A GREAT NEWS TO ALL MURUGAN DEVOTEES!

The Board of Trustees of Murugan Temple of North America proudly announces that our temple will celebrate the Rajagopuram Kumbhabishekam on an auspicious day

in 2016.

We look forward to sharing the exact dates of the Rajagopuram Kumbhabishekam with all our devotees as soon as we have the word from the Sivacharyas and Sri Muthiah Sthapathy who have been associated with our temple since the inception. It is a tradition to conduct a spiritual and religious event of this significance in Utharayana Punya Kaalam (from Makara Raasi to Karkataka Raasi, for a period of six months starting around Jan 15 through about 15 July of the year). We sincerely hope that you will continue to contribute generously to complete the MTNA Rajagopuram and Temple Expansion Project.

May Lord Murugan Bless us all! MTNA Trustees

April June 2015

NEWSLETTER

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Murugan Temple of North America 6300, Princess Garden Parkway, Lanham, MD 20706, USA

PANGUNI UTHIRAM AND

THIRUPPARANKUNDRAM THIRUMANA VIZHA GRAND CELEBRATION SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2015

See Page 3 for details

MURUGAN TEMPLE OF NORTH AMERICA

There will be seven gold-plated

Kalasams on top of the tower,

which is under construction. One

of them is displayed in the

picture.

Devotees are urged to sponsor

Kalasams, donating $5001 for

each one. Please contact the

temple for details.

THE RAJAGOPURAM PROJECT

Silpis have completed eight decorative pillars in the prayer hall and the interior part of the brick work of the Rajagopuram. Plastering of the walls will be the next step. As outside temperature is on the rise, the artisans will resume the painstaking architectural work on

the Rajagopuram. A number of statuettes to be installed on the Rajagopuram has already been created during the winter months.

We are eagerly awaiting the permit for Phase II work to begin soon.

PLEASE DONATE GENEROUSLY TO THE PROJECT

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____________________________ PLEASE DONATE GENEROUSLY TO THE MTNA

RAJAGOPURAM AND TEMPLE EXPANSION PROJECT

Lord Murugan devotees are captivated by the steady progress of the Rajagopuram project. This is a project of the devotees, by the devotees

and for the devotees. The Fundraising Team is pleased with the re-sponse thus far from the devotees in terms of the donations and

pledges so far. But, the project calls for steady stream of more funds to move forward. Please contact the temple manager at 301-552-4889 to

see about the mode of donating to the project.

PLEASE DONATE TODAY!

Thai Poosam and

Palani Peruvizha At

Murugan Temple of North America Murugan devotees celebrated the Thaipoosam and Palani PeruVizha on February 7, 2015. The celebration included Ganapathy abhishekam, palkudam, kavadi, sangu abishekam and Murugan Thirukkalayanam. Dr. Natesa Janakiraman presented a short speech on the significance of

Palani. To sing the praise of Lord Murugan, a bhajan and music concert were organized. These praises echoed from Washington Murugan to Palani Murugan and beyond to Batang Cave Murugan. The event was organized mainly

by Murugan devotees of Malaysia.

The significance of Thaipoosam: The word Thai Poosam comes from the Tamil month Thai and the name of a star, Poosam. This particu-lar star is at its highest point during the festival. This is the day, Parvathi

gave VEL (spear) to Muruga to destroy demons. According to another story, Lord Siva recited a manthra to Parvathy which was eavesdropped by Murugan. Parvathy did not like this act of Murugan. So, Parvathy laid a curse on him. To recover from the curse Murugan offered hard penance at Thirupparankundram. On Thai Poosam day, Siva and Parvathy appeared in front of Murugan and re-moved the curse. Irrespective of which story you believe, Thai Poosam is a day to praise the Lord Murugan. Lifting Kavadi on Thai Poosam has a significance too. The story of lifting Kavadi is associated with Agathiar and Idumban. Lord Murugan tested Idumbans devotion towards his Guru Agathiar. Idumban carried two hills (Sivagiri and Sakthigiri) to demonstrate his devotion. While Idumban was able to lift the two hills, but he could not pick up a small child who was standing next to him. After a long deliberation, Idumban realized that the little child was Lord Murugan. The Kavadi that we take these days symbolizes the devotees burden like the two hills carried by Idumban. Lifting Kavadi with Lord Murugan in thoughts, is believed that the burden in the life of a devotees is lessened by Murugan. MTNA devotees followed this same ritual in Washington with loud chorus of AROHARA. Vetrivel Muruganukku Arohara!

RELIGIOUS EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS AT MTNA

APRIL JUNE 2015 Please check the details in the 2015 MTNA calendar

or visit our website: www.murugantemple.org Information is available with the Temple manager at:

301-552-4889

APRIL 2015 Panguni Uthiram Friday, April 3 Sponsorship: $101 Panguni Uthiram and Thirupparankundram ThirumaNavizha Celebration Saturday, April 4 Sponsorship: $151 Ekadasa Rudra Homam Saturday, April 11

Sponsorship: $101 Tamil New Years Day (Manmatha Year)/Vishu Celebration Tuesday, April 14: Sponsorship: $125 MAY 2015 Kumbhabishekam Anniversary Day 1 Friday, May 22 All day Sponsorship: $125 Kumbhabishekam Anniversary Day 2 Saturday, May 23 All day Sponsorship: $151 Sponsorship for both days: $251 JUNE 2015 Vaikasi Visakam day Monday, June1- Sponsorship: $101 Vaikasi Visakam and Pazhamuthircholai Tamizh Vizha Celebration Saturday, June 6Sponsorship: $151

2014 Tax Information for MTNA donors Your year-end contributions letter can obtained from our temple

website www.murugantemple.org. This is a secure website. Please register if not already done so. Click Register and then

Help adjacent to the Devotee ID field. When you get your devotee ID, it is just a simple step to access the information for your tax

purposes.

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Silpis designed and created figures to be installed on the Rajagopuram

UPCOMING CULTURAL EVENT AT MTNA

MURUGAN TEMPLEOF NORTH AMERICA SPONSORS AN EXCITING DANCE EVENT

PRESENTED BY RAGAMALIKA

SANGEETH NATAK UTSAV

SATURDAY, MAY 9 & SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2015 10 am 7 pm , MTNA AUDITORIUM

Contact Mr. Sivakumar Kareesan at MTNA for details

4

Murugan Temple

of North America

6300 Princess Garden Parkway, Lanham MD 20706, USA

www.murugantemple.org

301-552-4889

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Devotees are the foundation of any temple. Volunteers are the pillars. MTNA needs more volun-teers. We cordially invite the devotees to volunteer a few hours a month to help on various occa-

sions. Please join the dedicated team of volunteers to show y our devotion to Lord Murugan. Please contact the Chair of the Volunteer Committee, Mr. Venkataramanan at

tvenkataramanan@gmail.com or the temple manager at 301-552-4889. Email contact: man-agermtna@gmail.com.

You can find on the Face Book us at https://www.facebook.com/MuruganTempleNorthAmerica

The Murugan Temple of North America is a traditional Hindu Temple. It has a floor area of 7000 sq. ft with main sannidhi for Murugan (Karthikeya) and separate sannidhi for each of the other deities: Vinayaka (Ganesha), Durgai Amman, Siva, Meenakshi Amman and Palani Andavar. Navagrahas are featured as well. Visit our web site: www.murugantemple.org

TEMPLE HOURS: Monday Friday 9 am 12 noon & 5 pm - 9 pm;

Saturday, Sunday, & Holidays 9 am 9 pm.

TEMPLE SERVICES: MTNA Priests are available to perform religious

ceremonies for devotees. Please call the Temple Manager to discuss your

needs and make prior arrangements for ceremonies at the Temple or in your

home. Also, ask for information about local hotels for your short stay during

visit to the temple.

AUDITORIUM: The Temples auditorium capable of seating about 200 people

in the basement is available for rent by Devotees. The Temple has also ample

parking space. Please call the Temple Manager at 301 552-4889 for

reservations.

DIRECTIONS TO MURUGAN TEMPLE: From I-95 (also 495, Capital

Beltway), take exit 20-A, Lanham (Rte 450 East), then follow the signs to

Princess Garden Parkway. Turn right on Princess Garden Parkway. Murugan

Temple is on your left within half a mile (6300 Princess Garden Parkway).

From Baltimore-Washington Parkway take Exit to Rt. 193 East Greenbelt

Road. Turn left on Greenbelt Road. Turn right on Hanover Parkway, which

becomes Princess Garden Parkway. Drive about 2.5 miles. The temple will be

on your right.

cUtha; mUtha; csjha; ,yjha;

kUtha; kyuha; kzpaha; xspaha;

fUtha; capuha;f; fjpaha; tpjpaha;

FUtha; tUtha; mUs;tha; Ffnd

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2015 NALLUR FESTIVAL

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE TWO-DAY FESTIVAL ON AUGUST 7 AND 8, 2015 AT OUR TEMPLE. COMPLETE DETAILS

WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER.

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