OM NAMO BHAGAVATE PANDURANGAYA

BALAJI VANI Volume 10, Issue 4 April, 2016

Rama Darbar at Balaji Temple.

VĀGĀDI PAÑCA ŚRAVAṆĀDI PAÑCA PRĀṆĀDI PAÑCĀBHRAMUKHĀNI PAÑCA | BUDDHYĀDYAVIDYĀPI CA KĀMAKARMAṆĪ PURYAṢṬAKAṂ

SŪKṢMAŚARĪRAMĀHUḤ ||

The five organs of action such as speech etc., the five organs of knowledge beginning with the ear, the group of five Prāṇas, Buddhi and the rest together with Nescience, desire and action – these eight "cities" make up what is called the subtle body.

IDAṂ ŚARĪRAṂ ŚṚṆU SŪKṢMASAṂJÑITAṂ LIṄGAṂ TVAPAÑCĪKṚTASAṂBHAVAM |

SAVĀSANAṂ KARMAPHALĀNUBHĀVAKAṂ SVĀJÑĀNATO'NĀDIRUPĀDHIRĀTMANAḤ ||

Listen – this subtle body, called also Liṅga body, is produced out of the elements before their subdividing and combining with each other, is possessed of desires and causes the soul to experience the fruits of its actions. It is a beginningless superimposition on the soul brought on by its own ignorance.

Swamiji at ahilya bai shiv mandir

HARI OM

In Month of March Maha Sihvaratri and holi poornima was

celebrated. Rudrabhishekam, bilva stotram are performed on the

occation of sihavratri. Devotees performed abhisheka for lord shiva

on maha shivaratri. On holi poornima day, satyanarayana swami

Pooja and holi ka dahan performed by devotees.

Shivaratri

According to Shiva Purana, once Brahma and Vishnu were arguing

over who was the superior among themselves. Horrified at the

intensity of the argument, the other gods asked Shiva to intervene.

To make them realize, Shiva assumed the form of a huge column of

fire in the form of shiva linga in between Brahma and Vishnu. They

decided to find end of shiva linga to establish supremacy over the

other. Brahma assumed the form of a swan and went upwards and

Vishnu as Varaha went downwards. But light has no limit and

though they searched for thousands of miles, neither could find the

end. On his journey upwards, Brahma came across a Ketaki flower

wafting down slowly. When asked where she had come from, the

Ketaki replied that she had been placed at the top of the fiery column

as an offering. Unable to find the uppermost limit, Brahma decided

to end his search and take the flower as a witness. Vishnu not able to

find end came back.

At this, the angry Shiva revealed his true form. He punished Brahma

for telling a lie, and cursed him that no one would ever pray to him.

The Ketaki flower too was banned from being used as an offering for

any worship, as she had testified falsely. Since it was on the 14th day

in the dark half of the month of Phalguna that Shiva first manifested

himself in the form of a Linga, the day is especially auspicious and is

celebrated as Mahashivaratri. Worshipping Shiva on this day is

believed to bestow one with happiness and prosperity.

Holi

The word "Holi" originates from "Holika", the evil sister of the

demon king Hiranyakashipa. Hiranyakashipa's son Prahlada was

devoted to Lord Vishnu.This infuriated Hiranyakashipu. He

subjected Prahlada to cruel punishments, none of which affected the

boy. Finally, Holika, Prahlada's evil aunt, tricked him into sitting on

a pyre with her. Holika was wearing a cloak that made her immune

to injury from fire, while Prahlada was not. As the fire roared, the

cloak flew from Holika and encased Prahlada,who survived while

Holika burned.

Holi is a spring festival also called as festival of colors.

Holi celebrations start on the night before Holi with a Holika bonfire

where people gather, do religious rituals in front of the bonfire, and

pray that their internal ego should be destroyed as the bonfire starts.

The next morning Holi is celebrated. People play, chase and color

each other with dry powder and colored water.

Swami Narayananda and Nityananda swami talked about Hoil ka

Poornima.

MONTHLY EVENTS

April 2nd, Saturday

Sundara Khanda Hanuman Chalisa & Abhishekam 5:00 PM Hindustani Classical concert by Rutul Pathak 4.00 PM-6.30 PM April 4th, Monday

Pradosham shiva Abhishekam 5:30 PM April 7th Thursday

Yugadi, Ganesha Pooja 8:00 AM April 15th Friday

Sri Rama Navami Homa 10:00 AM April 16th Saturday

Sri Rama Prarivar Abhishekam 6:00 PM April 17th Monday

S Ekadasi, Sri Panduranga Abhishekam 6:00 PM April 19th Tuesday

Pradosham Shiva Abhishekam 5:30 PM April 21st Thursday

Sri Satyanarayana Swami Pooja 6:30 PM April 24th Saturday

Vasavi Abhishekam 11:00 AM April 25th Monday

Sankata Hara Chathurthi Ganesha Abhishekam 7:00 PM April 29th Friday

Maha lakshmi Abhishekam 6:30 PM April 30th Saturday

Balaji Abhishekam 5:00 PM

REGULAR ACTIVITIES

TEMPLE OPEN WEEKDAYS 7:30 AM TO 1:00 PM & 4:00 PM to 8.30 PM

WEEKENDS SAT-SUN 7:30 AM to 8:30 PM

Daily Puja & Aarti Morning 8:00 AM Afternoon 12:30 PM Evening 8:00 PM Every Monday Rudrabhishekam (Shiva Puja) 6:00 PM Every Tuesday Hanumanji Puja 6:00 PM Every Wednesday Vishnu Stotram 6:00 PM Every Thursday Sri Sai Bhajans 7:30 PM Every Friday Santoshi Mata Puja 7:00 PM Lakshmi Puja, Lalitha Stotram & Mahaprasadam Every Saturday Sri Venkateshwara Suprabhatam Seva 8:00 AM & Vishnu Stotram Every Sunday Yoga & Children’s class by Pushpa Dhar 9:30 AM Bhajans, Puja & Aarti 7:00 PM Every Sankasthahara Chaturthi Sri Ganesha Puja 7:00 PM Every Purnima Sri Satyanarayana Puja 6:30 PM Every Amavasya Siva Pooja check website for time Third Thursday of every month Vedic Anna Dana for India

OUR PURPOSE The purpose of Balaji Temple is to form a Hindu Temple and Vedic Cultural Center on the Peninsula in the heart of Silicon Valley where people can come together to study and worship, regardless of our different backgrounds. Our aim is to promote the feeling of universal love and unity among all people. We will share the ancient wisdom of the Vedas and the Upanishads (sacred texts of India) with individuals of all ages and backgrounds. We will celebrate the One Truth behind all religions: that God is One and in all of us. Our worship services are free and open to all who wish to celebrate with us. All are welcome. Temple expansion work at 5004 N. First Street, P.O. Box 1146, San Jose, CA 95002 will begin soon. Please donate generously to expedite this good cause.

BALAJI MATHA BOARD MEMBERS

President Sri N. Swamiji (408) 203-1036

Secretary Krishna S (408) 718-3655

Treasurer Babu. D (408) 242-8278

Swamiji opened Hari Fitness in Hassan.

BALAJI TEMPLE,

5004 N. 1st Street ,

San Jose, CA 95002

(408) 203-1036 / (408) 956-9050

Email: balajitemple1@gmail.com

http://www.balajitemple.net

http://www.balajimatha.org

Non-Profit Organization.