G A N E Š Ã N J A L I

MAHÃ ŠIVARÃTRI PANCHA-DINA MAHOTSAVAM

Thu. February 16th thru Mon. February 20th 2012

THE HINDU TEMPLE SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA, NYŠri Mahã Val labha Ganapati Devasthãnam

45-57 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11355-2202Tel: (718) 460-8484 s Fax: (718) 461-8055

email: webmaster@nyganeshtemple.org s www.nyganeshtemple.org

VOL 35-12 No. 1P ● 8 Issues per year

Šri Šiva - Šri Sadyojãta Moorthy

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ŠRI SADYOJÃTA

Pañcha or five is regarded as a very important number associated withLord Šiva.

Lord Šiva’s moola (main) or Beeja (root) mantra is the five-syllablePanchãkshara - Na-ma-ši-vã-ya. This most sacred mantra occurs at theheart of Šri Rudram, part of Krishna Yajur Veda, and the most importantcollection of mantras for Lord Šiva.

Traditionally, Lord Brahma is designated as the Creator, Lord Vishnu thepreserver and Lord Šiva the Destroyer (to facilitate re-creation). LordŠiva is considered to be a total representative of the Supreme Brahman.He performs Pancha kriya - all the five-fold functions of Creation,Preservation, Dissolution (to facilitate rejuvenation), concealing grace,and showering grace (blessing) on us.

The Šivalinga is an embodiment of the pancha bhutas or the fiveelements this universe is made of, namely, earth, water, fire, air and space.Temples for the various forms of the Šivalinga, representing the panchabhutas are dispersed all around the subcontinent of India.

Panchãnana refers to the five faces or the five aspects of Lord Šiva -each facing in different directions, namely East, West, North, South, orfacing upwards. Each one is distinct and represents different aspects ofLord Šiva.

The Pancha Brahma Mantra contains five stanzas, describing andextolling the virtues of the panchãnana. The first stanza is in praise of theSadyojãta aspect of Lord Šiva. Sadya: (just now) and Jãta:(born), is thefirst aspect to originate, and so, obeisance is offered first to this.

Sadyojãta faces the West. He represents the ši syllable of thePanchãkshara, Creation function of the panchakriyãs, and the earthelement of the pancha bhutas. Sadyojãta also represents Icchã Šaktieagerly fulfilling our wishes, and also empowering us to reign in ourdesires. Sadyojãta also help us check our ego, propelling us towardsspiritual growth culminating in liberation.

Sadyojãtam prapadyãmi sadyojãtãya vai namo nama:bhave bhave nãti bhave bhavasva mãm bhavodbhavãya nama:

(Taittiriya ãranyaka/Mahã Nãrãyana Upanišad of the Krishna Yajur Veda)

I take refuge in the just born. I bow to the just born. Do not let me takebirth after birth. Guide me beyond birth. I bow to the Creator of birth.

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MAHÃ ŠIVARÃTRI CELEBRATIONSTHU. FEBRUARY 16TH - MON. FEBRUARY 20TH 2012

Thursday, February 16th, 20128:00 AM Šri Mahã Ganapati Homam, Navagraha Homam,

Poornãhuti, Hãrati.9:00 AM Šri Šiva Abhishekam, Šri Rudra Trišati Nãma Archana,

Hãrati. 6:00 PM Kalaša Sthãpanam, Pooja, Šri Šiva Moola Mantra

Japam & Homam. 7:30 PM Poornãhuti, Hãrati.

Friday, February 17th, 2012 8:00 AM Šri Šiva Moola Mantra Japam & Homam.9:00 AM Šri Šiva Abhishekam, Šri Rudra Trišati Nãma Archana. 9:30 AM Poornãhuti, Hãrati. 5:00 PM Šri Šiva Moola Mantra Japam & Homam.6:00 PM Šri Rudra Kramãrchana.7:30 PM Poornãhuti, Hãrati.

Saturday, February 18th, 2012 - Šani Mahã Pradosham8:00 AM Šri Šiva Moola Mantra Japam & Homam. 9:00 AM Šri Šiva Abhishekam, Šri Rudra Trišati Nãma Archana. 9:30 AM Poornãhuti, Hãrati.

10:00 AM Mahãnyãsam followed by Rudra Japam. 5:30 PM Šri Šiva Moola Mantra Japam & Homam.6:00 PM Šri Šiva & Nandikešwara Abhishekam, Rudra Japam

Poorthi, Pooja.7:30 PM Poornãhuti, Hãrati.

Thursday, February 16th - Sunday. February 19th, 2012 Scheduled Šri Šiva Abhishekam will be at 9:00 AM

instead of 8:15 AM

Thursday, February 16th, 2012 Scheduled Šri Maha Ganapati Homam will be at 8:00 AM

instead of 8:15 AM

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THE GLORY OF BILVA

India was a land of dense forests filled with an abundant variety ofmedicinal plants bursting with naturally occurring healingingredients. Ayurveda taps into these medicinal properties to help usstay well, as well as prevent, control and cure various ailments, andhelp our body attain a healthy balance naturally. The Bilva, bael,Wood or Stone Apple, or Aegle marmelos is such a tree, filled withpotent ingredients from its roots to its leaves. Each part has multipleuses. In deference, the ancient sages deemed them as sacred. Theauthoritative Vedas and the vividly descriptive purãnãs validate andreiterate their importance, increasing our awareness of them.

The Bilva leaves are auspicious for offering to Lord Šiva. Thepurãnãs emphatically declare that those who worship the Šivalingaunder the tree, especially on the most auspicious Šivarãtri, wouldbecome a purified soul. Bilvãshtakam (eight šlokas) and theBilvãshtottara (108 šlokas) are two popular collections of šlokashighlighting the superior benefits obtainable when offering even asingle trifoliate Bilva dalam (leaf) to Lord Šiva . The following šlokais #85 of the Bilvãshtottara.

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MAHÃ ŠIVARÃTRI DAYSunday, February 19th, 2012

8:00 AM Šri Šiva Moola Mantra Japam & Homam, Poornãhuti, Hãrati.

9:00 AM Šri Šiva Abhishekam, Šri Rudra Trišati NãmaArchana, Hãrati.

THE ALL-NIGHT VIGIL

PHASE I - 4:00 PM4:00 PM MAHÃNYÃSAM5:00 PM EKÃDAŠAVÃRA RUDRÃBHISHEKAM STARTS,

Special Alankãram, Pooja, Hãrati.7:30 PM Šri Pãrvati Abhishekam, Pooja, Hãrati.

PHASE II - 10:30 PM**Šri Bilvasamarpana Šloka Japam, Šri Šiva Abhishekam, Special Alankãram, Šri Rudra Trišati Nãma Archana, Hãrati.

PHASE III - 1:00 AM (on Feb. 20th)*Šri Panchãkshara Mantra Japam, Šri Šiva Abhishekam,Special Alankãram, Bilva Ashtottara Šata Nãma Archana, Hãrati.

PHASE IV - 3:30 AM (on Feb. 20th)Šri Šiva Abhishekam, Special Alankãram, Pooja, Šri Nandikešwara Abhishekam, Hãrati.

PLEASE NOTE**Šri Bilvasamarpana Šloka Japam will be chanted during Abhishekem in Phase II.

Only those who attend the practice sessions may participate in the Japam.

*Šri Panchãkshara Mantra Japam will be chanted during Abhishekamin Phase III. ALL ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE.

Sunday, Febraury 19th, 2012- Scheduled Šri Durga Abhishekam will be at 9:00 AM instead of 4:30 PM

- Scheduled Mahã Lakshmi Utsava Moorthy Abhishekam will be at 9:00 AM instead of 6:00 PM

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Monday, February 20th, 2012

5:00 PM Šri Šiva Abhishekam, Šri Rudra TrišatiNãma Archana, Hãrati.

7:15 PM ŠRI ŠIVA-ŠRI PÃRVATI KALYÃNAMAHOTSAVAM, Hãrati, Prasãdam.

NEXT GANEŠÃNJALI

Ø YUGÃDI Ø VASANTA NAVARÃTRI

Ø SATYANÃRÃYANA KALYÃNA UTSAVAM

Scheduled Šri Šiva Abhishekam will be at 5:00 PM instead of 7:15 PM

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TARIFF FOR SERVICES

Ø All 5 Days Celebrations $501.00

Ø Šri Šiva Moola Mantra Homam (Single Session) $ 31.00

Ø Šri Šiva Moola Mantra Homam (All Sessions) $101.00

Ø All 4 Phases – Abhishekam $201.00

Ø Ekãdašavãra Rudrãbhishekam (PHASE I) $101.00

Ø PHASE II or IV Abhishekam $ 51.00

Ø PHASE III Abhishekam $ 75.00

Ø All 4 Phases – Alankãram $151.00

Ø EACH PHASE (I, II, III, IV) Alankãram $ 51.00

Ø Šri Pãrvati Abhishekam $ 51.00

Ø Šri Bilva Samarpana Šloka Japam $ 21.00

Ø Šri Panchãkshara Mantra Japam $ 21.00

Ø Nandikešwara Abhishekam $ 31.00

Ø Bilvãshtottarašatanãma / Trišatinãma Archana $ 11.00

Ø Šri Rudra Kramãrchana $ 11.00

Ø Šri Šiva - Pãrvati Kalyãna Utsavam $ 31.00

Sponsorship of Pooja Sãmagri &Oil for Deepas on a regular basisFor one or more of the Deities.(Oil - approx. $40 per month per Deity)

(Pooja Sãmagri - Approx. $501 per Deity per month)

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TRAVEL DIRECTIONS TO THE TEMPLE

By Automobile: From Manhattan, take Midtown

Tunnel to Long Island Expressway. Exit at Kissena Blvd.

(Exit No. 24), and turn left onto Kissena Blvd. travel

approximately 1 mile, then turn right onto Holly Ave.

Travel three blocks and turn left onto Bowne St . You will

see the Temple entrance on your right. From Long

Island, take Long Island Expressway (I-495 WEST) and

exit at Kissena Blvd. (Exit No. 24). At second traffic light

turn right on Kissena Blvd. Once on Kissena Blvd. travel

approximately 1 mile, then turn right onto Holly Ave.

Proceed three blocks and turn left onto Bowne Street. You

will see the Temple on your right. If you are coming from

areas other than Manhattan or Long Island, take any

one of the highways most convenient to you - The Belt

Parkway, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway or Grand Central

Parkway - and then get on Long Island Expressway. From

there, follow directions given above.

By Public Transportation: Take IRT Flushing Line

(No. 7) train from Times Square and get off at the last

stop - Main Street, Flushing. Take Q27 Bus from Main

Street, and it will go on Kissena Blvd., and turn left onto

Holly Ave. Get off at the 2nd stop just before Bowne

Street. Walk a few yards on Holly Ave. and you will see the

Temple to your left. The bus ride is about five to ten

minutes.

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