for religious observances. The Mondays during this month is very special for Lord Siva. Lord Siva is very easily pleased by the Abhishekams offered by his devotees. Abhishekam to the chanting of Rudram,  reciting Siva Stotras are some of the highlights of the Puja that will be performed every Monday during the Sraavan month. 7:00 pm Siva Abhishekam, Ashtottarashata Naama Archana, Deeparadhana 8:30 pm Aarati & Prasadam distribution.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016 
Rig and Yajur Upaakarma 
Avani Avittam
Batches will start  at  6:00 AM
 
(Jandhyala Pournami/Rakhi Pournami )  
Dear Devotees,
Namaskaram,

Rig and Yajur U paakarma Batches will start  at 6:00 AM (changing Sacred Thread )  

This year Shraavana Upaakarma (Aavani Avittam) falls on August 17.  Veda Aarambham (Commencing the study of Vedas), Rishi Tarpanam (Propitiating the Sages who handed down the Vedas to the future generations) are the most important aspects of any Upaakarma. 

Devotees are requested to bring Panchapatra, Udharini & Plate. Please pass this message for your friends & relatives.

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Full Moon day (Rakhi Pournami)
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
and
Thursday, Aug 18
7:00 PM  Sri Satyanaryana Swamy Pooja 
satyanarayana   
Sunday, August 28, 2016
5 pm:
 Ganesha Puja by Children
Please encourage kids to participate in the Vidya Ganapathi Puja before starting the school, to ward off the obstacles that may happen.
(Please bring your school supplies for the puja)

6:30 pm:  Ayyappan Puja
Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Ganesha Idol
Wednesday, Aug 31, 2016
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
and
Saturday, Sep 3, 2016
4:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Nothing can beat the satisfaction of creating your own eco-friendly Ganesha idol for the most-awaited Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
 
Vedic Temple of Virginia, offering a Workshop on Eco Friendly Ganesha idol making. The workshop is open for all. It includes sessions on idol making, and importance of eco-friendly idol of Ganesha. This activity will be carried out under the supervision of experts. 

Venue: Vedic Temple of Virginia
Workshop structure: Free and open for all
Materils: Temple will provide all the materials
Devotees can bring their own decorative jewelry for Gaensha.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
thru
Monday, September 5, 2016

Ganesha Chaturthi Celebrations


Bombay Jayashri Musical Concert

Kala Seva (Seva in the form of art and culture) reaches to god. We want people come forward to help us by taking tickets and be able to sell them to other Rasikas. please come forward to help.

Tickets are available to purchase either at the Temple or  online @


 

Souvenir Article Submission Form
Vedic Temple of Virginia invites you to contribute to the special keepsake souvenir magazine of size 8.5" X 11" that will be released to all devotees on the event of the  
Bombay Jayashri Concert on Oct 16
 
th, 2016
 
.You have a unique opportunity to publish your own narratives only in English, such as stories, essays, poems and art forms like paintings & sketches, etc. in this souvenir and support the event with your contribution. The souvenir will reach all of our devotees and Indian community.
 
Examples of what you can publish:
  1. 1.    Self-written stories from Hindu Puranas and Upanishads
  2. 2.    Essays about your personal experiences and thoughts about Hindu Gods, Spirituality, Music, Art forms, etc
  3. 3.    Hindu devotional Poems, Paintings and Sketches 
Please submit your entries on or before August 31st 2016. You may send them to vtova.souvenir@gmail.com with the subject line of SOUVENIR ARTICLE. Your article will be selected on first and come first serve basis.  
 
Pricing information:

Full page article - $108
(~ 360 words with 12 pt font )
Half Page article - $51
(~ 170 words with 12 pt font)
 
Payments can be made by check (payable to Vedic Temple of Virginia) or credit card.
Credit card number: __________________________ 
Expiry Date: ____________________
Name of Credit Card: _________________________________
Billing Address: ________________________________________________________

Article Submitter information:
 
Name: _______________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________
Email: ________________________________________________________
Phone Number: ________________________________________________

Our Sponsors
 
Newsletter
In This Issue
Sat, Aug 13, 2016  10 am to 
Sun, Aug 14, 2016 10 am
Continuous  24 hrs Akhand Ramayana Parayanam
Please join us in reciting the Akhand Ramayana Paath at the Vedic Temple of Virginia on August 13-14, 2016.
 
The Paath will start at 10:00 AM, August 13 and end at 10:00 AM, August 14.  The Paath will be followed with a brief Kirtan program and expected to conclude around 12:00 PM. The program will be led by Sri Ramanand Dewedi ji.
 
Place: 
Vedic Temple of Virginia
21580 Atlantic Boulevard, Suite # 105, 
Sterling, VA 20166

Phone: 703-723-0033

Please indicate your availability for reading and participation by email at anitakumar88@hotmail.com & 

We will greatly appreciate if you can respond by August 7, 2016. 

Please don't hesitate to contact us, if you have any questions or need help with the direction.
Sunday, August 21, 2016
 Sankatahara Chaturthi
6 pm: Ganesha Abhishekam

Friday, August 19, 2016
 Sri Raghavendra Swamy Puja

Wed, August 24
Sri Krishna Janmastami
7:00 pm: Sri Krishna Abhishekam
 
Sat, Sept 3 2016 
9:30 am 
SAMA UPAKARMA
(changing Sacred Thread )  

Sat, Oct 1, 2016

Bathukamma Celebrations
Gowri Puja (Bathukamma Puja)


Do you Know?

When Pandavas were preparing to go to the forest, Dharmaraja called Draupadi, asked her to sit by his side and said, "Owing to personal differences between us and Kauravas, a situation has arisen by which we must live in the forest for 12 years and one year in incognito. Men will bear the difficulties somehow, why don't you remain here and take care of old Dhritarashtra and Gandhari?" The Pandavas had asked Draupadi to take care of the two main people who were responsible for their having to go to the forest. This is a very great quality in the Pandavas, and we must learn a lesson from this conduct. The moral here is that whatever has to happen in one's life will happen, but to take such inevitable events and use them to promote hatred is incorrect; it is not good human character. The misfortunes, troubles and pain we experience are not arising externally, nor are they God given. They are the result of our own actions. It is only as a result of one's own weakness, that one blames someone else for one's troubles and misfortunes. This is not a right attitude.

***

When Valmiki completed his Ramayana, Narada wasn't impressed. 'It is good, but Hanuman's is better', he said. 'That monkey has written the Ramayana too!', Valmiki didn't like this at all, and wondered whose Ramayana was better. So he set out to find Hanuman.

In Kadali-vana, grove of plantains, he found Ramayana inscribed on seven broad leaves of a banana tree. He read it and found it to be perfect. The most exquisite choice of grammar and vocabulary, metre and melody. He couldn't help himself. He started to cry.

'Is it so bad?' asked Hanuman
'No, it is so good', said Valmiki
'Then why are you crying?' asked Hanuman

'Because after reading your Ramayana no one will read my Ramayana,' replied Valmiki.

Hearing this Hanuman simply tore up the seven banana leaves stating " Now no one will ever read Hanuman's Ramayana.'"

Hanuman said, 'You need your Ramayana more than I need mine. You wrote your Ramayana so that the world remembers Valmiki; I wrote my Ramayana so that I remember Ram.'

At that moment he realized how he had been consumed by the desire for validation through his work.

He had not used the work to liberate himself from the fear of invalidation. He had not appreciated the essence of Ram's tale to unknot his mind. His Ramayana was a product of ambition; but Hanuman's Ramayana was a product of affection.

That's why Hanuman's Ramayana sounded so much better. Valmiki realized that "Greater than Ram..... is the idea of Ram!!!! "
( राम से बड़ा राम का नाम ).

This story tells us that.... There are people like Hanuman who don't want to be famous. They just do their jobs and fulfill their purpose.
So lets not be like Valmiki, thinking our ''Ramayana" is the best.

There are many unsung "Hanumans" too...in our life...
Video link: Guru Purnima Celebrations





5th  Temple Anniversary-Thank You
Message from Pujya Guru Priest Krishnamurthy garu,

Dear Devotees,

Namaskarams!  Congratulations!!!! Thank you for your overwhelming support for the recently concluded 5th Anniversary celebrations.This event was a grand success exceeding all of our expectations. We  thank all the sponsors, generous donors and devotees, priests and volunteers who made this possible. We hope you will continue your support and make your temple acquire land and get the Anajaneya Murthy installed in the near future.

During our 3-day celebrations, we performed many sacred Pujas, Abhishekams, and Homams to all the Murthis in the temple.  We performed Sarva Devata Homams by invoking Agni - the God of Fire with special offerings into the fire while chanting Vedic Mantras. The combination of the powerful energy of the fire along with the Vedic Mantras created an extremely auspicious, purified and vibrant environment which will truly benefit all devotees. Please visit the Temple and get blessings.

Once again, Thank you to everyone who participated in our 5th Temple Anniversary. Your support in services, devotional prayers, and finances has encouraged the Temple in more ways than one. Thank you & May God's Blessings be with you all.
Vedic Temple of Virginia - SRI SATAYANARAYANASWAMY SEVA SANNIDHI