MURUGAN TEMPLE OF NORTH AMERICA

April June 2015

NEWSLETTER
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ahkpUf;f gankd;

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.
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.
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

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

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

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

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.

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

The significance of Thaipoosam: The word Thai Poosam comes from

the Tamil month Thai and the name of a star, Poosam. This particular star is at its highest point during the festival. This is the day, Parvathi
gave VEL (spear) to Muruga to destroy demons.

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.

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 removed the curse. Irrespective of which story you believe, Thai Poosam
is a day to praise the Lord Murugan.

____________________________
PLEASE DONATE GENEROUSLY TO THE MTNA
RAJAGOPURAM AND TEMPLE
EXPANSION PROJECT

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!

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 response 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!

2

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

Silpis designed and created figures to be

installed on the Rajagopuram

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

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Devotees are the foundation of any temple. Volunteers are the pillars. MTNA needs more volunteers. We cordially invite the devotees to volunteer a few hours a month to help on various occasions. 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: managermtna@gmail.com.

www.murugantemple.org
301-552-4889

musp

cUtha;
kUtha;
fUtha;
FUtha;

You can find on the Face Book us at

https://www.facebook.com/MuruganTempleNorthAmerica

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mUtha; csjha; ,yjha;

kyuha; kzpaha; xspaha;
capuha;f; fjpaha; tpjpaha;
tUtha; mUs;tha; Ffnd

2015 NALLUR FESTIVAL

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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.
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.

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

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.