Vedic Temple: March events
3/26/2016 7:30 PM
Greater Atlanta Vedic Temple: March events
Rishi Bodhotsav - Shivratri
And
Rishi Janmotsav Celebrations
Elocution (Speech) competition
on Sunday March 6th, 2016
from 11:15am- 12:30pm.
All students from age 6 years+ are invited to participate.
Please pick any one of the following topics for your speech:
· Upbringing in multicultural society
Importance of truth in life
Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati and his revolutionary views
9th principal of Arya Samaj - A basis for a harmonious and progressive society
Who is real Shiva
Longevity and vegetarianism
Participants will be judged on content, speech delivery, and overall presentation. The decision of the judges will be final. Speech can be in English, Hindi, or mix of both and should be about 3-5 minutes. One can use power points, videos etc as part of the speech/presentation. Whether memorized or not will not be a criteria in the judgement.
Participants will be divided into 2 categories: 6 – 11 years and 11+
An entry fee of $5 per participant is requested to be used towards prizes. Each participant will be awarded a certificate of honor and 2 winners from each category will be awarded prizes. Each participant will get 20 hours volunteering credit certificate as well.
Participants are encouraged to prepare the speech on their own but can have it reviewed and corrected by others.
Please feel free to use the Internet or books to prepare. Some recommended sites with authentic information are:
www.agniveer.com
www.aryasamaj.org
http://www.ved-yog.com/
http://aryamantavya.in/
For any additional help you can write to atlantavedictemple@gmail.
Please complete the registration form and send with your entry fee to the following address (or email):
Greater Atlanta Vedic Temple
492 Harmony Grove Rd, Lilburn GA 30047
Videos of previous years' elocution competition can be seen at
https://www.youtube.com/
from 11:15am- 12:30pm.
All students from age 6 years+ are invited to participate.
Please pick any one of the following topics for your speech:
· Upbringing in multicultural society
Importance of truth in life
Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati and his revolutionary views
9th principal of Arya Samaj - A basis for a harmonious and progressive society
Who is real Shiva
Longevity and vegetarianism
Participants will be judged on content, speech delivery, and overall presentation. The decision of the judges will be final. Speech can be in English, Hindi, or mix of both and should be about 3-5 minutes. One can use power points, videos etc as part of the speech/presentation. Whether memorized or not will not be a criteria in the judgement.
Participants will be divided into 2 categories: 6 – 11 years and 11+
An entry fee of $5 per participant is requested to be used towards prizes. Each participant will be awarded a certificate of honor and 2 winners from each category will be awarded prizes. Each participant will get 20 hours volunteering credit certificate as well.
Participants are encouraged to prepare the speech on their own but can have it reviewed and corrected by others.
Please feel free to use the Internet or books to prepare. Some recommended sites with authentic information are:
www.agniveer.com
www.aryasamaj.org
http://www.ved-yog.com/
http://aryamantavya.in/
For any additional help you can write to atlantavedictemple@gmail.
Please complete the registration form and send with your entry fee to the following address (or email):
Greater Atlanta Vedic Temple
492 Harmony Grove Rd, Lilburn GA 30047
Videos of previous years' elocution competition can be seen at
https://www.youtube.com/
REPORT: on the observance of Shivratri-Rishi Bodhotsav and Maharshi Dayanand's Birthday. Students presented very informative, thoughtful and enlightening speeches.
Participants were divided in two groups, 6-11 Years and 11+ years.
In group one, Ruchita Dhaka won the first prize while Suveer Giri and Renee Somal were joint second.
In group two, Havishkrit Arya won the first prize and Shrutidhara Mishra won the second position.
Shri Dhiru Bhai Shah, Shri Dhirendra Sharma, Shrimati Pramila Sharma and Shri Avinash C. Mehta were the judges for the event.
The video recordings of all the speeches can be viewed at below link:
Participants were divided in two groups, 6-11 Years and 11+ years.
In group one, Ruchita Dhaka won the first prize while Suveer Giri and Renee Somal were joint second.
In group two, Havishkrit Arya won the first prize and Shrutidhara Mishra won the second position.
Shri Dhiru Bhai Shah, Shri Dhirendra Sharma, Shrimati Pramila Sharma and Shri Avinash C. Mehta were the judges for the event.
The video recordings of all the speeches can be viewed at below link:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9gFxnqjMZLZtyTh352VCQg
Vegetarianism and Longevity - Priyanka Menon
Who is true Shiva - Sudeep Giri
Vegetarianism and Longevity - Havishkrit Arya
Harmonious and Progressive Society - Arya Samaj Principle 9 - Shrutidhara Mishra
Vegetarianism and Longevity - Devika Menon
Importance of Truth in life - Suveer Giri
Importance of truth in life - Ruchita Dhaka
Maharshi Dayanand and his revolutionary views - Presha Deshwal
Vegetarianism and Longevity - Vedarsh Mishra
Maharshi Dayanand and his revolutionary views - Renee Somal
Upbringing in multicultural society - Aditya Arora
Importance of truth in life - Sanskriti Mishra
Pandit Sahadeo Hariprasad, one of the original founders of Arya Samaj Florida, has been recognized across the U.S. and West Indies for his unmatched ability to convey the wisdom of the ancient Hindu Scriptures in easy to understand terms and examples that appeal to individuals of all ages, races, religions and ethnicities. Pandit Hariprasad also holds a Doctorate degree from Florida International University. Shuvraatri is regarded as a landmark event in the history of the Arya Samaj because it heralds the awakening in Rishi Dayanand's mind, when he was a young teenager, that god truly cannot exist or be represented in the form of an idol or statue. This led him to begin a personal quest, lasting nearly three decades, for knowledge revealing the true nature of god (Please see article at the end of this message for detailed explanation).Vegetarianism and Longevity - Priyanka Menon
Who is true Shiva - Sudeep Giri
Vegetarianism and Longevity - Havishkrit Arya
Harmonious and Progressive Society - Arya Samaj Principle 9 - Shrutidhara Mishra
Vegetarianism and Longevity - Devika Menon
Importance of Truth in life - Suveer Giri
Importance of truth in life - Ruchita Dhaka
Maharshi Dayanand and his revolutionary views - Presha Deshwal
Vegetarianism and Longevity - Vedarsh Mishra
Maharshi Dayanand and his revolutionary views - Renee Somal
Upbringing in multicultural society - Aditya Arora
Importance of truth in life - Sanskriti Mishra
The celebration will start with Agnihotra, followed by discourse on the topic "The significance of Shivratri" by Dr. Sahadev Hariprasad. There will be lunch prasad at the end of the program.
Everyone is cordially invited. If you want to know what is real Shiva, this is the day to come to the temple and listen to the discourse of our Acharya.
Other then that, here is a summary of other upcoming (and ongoing events @ Vedic Temple).For advertising through the Vedic Temple's flyers for these events, Please contact us at vedictemple@vedictemple.org.
- Holi celebration on 26th and 27th March 2016 (Holika Dahan & Holi Milan)
- Annual Mahayajnya on April 24th.
- Services for Youth - Every first Sunday of the Month - 10.30 AM
- Priest services to conduct rituals/sacraments in Vedic way, are available by appointment. Please contact through email or call us.
- Yog, Pranayam & Aasan sessions on every Saturday, 8.30 AM - 10 AM by Acharya VedSharmi (This is very helpful in preventing diseases & keeping good health, A must attend session for people of any age)
- Hindi classes every 2nd and 4th Sunday at 10 AM.
We request you to make a note of these events, plan to participate in them and be benefited with the Satsung (Good Company) of these Vedic Scholars.
Also, The donations to the temple are Tax exempt. If you want to help the temple for continuing its activities, please do donate generously. You can write the check for "Greater Atlanta Vedic Temple" and mail to 492, Harmony Grove RD Lilburn GA 30047. Help us to serve the community better.
Significance of Shivratri
By Acharya Dr. Umesh Yadav
Shivratri is a great festival in Hindu faith. It is said that Lord Shiva was married to the daughter of Daksh Parvati. Lord Shiva was a great person who was worshipped by the people as God, creator, sustainer and destroyer of the universe. In Shiv Puran you can find detail about this. People who believe in idol worship use to worship Lord Shiva and offer Bel-patra, Milk, Chandan, flowers, some sweets etc. because Lord Shiva is considered a hot tempered and He needs to be cooled. The devotees think that Lord Shiva will be pleased with these things. This is why they used to put these things on his statue. Actually, the people use to worship the Shiva-ling which is the symbolic of creation of the universe. We do not know that Lord Shiva was a historical person or not but according to Vedas, the word Shiva is synonym for God. There are so many words which have been used for Shiva in puranas, for example - Rudra, Ambikapati, Shankar, Mahapati, Shambhu, Swayambhu,Mayobhu,Mayaskar,
From the Vedic thought, we think this whole creation has come out with the conjugative help of God & Nature i.e. Prakriti. Lord Shiva is considered as God and Parwati is like Prakriti. So we can say, in the beginning, God married Prakriti – i.e. nature, and exposed the whole creation as Mahat, Ahankar, Tanmatras, Panchbhuta etc. A formula comes in Indian philosophy – Satva Rajas Tamasam Samyaavastha Prakriti, Prakriter Mahan Mahato Ahankar Ahankaraat Tanmaatraani Tebhyah Panch Bhutani…………. Iti (etc) .It means creation has been exposed by God i.e. Shiva divine power in this way from Prakriti.
On the Shivratri festival, we have to know who real Shiva is. Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati came to know through Vedas who real Shiva is and he taught us about this. The event happened with Dayanand on Shivratri in the Shiva temple which is related to a mouse climbing on the statue and eating all Prasad offered by the devotees, that you all know. That was an inspiring moment for him and at that very moment he determined to know about the real Shiva and then went out in the search of real Shiva. He found the real Shiva through Vedas as real Shiva is god who is without birth and death, out of body and any shape, Omnipresent almighty, creator, sustainer, protector, and destroyer of the universe as well.
There are so many mantras have come for its explanation. We can see here one two or three of them as:-
1. Namah shambhavaya cha myobhavaya cha, namashankaraya cha, mayaskaraya cha namah Shivaya cha Shiva taraya cha.
We bow to self existent and bestower of all pleasures and happiness. We bow to benefactor of all and giver of happiness to all and we bow to that Shiva who is the greatest of the great.
2. Trayusham jamadhagni kashya psya trayusham. Yaddeveshu trayusham tanno astu trayusham
There is prayer to live in life and enjoy that up to 300 autumns. God is Jamadhagni who is enlightening power who shows the path of 300 years of life to a human being. It can be possible through Yoga. The same life we should get. If the system of life will be maintained in accordance with the knowledge of Vedas, a man can achieve 300 years of life as yogi/saints/sages used to have.
3. Trayambhakam yajamahe sungandhim pushti vardhanam urvarukmiva bandhanan mrityormukhsiya maamrtitat
We worship God who has three eyes of knowledge as (gyaan, karma, upasana) Knowledge, action and meditation. God has provided us the system of knowledge, action and meditation through Rig veda, Yajurveda and Samveda and has also given the scientific knowledge through Atharvaveda. This is also a part of knowledge so there are mainly three eyes of knowledge that is Rig, Yajuh and Sam Veda . So we worship him who increases our fame i.e. smell of perfect action and satisfaction of perfect action done from inside. He alone develops our fame after good action done and also satisfies us with good prosperity and happiness after good deeds done. Here also, is a good preaching that we need to leave this worldly relation but not from salvation. like a watermelon fruit. The water melon fruit gets separated from its branches automatically when that gets fully ripen. So, thus we ought to understand our position in the world and lead our lives.
Here we came to know that we always live in the divine shelter whether in worldly life or Emancipated life. We never become separated from God’s shelter. God is always with us. Only we need to understand that rightly. This is why we need to go to the shelter of Vedas. There alone we will find the true knowledge and then we would conquer our Lives.
Shivratri is a great festival in Hindu faith. It is said that Lord Shiva was married to the daughter of Daksh Parvati. Lord Shiva was a great person who was worshipped by the people as God, creator, sustainer and destroyer of the universe. In Shiv Puran you can find detail about this. People who believe in idol worship use to worship Lord Shiva and offer Bel-patra, Milk, Chandan, flowers, some sweets etc. because Lord Shiva is considered a hot tempered and He needs to be cooled. The devotees think that Lord Shiva will be pleased with these things. This is why they used to put these things on his statue. Actually, the people use to worship the Shiva-ling which is the symbolic of creation of the universe. We do not know that Lord Shiva was a historical person or not but according to Vedas, the word Shiva is synonym for God. There are so many words which have been used for Shiva in puranas, for example - Rudra, Ambikapati, Shankar, Mahapati, Shambhu, Swayambhu,Mayobhu,Mayaskar,
From the Vedic thought, we think this whole creation has come out with the conjugative help of God & Nature i.e. Prakriti. Lord Shiva is considered as God and Parwati is like Prakriti. So we can say, in the beginning, God married Prakriti – i.e. nature, and exposed the whole creation as Mahat, Ahankar, Tanmatras, Panchbhuta etc. A formula comes in Indian philosophy – Satva Rajas Tamasam Samyaavastha Prakriti, Prakriter Mahan Mahato Ahankar Ahankaraat Tanmaatraani Tebhyah Panch Bhutani…………. Iti (etc) .It means creation has been exposed by God i.e. Shiva divine power in this way from Prakriti.
On the Shivratri festival, we have to know who real Shiva is. Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati came to know through Vedas who real Shiva is and he taught us about this. The event happened with Dayanand on Shivratri in the Shiva temple which is related to a mouse climbing on the statue and eating all Prasad offered by the devotees, that you all know. That was an inspiring moment for him and at that very moment he determined to know about the real Shiva and then went out in the search of real Shiva. He found the real Shiva through Vedas as real Shiva is god who is without birth and death, out of body and any shape, Omnipresent almighty, creator, sustainer, protector, and destroyer of the universe as well.
There are so many mantras have come for its explanation. We can see here one two or three of them as:-
1. Namah shambhavaya cha myobhavaya cha, namashankaraya cha, mayaskaraya cha namah Shivaya cha Shiva taraya cha.
We bow to self existent and bestower of all pleasures and happiness. We bow to benefactor of all and giver of happiness to all and we bow to that Shiva who is the greatest of the great.
2. Trayusham jamadhagni kashya psya trayusham. Yaddeveshu trayusham tanno astu trayusham
There is prayer to live in life and enjoy that up to 300 autumns. God is Jamadhagni who is enlightening power who shows the path of 300 years of life to a human being. It can be possible through Yoga. The same life we should get. If the system of life will be maintained in accordance with the knowledge of Vedas, a man can achieve 300 years of life as yogi/saints/sages used to have.
3. Trayambhakam yajamahe sungandhim pushti vardhanam urvarukmiva bandhanan mrityormukhsiya maamrtitat
We worship God who has three eyes of knowledge as (gyaan, karma, upasana) Knowledge, action and meditation. God has provided us the system of knowledge, action and meditation through Rig veda, Yajurveda and Samveda and has also given the scientific knowledge through Atharvaveda. This is also a part of knowledge so there are mainly three eyes of knowledge that is Rig, Yajuh and Sam Veda . So we worship him who increases our fame i.e. smell of perfect action and satisfaction of perfect action done from inside. He alone develops our fame after good action done and also satisfies us with good prosperity and happiness after good deeds done. Here also, is a good preaching that we need to leave this worldly relation but not from salvation. like a watermelon fruit. The water melon fruit gets separated from its branches automatically when that gets fully ripen. So, thus we ought to understand our position in the world and lead our lives.
Here we came to know that we always live in the divine shelter whether in worldly life or Emancipated life. We never become separated from God’s shelter. God is always with us. Only we need to understand that rightly. This is why we need to go to the shelter of Vedas. There alone we will find the true knowledge and then we would conquer our Lives.
Holika Dahan (Holi Burning/Campfire) : Saturday 26th March 2016, 7.30 PM
Holi Pooja and Holi with colors : Sunday 27th March 2016, 11.00 AM
Venue: 492 Harmony Grove Rd, Lilburn, GA 30047.
Contact: Acharya Ji 770-381-3662, Vishrut 404-954-0174, www.vedictemple.org, facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/atlantavedictemple, vedictemple.org
