H i n d u T e m p l e a n d C o m m u n i t y C e n t e r O f M i d - M i s s o u r i 2 0 0 6 H o l l y A v e n u e , C o l u m b i a , M O 6 5 2 0 2 - 2 0 4 3

h t t p : / / s h a n t h i m a n d i r . m i s s o u r i . o r g ( 5 7 3 ) 8 1 4 - 1 2 8 6

Shanthi Sandesh

A Fistful of Sesame - a Buddhist Tale Retold H.R. Chandrasekhar

V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 1 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3

A Fistful of Sesame 1, 2

Executive Board 1, 3

Sri Hari Gita Recitation 3

In Memoriam 3

ALT/LTP Summary Report

4

Bal Sandesh 5-6, 7

Gayatri Mantra 7

Yoga Corner 8

Bal Puja 8

Bhagavad Gita 9

Quarterly Fiscal Report 10

Donor Acknowledgment

10

Community Calendar 11

Sharing the Warmth 11

Guru Nanak Jayanthi 11

Current Programs 12

Inside This Issue

T his story goes back to nearly two and a half thousand years.

Gautami wiped her tears from the edge of her sari as she placed the body of her son on the floor. Her friends and neighbors gathered around her, offering words of solace to comfort her. The body of her dead son was beginning to turn blue. His toe had a big swelling. The boy had accidentally stepped on a cobra and was stung. The deadly venom had taken its toll despite Gautami‘s struggle to save him. None of the usual remedies by the local medicine men had worked. Prayers and offerings were of no avail. The boy had suffered an agonizing death as she watched in desperation. Gautami could not accept the death of her dear boy. She was willing to do anything to bring him back to life. All efforts to console Gautami and make her accept the inevitable - that her boy was

dead and was not going to wake up - had failed. ―There must be a way,‖ wailed Gautami. ―There must be some one, a sage or a sorcerer, a mahatma or a magician who could breathe life into my boy. I will search for him. I must hurry.‖ Her friends tried to calm her down. Was there anything that could offer a ray of hope to prevent her from going mad? ―I have heard of a great master of wisdom,‖ said an old man. ―My friends heard him speak in front of the great city hall in Varanasi. He is called Buddha, the enlightened one. He attained Nirvana in the shadow of a Bodhi tree. There is no one as handsome and compassionate as him. People flock to him in thousands to have his darshan. The mere sight of him and the sound of his words bring new life. He travels from place to place

stopping only to teach and heal people who walk miles to see him. He is currently in the next village, a day‘s walk from here. He is the only hope for us.‖ A ray of hope lit the face of Gautami as she craned her neck to listen to the man. Could it be that there was a holy man, after all, who could help her? ―Who is this Buddha?‖ enquired a few voices in a chorus. Their eyes turned to the revered elder of the village. ―The spiritual master was actually a prince with enormous wealth, a beautiful wife and a darling son,‖ began the village elder. ―His name was Siddhartha. His mother died soon after his birth. His father brought him up with utmost love, providing him the best education possible, sparing nothing in the process. The prince grew up surrounded by nothing but

(Continued on page 2)

W e wish you all a Happy and Prosperous 2013.

During the past quarter, we celebrated Deepavali at the Mandir with lamp lighting, Lakshmi puja, and sparklers, and we joined many Columbia faith groups to give thanks for our blessings. The community joined together in December to recite Sri Hari Gita and to celebrate Guru Nanak Jayanthi. We also heralded 2013 with the recitation of the Gayatri Mantra and the singing of

bhajans. All these events were well attended. Our regularly scheduled events at the Mandir have been held as planned; attendance is pretty good, although we are seeing fewer families attending Bal Puja (see page 8).

Our service programs are continuing to serve Columbia under the leadership of Anantha Gopalaratnam. The

annual service project, ―Sharing the Warmth‖ has now become a regular project coordinated by HTCC Youth during Thanksgiving time (see page 11). HTCC is proud of its support for the Columbia Interfaith Resource Center (CIRC), an organization that serves Columbia‘s less fortunate through two ongoing

(Continued on page 3)

Message from the Executive Board

A statue of lord Buddha, Saranath, India. 4th century CE

P A G E 2 S H A N T H I S A N D E S H

beauty, mirth and joy. Princess Yashodhara, elegant and beautiful, was his beloved wife. Their son Rahul was a proof to the harmony and love of the young couple.‖ ―But he gave up everything, abandoned his home and family. He chose the life of a monk, bore the harsh life of an ascetic, wandered from one holy teacher to another, searching and learning all there was to be learnt and sought the ultimate truth.‖ ―What drove him to this path?‖ cried Gautami, who was listening to this tale spellbound. ―One day while riding in his chariot, prince Siddhartha came upon a sick old man. His body was shriveled, eyes sunk into deep holes and a gloom covered his face. Horrified by this apparition, the prince asked Chenna, the charioteer, what this condition was. Chenna replied that old age and sickness were the inevitable precursors to death, the final destiny. The revelation made a deep impression on Siddhartha. He secretly wandered the poor neighborhoods of Kapilavastu observing people suffering from sickness, old age and death. He swore to find a cure to this human misery. He would give up everything, his kingdom, family and personal happiness, to devote his life in search of the answer.‖ ―Many years of meditation, self-mortification and study under many ascetics did not satisfy him. Ultimately he sat in the shade of a Bodhi tree and meditated for many days and nights determined never to rise until the awakening. One day the realization dawned upon him. He attained Nirvana.‖ ―Let us go to him,‖ cried every one in a chorus. ―There is no time to lose.‖ When Gautami and the villagers reached the place where lord Buddha was camped, the immense crowd that had gathered around him impressed

her. She saw from a distance the handsome figure of the master. His serene face exuded compassion. His clear soothing voice could be heard from a distance. He was speaking about the four noble truths: the inevitable human suffering; the root cause of this condition that is craving and greed; attachment and ego that lead to folly; and the eight-fold path of right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration to become free from the ills listed earlier. Gautami had no patience to listen. She had to meet the master as soon as she could. She broke through the crowd that gave way seeing her state of anguish. She dashed towards the raised platform on which lord Buddha stood. No sooner did he conclude his sermon, she ran to him, laid the dead body of her son at his feet and wailed for help. Lord Buddha looked at her. He had grasped her situation instantly. His tranquil face was like a clear crystal through which the deep sorrow he felt for her pain was evident to all. What would he say or do to help her? What magic, spell or talisman would he conjure to save the boy? ―There is a way,‖ said lord Buddha. ―I need a fistful of sesame to do the trick.‖ A great joy came over Gautami. ―I can get you as much sesame as you like,‖ she cried. ―I shall pawn everything I have to get it.‖ ―A fistful will do,‖ said Buddha. ―But it has to be given to you by someone with a free will.‖ All the villagers who had accompanied Gautami sprang to their feet. ―We shall give,‖ they said in a chorus. ―happily and willingly, as much as is needed.‖ ―Only the deserving ones,‖ continued the master. ―One whose house has not seen death can give.‖

―That leaves me out,‖ said the headman of the village. His face filled with sorrow at the recollection of his dear wife who had died days before. He had temporarily forgotten that wound while empathizing with the plight of Gautami. As each villager thought for a moment they stepped back feeling helpless. Every one of them could recall the death of their loved ones. As no one came forward, Gautami‘s heart fell. She looked helplessly from face to face hoping that there must be someone in the crowd who had not seen death. Alas! There was none to be found anywhere. Gautami glanced from face to face with increasing frustration. She finally stared at lord Buddha. Had he failed to save her son? As she stared deeply at that face, a sudden revelation dawned upon her. She was not alone in her grief. Everyone had suffered the pain of bereavement. They bore it with dignity. They had gathered to share her sorrow and to bring her comfort and help her at any cost without wallowing in their own miseries. ―How selfish I have been!‖ wondered Gautami to herself. ―They have accepted the inevitable and learned to move on.‖ She would do the same. She would be grateful for their love and try to give comfort to others in their grief. The sermon of Buddha she had heard moments before without paying much attention flashed in her mind with a new meaning. She fell at the master‘s feet soaking them with tears of gratitude. A chanting grew steadily as she rose. Buddham sharanam gachami. Sangham sharanam gachami. Dharmam sharanam gachami. I bow to Lord Buddha. I bow to the holy order. I bow to Dharma, the right path.

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 1

programs: The Interfaith Day Center provides day-time shelter and services to Columbia‘s homeless population, and The Room at the Inn Shelter provides a warm and safe place to sleep during the coldest winter months of January and February. In 2011 The HTCC Executive Board responded to an emergency financial support request with a $500 donation and a two year (2012 and 2013) follow-up pledge of $1,000/year. We fulfilled the 2012 pledge in December as our quarterly financial statement on Page 10 reflects. Several members of the HTCC community also provide soup and sandwiches every 4th Monday to the Interfaith Day Center. We encourage our membership to visit their website at http://comoresourcecenter.com/ and learn more about CIRC and the support they could use. Clean-up Columbia is scheduled on April 13 for clean-up outside Shanthi Mandir and along Holly Avenue and for clean-up around Ridgeway Elementary School (see page 11). We thank you for your continued support. Several repairs and maintenance tasks were completed during the past quarter.

We installed a hand-rail in the entrance hallway. Gutters and downspouts were also installed on the main building of the Mandir. Columbia Fire Department will be conducting the annual inspection soon.

The Election Committee (consisting of Srinath Gopalakrishna, Gagneesh Rawat, and Krishna Sharma) has been appointed to hold upcoming elections as per our Constitution and bye laws for the various open offices (Treasurer and Vice President of the Executive Board and Elected Trustee positions). Please participate in the elections by nominating individuals and by voting electronically. Shiva Kumar Pennathur and his committee are also actively planning for HTCC‘s 7th anniversary (devotional event to be held at the Mandir on Saturday, February 23 and the banquet to be held on Friday, March 15 at The Peach Tree Banquet Center). Please mark your calendars for the two upcoming anniversary celebration events. In January, we lost Dr. Robert F. Bussabarger, an honorary member of HTCC and a dear friend of the Indian community in Columbia (see below). We

pray for him and his family. We thank members who have renewed their memberships and encourage others to renew as well because these dues help us maintain our operations. A glance at the Community calendar on page 11 indicates that the weekends in March and April will be busy with various celebrations and activities. We look forward to seeing you at the Mandir! Inder Ravi Meera Abirami ERRATUM: Following discussions with the Alternate Long Term Planning Committee (chaired by Dr. Ranadhir Mitra), the statement in the HTCC‘s Executive Board Report in the November 2012 issue of Shanthi Sandesh, ―Based on discussions at the BOT meeting, HTCC is not pursuing the purchase of the Lighthouse Church property‖ is being changed to: ―Due to inconclusive BoT meeting on 09/08/2012 and no follow-up meeting thereafter, acquisition of the Lighthouse Church property could not be pursued by HTCC.‖

(Continued from page 1)

D r. Robert F. Bussabarger,

emeritus professor of Art at the University of Missouri and a dear friend of the Indian community in Columbia passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013. He was 90 years old. He was inducted an honorary member of

HTCC in 2009 in recognition of his numerous contributions to various art forms of India and his valuable donations of books to the HTCC library.

In 1961, Dr. Bussabarger was awarded a Fulbright research grant to study terracotta sculpture and temples in India. He lived in Kolkata in the state of West Bengal, collaborated with two local artists and produced his own ceramic sculptures and pottery. Over the next few years, he returned to India and continued to produce

ceramics, which were exhibited in galleries in Mumbai and Kolkata. His work was received enthusiastically throughout India. In 1968 he co-authored with Betty D. Robins an illustrated book, "The Everyday Arts of India." In later years, he continued to sculpt, publish and paint. With his wife Mary Louise, he made several trips to India to establish many lasting friendships. Our deep heart-felt condolences go to his lovely wife and family.

In Memoriam Robert Bussabarger, 1922-2013

Sri Hari Gita Recitation Inder Khurana

T he third anniversary of Sri Hari Gita Recitation was held at Shanthi Mandir

in December. Shri Hari Gita is a Hindi translation by Pandit Dina Nath Bhargava (Dinesh) of The Bhagavad Gita, the song of the Lord. Pandit Dinesh selected a meter which is almost the same length as the original and which lends Itself to musical recitation of the same melody and charm. Hard copies of Sri Hari Gita are available at Shanthi Mandir for devotees to recite. The program began with Sri Krishna Vandana, followed by recitation of the eighteen chapters of Sri Hari Gita and ended with

the singing of Gita Mahima. After the recitation, Dr. Ramesh Khanna spoke on Chapter 15 titled Gunthryavibhag Yog (The Supreme Self). He cited several examples to make the point that Krishna sends fragments of himself to become the inner self in each creature. Krishna is the prana – the breath or vitality - of the body. After the talk, there was aarti followed by Prasad/pot-luck dinner. Recitation of Sri Hari Gita is now a regular

weekly program (called Gita Study Circle)

on Tuesdays 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm at the

Mandir. At 7:00 pm, a chapter of Sri Hari

Gita is recited with a sing along CD, after

which a summary of the chapter is

provided. The attendees then try to

understand the meaning of the chapter

shloka by shloka. The emphasis of this

discussion is to answer questions as they

come. Sometimes, a chapter may take a

month to complete. We now have a core

group of students of Gita who regularly

attend the Gita Study circle. I encourage

you to attend one of these sessions too.

P A G E 4 S H A N T H I S A N D E S H

L ast summer the Alternate Long Term Committee

(ALT/LTP) looked at various buildings/sites for possible relocation of HTCC from the current Holly Avenue site per the charge given to it by HTCC BoT in April, 2012. During the search of some 6/7 properties, the committee was excited to find the Lighthouse Church property at 4275 E Hwy WW which just came on MLS listing for sale, to be exceptionally good for its building size, furnishings and acreage in a prime location, meeting the BoT mandated requirements for HTCC‘s growth for years to come. Some Points on the property: 1. Lighthouse Church ―a

ready-to-use walk-in state on 5 acre land‖ was exactly what BoT asked the committee to find. It was on MLS list less than a week when the Committee took note of it.

2. This 10+ room, 2 story, 9,600 sqft finished + 6000 sqft unfinished property had a 300 capacity large prayer hall, separate large

kitchen cum dining hall; 4 classrooms, 2 offices plus a nursery, all with full furnishings; a piano, 2 big desks, chairs, tables, 2 computers, built-in overhead projector, 300+ padded chairs; toolshed, a riding lawn mower, black-top parking lot for 70+ cars and much more.

3. Situated in a virtually crime-free area as per statistics on http://raidsonline.com, this property was much better than our current one at the Holly Avenue.

4. With Fire alarm, Smoke alarm, Sprinkler system providing internal safety, a Boone County Fire Station right at the entrance added security benefits from fire and as deterrent to trespassing - 24/7.

5. The property was good, there were other bidders and as the ALT/LTP did not have access to any HTCC fund; the chair, with consent of the committee, deposited $2000 of his personal money to escrow the property at $760K first, then had to raise the escrow to lock at full list price of $795 +1 to outbid a $780K offer from a 3rd party. With enough scope for price negotiation (see #7); it was done to show the property to the community and the BoT, for input and value judgment. 6. To ‗lock‘ quickly, the escrow was drawn in the name of ALT/TLP chair ―XXX or ASIGNEE‖ so that it could be ASSIGNED to HTCC for taking steps further, or else the signatory would be free to withdraw the contract before escrow closing date to save his deposit money.

7. The $795+1 escrow price was subject to negotiation after inspection; contingent on defects, available financing etc. that are standard escrow clauses. Upon being questioned on price at the BoT meeting, the ALT/LTP committee categorically stated that based on the disclosure statement alone, ―the price could be knocked down $200K or more for negotiation‖ - citing defects in parking lot, sewer system, heater problems etc. Also the committee made it clear that the BoT was free to offer a lower bid as it sees fit.

8. Due to an inconclusive BoT meeting and no inspection or follow-up meeting held before the mandatory escrow closing date, further negotiations could not be pursued, so the Chair of the ALT/LTP Committee withdrew the escrow petition before the deadline to save his personal deposit money.

HTCC lost a good opportunity to relocate into a larger well suited facility this time. The ALT/LTP recommends that in future when a similar property is in the market for sale, the HTCC-BoT should move forward decisively & aggressively with the acquisition process. ***The views expressed in the above report are those of the ALT/LTP committee members and do not necessarily reflect those of all members on the HTCC Board of Trustees.

Alternate Long Term Planning Committee (ALT/LTP) summary report***

Title: A summary on the alternate temple site search “Lighthouse Church property”

By Alternate Long Term Planning committee (ALT/LTP) members of the HTCC-BoT: Ritcha Mehra, Ravi Puri, Gagneesh Rawat; Ravi Thawani and Ranadhir Mitra (chair)

Lighthouse property survey result, taken ONLY on the 2nd day of visit by some HTCC members and others

Survey questions-------------- è

Did you like this church property for our HTCC use?

Should HTCC buy it IF the Price, Inspec-tion & Financing works out?

▼Member status // Response è

NO YES NO YES

Board of Trustees 9 9

Executive commit-tee

2 2

Both EC and BoT 1 1

Friends of HTCC 8 8

General member 2 14 2 13 (blank) 2 2

Grand total 38, % response

2 = 5.3%

36 = 94.7%

2 = 5.4%

35 = 94.6%

Visitor’s response on open-house showing: Anonymous sur-vey of the property taken on the spot on 2nd day.

P A G E 5 V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 1

Newsletter of Bal Sabha of Columbia, MO February 2013

EDITOR’S NOTE Bal Sabha Officers

President Anand Chockalingam

Vice-President Currently Vacant

Secretary/Treasurer Abirami Elangovan Cultural Secretary Alagu Arunachalam

Bal Sandesh Coordinator Hema Srinivasan

H appy New Year 2013!

Bal Sandesh bids farewell to Maya Cutkosky as the editor as she goes off to College in Minnesota. We welcome two new editors, Nila Palaniappan and Suryanshi Rawat. The Editors

T here comes a time in every person‘s life where you just marvel at what‘s happening around you. It would be

just as easy to stop yourself from looking around as it would be to stop an elephant stampede. You drink in the moment, thirsti-ly memorizing each and every detail, in-scribing it into your memory so you never forget. For me, that experience took place last November, at the Siemens Science Competition at Notre Dame. Before getting into why the event was such an intensely fascinating experience, it would probably be prudent to give a little background information first. My partner, Nidhi Khurana, and I have been working in an optical physics lab at the University of Missouri for about two years. Our mentor and lab supervisor, Dr. Ping Yu, helped us develop a novel bio-imaging system that was only a fraction of the cost of current contemporary techniques. Though we sub-mitted our research paper to Siemens, I never imagined that we would actually be chosen as regional finalists. But we were. The two of us spent some frantic moments in the lab preparing for the competition.

There was information that we had to go over, a poster to create, a presentation to memorize—needless to say, it was hectic. The amount of time we had clocked in the lab for the three weeks before the competi-tion was comparable to the amount of time we‘d spent in there for two preceding months. But it was worth it. From the moment we arrived, it was evi-dent that we were going to be sitting in the lap of luxury. From the oh-so-delicious cookies to the dinner at an upscale restau-rant, the Siemens Foundation definitely treated us well. Truthfully, while I can‘t say I didn‘t enjoy the free chocolate bar or Notre Dame water bottle, none of those frivolous amenities were what truly made that weekend so special. What made our experience at the Siemens Competition truly worthwhile were the people. Students from all over the Midwest attend-ed, with hometowns ranging from Troy, Michigan to Evanston, Illinois to our very own Columbia, Missouri. In fact, while the other kids hailed from all over, Columbia boasted an impressive four regional final-

ists. But I think that both Katelyn Race and Atreyo Ghosh, the other two Columbians, would agree with me when I say that the other participants were some of the smart-est people we‘ve ever met. Sure, there are the ridiculously intelligent teachers, profes-sors, and other adults that we see all the time. But there, we met 18 other kids who dazzled us with their mental acumen. It was, to put it simply, awesome. I went into the competition expecting to be

bored out of my mind as I smiled mirthless-

ly at awkward peers and dozed to dull dis-

coveries. To my surprise, it was the exact

opposite. I felt that I grew a lot from the

experience and learned quite a bit about a

whole plethora of scientific subjects. The

lectures were actually interesting, the

laughs were genuine and uproarious, and

the people were delightful. A saying I re-

member from Siemens has stayed with me:

―A love for science and a thirst for discov-

ery cross all boundaries‖—a lesson that I

will carry with me as I march forward into

the future.

Siemens Science Competition Rajesh Satpathy, 12th Grade, Rock Bridge High School

Google Car Saathvik R. Kannan, 1st Grade, Fairview Elementary

A Google car is a car that will drive for you.

It has a sensor that goes around. I love this

car so much. There is a computer in it and

it will tell where you are going. It comes

with Toyota and it is Google‘s idea. This is

an award winning car. Google has a big lab

in which they can make complicated things

like robots in one day. They are

researching on Google car to make sure it

doesn‘t do any damage. Some damages

are done by humans. I heard it on the

internet, on the ipad. They have a lot of

videos in www.abcnews.com/googlecar.

P A G E 6 S H A N T H I S A N D E S H

Bal Sabha meets

every fourth Sunday

of the month from

3:00 - 5:00 p.m. at

Shanthi Mandir

Editorial Staff Phone E-Mail Neeta Thawani (660) 882-5317 boonville.kid@hotmail.com Nidhi Khurana (573) 874-9647 n_khurana@yahoo.com Nila Palaniappan (573) 446-1962 nila.palaniappan@gmail.com Suryanshi Rawat (573) 449-9601 suryanshi_rawat@yahoo.com Parent Advisor Hema Srinivasan (573) 445-2854 srinivasanh@missouri.edu

Bal Sandesh needs you! We welcome submissions of all types (reports, poetry, short stories, artwork, puzzles, jokes etc.). Work can be submitted to the Editors or the Parent Advisor. We prefer electronic version of the submission (e-mail or diskette). Artwork can be submitted on paper. Older kids interested in volunteering to serve on the editorial team should contact the Editorial Staff or the Parent Advisor.

KUDOS In MillCreek Reflections 2013, Anya Kumar (5th Grade) placed 3rd in Literature while Tia Rawat

(4th Grade) placed 3rd in Photography.

Vignesh Kumar (4th Grade) and Anusha Gupta (5th Grade) have been selected to represent MillCreek in the MCTM Math Regional competition.

Kartikeye Gupta (2nd Grade) and Anusha Gupta (5th Grade) have been recommended for Black

Belt in Taekwondo.

Anusha Gupta has been awarded the "Kumon Mathlete Award" for achieving Kumon Level G by

Grade 5th.

Atreyo Ghosh, Nidhi Khurana and Rajesh Satpathy were regional finalists at the Siemens Science Competition.

Congratulations to all!

C runch… crunch… creak… crunch… ―Ah, there we

go‖. And then it happened. ‖WEEE!‖ fresh white glistening snow whizzed by as I glided along. And then I suddenly slowed to a stop. It took me time to realize that the ride was over. I dragged the sled up the steep snow spangled hill. As I reached the top a sparkling white ball flew toward me. ―SMACK!‖ a sharp feeling of

coldness hit me. I staggered. Then I saw another one coming but then I saw where it was coming from. I quickly recovered, developed a perfect ball of snow and aimed it at my sister. ―Take that,‖ I yelled. After a long snowball fight we finally decided to have a break. We lay down in the snow and waved our arms and legs around to make snow angels. What a fun but cold day I

thought. A little while later we went

inside to find a surprise waiting for us. ―Hot chocolate!‖ I said feeling delighted. Thankfully it was still hot. This is scrumptious. ―You know what,‖ I said, ―now I think my favorite season is winter instead of summer‖. ‖Why? ―My sister asked. I said, ―Because winter

is so fun!‖

Winter Tia Rawat - 4

th Grade, Mill Creek Elementary

Beauty is not just about how you

look. Beauty is not about rich or poor.

Beauty is not a feeling. Everyone has beauty, big or

small. Because beauty is a personality.

Artwork by Charu, 3rd

Grade, Shepard Elementary

Beauty Aparna Sivaraman - 3

rd Grade, Mill Creek Elementary

Photo by Anand Chockalingam Mask Artwork by Tia Rawat

P A G E 7 V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 1

A s has now become the tradition, we heralded the New Year at the Shanthi

Mandir by reciting the Gayatri Mantra 108 times. The 108 Gayatri Mantra chants are intended for invoking peace and divine inspiration at the start of the New Year. This year we also chanted the Mrityunjaya Mantra 28 times. This Rig Veda prayer dedicated to Lord Shiva asks for immortality for the departed souls and was dedicated to those who lost their lives in the Newtown, CT shooting tragedy in mid-December. The New Year‘s celebration began with

the Ganapathi Prarthana, a Vedic invocation to Lord Ganesha. The Gayatri Mantra and Mrityunjaya Mantra chants followed. We concluded with the Mantra Pushpam from the Yajur Veda. The Mantra Pushpam is chanted at the conclusion of most pujas and is about the origin and evolution of the natural forces like water, air, fire, earth, the Sun, the stars and is recited in praise of the creator. The Gayatri Mantra is a universal prayer

in Sanskrit that first appears in the Rig Veda (3-62-10). The Gayatri Mantra, its English transliteration and the meaning are included in the inset text box. Gayatri is actually the name for a Sanskrit

poetical meter that contains three lines of eight syllables each. There are, therefore, many Gayatri mantras, but this particular one is the oldest and most well-known of all Gayatri mantras. In Hinduism all Gods and Goddesses have a Gayatri mantra

associated with them. There is a Gayatri for Ganesha, one for Shiva, one for Durga, one for Vishnu, one for Lakshmi, and so on. The above prayer is offered to Savitri, the

sun. The first line: om bhur bhuvah svah is not actually part of a Gayatri mantra. It is a special utterance called vyahriti that has been added to the beginning of this famous Gayatri. The expression bhur bhuvah and svah refers to three planes of existence (earth, sky, heaven). In a rather simplified explanation it represents a ―call to creation,‖ that the light of the sun (the light of God) shines on the earth (bhur), in the sky (bhuvah), and in heaven (svah), and therefore the implication is, ―let that light also shine on me.‖ The three lines of the Gayatri mantra are:

tat-savitur varenyam. bhargo devasya dhimahi, and

dhiyo yo nah pracodayat The deity associated with this Gayatri

mantra is the sun, savitri. The more common name for the sun is surya. Generally "surya" is the name for the sun

while it is above the horizon and savitri is the sun as it is rising and setting, just below the horizon. The metaphor here is: ―the sun represents light, which represents knowledge, which represents consciousness.‖ According to the metaphor the sun, which is the source of illumination, heat, food and so many other things in our life, can naturally be seen as the ―representative‖ or symbol of God in this world. As with most Hindu beliefs, the Gayatri mantra also personifies the Goddess, Gayatri Devi. She is the wife of Brahma. She is the embodiment of the supreme brahman. The Gayatri mantra is

traditionally whispered into the ear of a young boy during the thread ceremony (Upanayanam), which is one of the rites of passage followed by many Hindus. In addition, the Gayatri mantra is repeated during daily prayers performed by many Hindus three times a day, while facing the sun: at sunrise, at noon and at sun set. It is also common to recite the Gayatri as part of a havan, or to recite it in unison at temples and homes. The Gayatri Mantra is considered a very potent universal chant that anyone can recite. The one who recites the Gayatri Mantra stands protected.

Gaayantham traayathe ithi gayatri

Pongal Celebration - A Fun and Festive Evening Nila Palaniappan, 8th Grade, West Junior High School

O n January 20, 2013, the Tamil families of Columbia, MO organized their 18th

annual Pongal/Sankranti celebration. It was an evening filled with laughter, music and food. This year the event was held at Mark Twain Ball room in Memorial Union and I was the MC for the function. Pongal is a harvest festival honoring the sun god, Surya and the God of Rain, Indra. It is one of the important festivals celebrated in Tamil Nadu, South India. Pongal is similar to Thanksgiving, where the farmer is thankful for his harvest during the mild winter months and rejoices by cheering ‗Pongalo Pongal‘ which signifies the milk boiling over! We started the ceremony with the traditional lamp lighting, followed by an invocation song on Lord Ganesha. Tiny tots‘ performance was so cute, dancing on

stage with sugarcane and pots in traditional outfits, ‗pavadai‘ not to forget the brave ‗tabla‘ boy amongst the girls. Way to go Saathvik! The Tamil class children sang devotional songs in Carnatic style and with the assistance of Gopal uncle, they gave a fantastic multimedia presentation on Swami Vivekananda called Awake, Arise and Stop Not as well. Next, it was time for the moms and dads to get up on stage and showcase their talents with Inisai Neram. After the vote of thanks, the children rocked the stage with a Kollywood Dance which concluded the entertainment program. The evening continued on with a delicious pot luck dinner prepared by the host families and guests which included traditional Pongal menu such as idli, sambar, chutney, ven-pongal, and chackra-pongal. Yummy!

Gathering with friends is always fun and this one fell no short! Looking forward to our next event!

Gayatri Mantra and the New Year Tradition at the Mandir Vellore S. Gopalaratnam

ॐॐभॐभभवुॐॐस्वॐ Om bhur bhuvah svah

तत्सववतभवरेुण्यम tat-savitur varenyam

भर्गोॐदेवस्यॐधीमहिॐ bhargo devasya dhimahi

धधयोॐयोॐनॐॐॐरचोदयात॥ dhiyo yo nah pracdayat

“Let us meditate on the light of the sun which represents God, and may our thoughts be inspired by that divine light.”

Gayatri Devi

“Love” - Artwork by Meenakshi Sivaraman,

Kindergarten, Mill Creek Elementary School

P A G E 8 S H A N T H I S A N D E S H

Yoga Corner Ritcha Mehra Chaudhary

T his time In ―Yoga Corner‖ we will look at the asana called Bhujangasana. Bhujanga is a

Sanskrit word meaning a snake or a serpent. Since this pose reflects the look of a raised Cobra hood, it is also called the ―Cobra Pose‖. Steps: 1. Lie on your stomach with legs fully stretched

out. 2. Place elbows next to the trunk, hugging them

back into your body. Place the palms down and close to your shoulder.

3. Place your forehead or chin on the ground (whichever is easier).

4. While inhaling steadily to a count of three slowly straighten the arms and raise the chest off the ground same as a cobra raising its hood.

5. Lift the spine up as far as possible gradually raising the head and neck upward and slightly backward. Press the tailbone toward the pubis. Firm but don't harden the buttocks.

6. The body from navel downwards should not rise or lift, but should remain fixed to the ground during the asana. You will feel the pressure starting from cervical, dorsal, lumbar and to the sacral area of body.

7. Firm the shoulder blades against the back and distribute the backbend evenly throughout the entire spine. The ribs will be extended out slightly.

8. Hold the breath and stay in this upraised position to a count of six.

9. Come down slowly while exhaling to a count of three. This counts as one practice. Repeat three-

five times. Note:

It is important to keep the hips down. In other

words, the lower body from the naval/pubic bone to the toes should remain in contact with the floor.

The weight of the upper body should be

supported by the arms.

The shoulders, back and all the unnecessary

muscles should remain relaxed with the chest expanded forward.

Breathing-rhythm: 3 counts, Inhale (Poorak) - 6 counts, Hold Breath (Kumbhak) - 3 counts, Exhale (Rechak) Benefits: Continuous and correct practice of Bhujagasana offers various benefits:

Helps keep the spine flexible.

Helps relieve pain in the back.

Strengthens the muscles of the back, hands,

legs and abdomen.

Exercises, massages and improves the blood

flow to the internal organs such as spleen, liver, pancreas, uterus, ovaries and the gall bladder and stimulates the endocrine system.

The pressure applied to the stomach, helps

relieve constipation and gas. Caution:

Take care to avoid common postural errors

during this pose including overarching the neck and lower back. Also avoid any jerks.

Contra indicated for pregnant women and

people with peptic ulcers, hernia, hyperthyroidism or intestinal tuberculosis.

M any children that were a part of Bal Puja, when it

started at Panda Pals with the graciousness of Asha and Dr. Shivendra Shukla, have graduated or are close to graduating from high school. However, we have not seen an addition of children participating in Bal Puja. Attendance at the monthly Bal Puja meetings on second Sundays from 10:00 am – noon are at an all-time low. Sometimes, the number of adults attending the Bal Puja

meetings are more than the children attending. Yet we see Indian community growing in Columbia. It is possible that as a Bal Puja coordinator, I have not done a good job promoting this program to new families. I continue to believe that Bal

Puja is an important resource

available to our community to

instill and foster important values

in our children. It is an

opportunity to expose our

children to our religious

traditions and to share with them

the notion of spirituality. Over

the years, I have learned a

tremendous amount from the

children of Bal Puja. They often

pose simple and innocent

questions that I struggled to

answer. We are also fortunate

that our community has

invaluable individuals such as

H.R. Chandrasekhar, Hema

Srinivasan, Satish Nair, who

(Continued on page 10)

Bal Puja - A Call for Participation by Volunteers with New Ideas Inder Khurana

P A G E 9 V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 1

Shreemad Bhagavad Gita – Part 20 Saroj Mohan

W e saw, in the 6th verse of Chapter 6, how the mind is either a friend or foe

of a human being, based on whether the mind is used to control the senses or give in to them.

Shri Krishna, in the 7th verse, explains the state of such a person, whose sense organs, body, mind and intellect are under his control.

Shri Krishna says, ―Such a Jeetaatmanah or the man who has conquered his senses, body, mind and intellect so that they are fully under his control; he is Shantasya or whose mental and emotional upheavals are quiet, such a sage with equanimity, is free from the sufferings of dualities, such as heat and cold, honor and dishonor, pleasure and pain. He is ever established in his own Self or the Paramaatma. When he is Samahitah, or deep in meditation in the Satchitananda, there is nothing else but Paramaatma, everywhere, in everything and in every being.‘‘

This is the state of a self-realized sage. He is peaceful, blissful and quiet, under all conditions and circumstances. His ignorance is dispelled and sufferings of dualities are non-existent for him. He is ever established in Paramaatma, the Self.

Shri Krishna explains the qualities of such a self-realized sage again, in the 8th verse, and how can a person recognize him.

Shri Krishna says, ―The yogi whose Antah karana or heart and mind are ever established, satisfied in Gyan –Vigyan, or wisdom and true knowledge; who has conquered all the impurities of his senses and whose senses are under his full control, for whom gold or a clump of earth are the same; such a yogi is called yuktaha or the self-realized one, who has attained Paramaatma.‖

Here again the Lord repeats and describes with profuse adjectives, all the qualities of a self-realized yogi. Only such a Kootashta or well established in the Paramaatma and adorned with above mentioned qualities can be called a yukta yogi.

In the 9th verse Shri Krishna further elaborates the qualities of such a yogi who excels.

Shri Krishna says, ―The yogi who looks equally upon both well-wisher and enemy is superior to the one who practices yoga or the science of attaining union with the ultimate consciousness.‖

An excellent yogi keeps an equal mind in Suhrid and regards all his relationships with love and equality. Be it a mitra or friend and well-wishers or relatives, madhyastha or those who are neutral, or dvesya or enemy, or saints and sinners, a self-realized sage perceives his own self or

Paramaatma in all beings. In his sublime state of Infinite Consciousness there is no duality. His love makes no distinction between a righteous man and a sinful one.

Shri Krishna encourages the seeker to practice Dhyanyoga, in the 10th verse.

Shri Krishna says, ―The yogi whose body, mind and intellect are fully under his control; the yogi who is without greed and desires should stay in solitude and practice Dhyanyoga, alone. Without hoarding and accumulating anything, he should meditate, constantly keeping his mind in Paramaatma. ‖

To be a Dhyanyogi the abovementioned qualities are very important. He should constantly meditate in solitude, keeping his mind absorbed in Paramaatma. He must be physically alone in a quiet place, having his body, mind, and intellect fully under control, without greed and a desire for material things when practicing Dhyanyoga.

In the 11th verse Shri Krishna describes the location and Asana or seat, on which the seeker should prepare for Dhyanyoga. It must be a clean place and the seat should be comfortable. Shri Krishna says, ―The seeker should find a clean place on which a seat should be arranged in this order: at first Kusha grass should be put down, followed by a deer skin and lastly a clean cloth should be placed over it. The seat should neither be too high nor too low on which the Dhyanyogi should be able to sit comfortably, without any movements, firmly and silently, in Sthiraasanam.‖

It is very important that the location chosen for meditation be clean and without distractions so that it is conducive to reaching the state of ultimate consciousness.

Shri Krishna goes on further about how to practice Dhyanyoga, in the 12th verse.

Shri Krishna says, ―In a clean and purified seat, after controlling the mind and functions of sense organs etc., the yogi should concentrate on the purification of the self.‖

The process of meditation and practice is necessary for a successful Dhyanyogi. At first the body should be seated on a clean and comfortable seat, then with a quiet mind and senses, he should meditate on the purification of the self. It means that the wild wanderings of mind and body should be controlled; the ups and downs of dualities like joy and sorrow etc., should be curtailed and a one pointed contemplation on the self should be practiced till the atma is realized.

In the 13th and 14th verses Shri Krishna describes the correct method of meditation. So far the external environment has been described at length. Now, the internal process is described.

Shri Krishna says, ―Sitting with an erect head, steady neck and still body, fixing your gaze at the tip of your nose, not looking around, silently established in Brahmasharivrate or in the vow of Brahamacharya, or in quest of Brahaman, with the mind in full control, contemplating and thinking of Me, fully absorbed in Me, sit quietly and meditate on the Supreme Goal.‖

Here, step by step, the correct method of Dhyan or meditation is described. A restless body, wandering mind, or wavering resolution is of no use to a Dhyanyogi, in the quest for self-realization.

A healthy body is a necessity because sickness brings restlessness at all levels. An erect sitting position helps in good breathing with the flow of oxygen, resulting in a healthy body. It is interesting to note the mention of fearlessness. When the seeker reaches a stage in spiritual progress, when the unknown zone is about to be reached, when ego and the known seems to dissolve, a subjective fear rises inside. It needs to be transcended. On the path of spiritual practices, a seeker can get disheartened by restless wanderings of the mind and feel disheartened, by not experiencing the peaceful blissful state of self-realization. Therefore he must sit and contemplate on the Divine patiently and persistently, keeping his mind on Paramaatma.

Part 20 in this series by Saroj Mohanji on Shreemad Bhagavad Gita includes discussions from the 7th—14th verses of Chapter 6.

P A G E 1 0 S H A N T H I S A N D E S H

Thank You! Donor Acknowledgment Nov. 1, 2012 – Jan. 31, 2013

We gratefully acknowledge the following donations made during the above period. If we have inadvertently made an error in not including your name, please let us know.

Upto $50 Katoch, Bandana Krishna, Gopal and Santosh Pennathur, Shiva Kumar $51 - $100 Rawlani, Ramesh and Chandra $101 - $150 Balakrishnan, Elangovan and Abirami Basu, Asit and Sandra Chandrasekar, Holalkere and Meera Sandhu, Kuljit and Singh, Amolak Ratneshwar, Srinivasan and Subbalakshmi

$151 - $400 Khurana, Inder and Jasmit Sehgal, Om and Santosh $401+ Gopalaratnam, Vellore and Anantha Loyalka, Sudharshan and Nirja Mahal, Satnam and Jasvir Aggarwal, Kul and Archana Rawat, Gagneesh and Aditi Srikanta, Nanjangud and Hema

Quarterly Revenues

Interest Income Interest income

$242.47

$242.47

Memberships Annual Family Membership Annual Individual Membership Sustaining Membership

$250.00 $90.00

$1,001.00

$1,341.00

Donations Check Donations Hundi Donations/Prayer Services Capital Campaign

$3,003.01

$333.00 $1,307.00

$4,643.01

Facilities Use Donations Mandir and Educational Center use donations

$60.00

$60.00

Fund Raiser Mandir Cookbook Sales

$152.50

$152.50

Other Revenues Dividend Uncleared Checks write off

$37.40

$101.00

$138.40

Total Quarterly Revenues

$6,577.38

Quarterly Expenses Bank charges $14.12 Lawn and Garden $80.00 Maintenance and Supplies $165.96 Printing and Mailing $393.54 Special Events $569.98 Sponsorships–Aditi Avhad Memorial Fund $1,000.00 Sponsorships—Columbia Interfaith Council $1,000.00 Start Up $205.92 Upgrades & Repairs $1,971.38

Utilities $961.77 Total Quarterly Expenses

$6,362.67

Net Income for the Quarter

$214.71

HTCC Quarterly Fiscal Report For the period October 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Prepared by Abirami Elangovan, Treasurer, February 13th, 2013

Acknowledgment of donation in kind: We thank Ravi and Mona Puri for donating two 26‖ table top Phillips brand TVs for the education center.

recognize the importance of having our children engaged in these endeavors. I became a part of Bal Puja

thinking that I will teach children; instead I now recognize that I learned more from them. They have been an

important part of my growth. I encourage parents of younger children to get engaged in Bal Puja. It has been

the most rewarding experience of my life; I can assure you that it will be rewarding for you as well. We are

open for suggestions to help better serve our children. We are looking for new volunteers who can

rejuvenate the program with new ideas and projects. I hope you take advantage of this forum.

(Continued from page 8) - Bal Puja - A Call for Participation

P A G E 1 1 V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 1

Feb. 23 The 7th Anniversary HTCC Devotional Program 10:30 am – 1:30 pm Havan officiated by Sateesh Bhagwat Contact: Kusum Malhotra, (573) 445-1867

Mar. 9 Maha Shivaratri 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Contact: Srinath Gopalakrishna, (573) 446-8403 Mar. 14 Maha Shivaratri Special Bhajan 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Contact: V. Gopalaratnam, vsgopal@aol.com Mar. 15 The 7th Anniversary HTCC Banquet 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm Peach Tree Banquet Center, 120 E. Nifong, Columbia M0 65203 Contact: Shiva Kumar Pennathur, pennathur@zoho.com

Mar. 23 Holi Milan 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Location: Memorial Union (MU)

Mar. 30 Holi Time: TBA

Mar. 31 Ugadi 6:30 – 8:30 pm Location: Stotler Lounge (MU) Contact: Krishna Sharma, (573) 875-4162

Apr. 13 Clean-up Columbia Please sign-up to volunteer for one of these two groups. HTCC Helping Hands volunteers meet at 10 am to clean- up outside Shanthi Mandir and along Holly Avenue. Contact: Vellore S. Gopalaratnam, vsgopal@aol.com, (573) 446-0663. Bal Sabha volunteers meet at 10 am to clean-up Ridgeway Elementary and around Sexton Rd. Contact: Anand Chockalingam,

anandchockalingam@yahoo.com, (573) 256-2572

Apr. 20-21 Akhand Ramayan Contact: Chandra Rawlani, (573) 446-5960

Apr. 28 HTCC Board of Trustees meeting 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Contact: Das Kuttikad, (573) 446-2006

Community Calendar (February 1, 2013– April 30, 2013)

Unless otherwise indicated, all events are at Shanthi Mandir, 2006 Holly Avenue, Columbia, MO 65202.

HTCC Helping Hands, the community ser-

vice wing of HTCC, undertook Sharing the

Warmth, a service project initiated and

coordinated by HTCC Youth with help from

a few adult mentors. The 2012 service pro-

ject was coordinated by Nidhi Khurana with

assistance from several youth members of

HTCC. The group included: Vikram Arun,

Nahush Katti, Sumidha Katti, Urmila Kutik-

kad, Ashwini Mantrala, Nila Palaniappan,

Maya Ramachandran, Suryanshi Rawat,

and Anmol Sethi. These volunteers made

phone calls to HTCC member families and

arranged for collection/drop-offs of lightly

used winter jackets, scarves and winter

boots. A small group of volunteers met on

Saturday, November 24, inspected, neatly

folded the donated items and sorted them

into cardboard boxes based on men/

women and youth/adult sizes. The 2012

Sharing the Warmth drive resulted in col-

lection of approximately 40 coats, 6

scarves and several winter boots. Thanks

to our volunteers and the many donor fami-

lies. The items collected in the drive were

donated to the Refugee Services of Colum-

bia, MO which assists with refugees as well

as non-refugee immigrants from Asia, Afri-

ca, Eastern Europe, and Latin America

regardless of their color or creed.

Sharing the Warmth Anantha Gopalaratnam

Guru Nanak Jayanthi

Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh

faith, was born in 1469 in the month of

Kartik (October/November), and his birth-

day is known as Guru Nanak Jayanthi. His

life served as a beacon for his age. He was

a great seer, saint and mystic. He spread

the message of peace and equality at a

time of violence and segregation. A prolific

poet, a prophet of peace, love, truth and

renaissance, he was centuries ahead of his

times. His universal message is as fresh

and true today as it was in the past.

Guru Nanak Jayanthi was celebrated at Shanthi Mandir on Sunday December 2, 2012. Gyani Malkit Singhji of the St. Louis Gurudwara led an uplifting and inspiring devotional program. Gyaniji sang beautiful-ly, accompanied by his wife and his son, and explained several segments of his readings. The Sukhmani Sahib was read,

followed by Ardas, Prasad and Langar (Community Pot-Luck Lunch). The program was coordinated by the Kirtan

group. Gyaniji told several community

members how much he enjoyed visiting our

Mandir, and talked about the great spirit of

community that he saw at the Mandir.

Thank you all for your willing and frequent

participation!

Shanthi Mandir Hindu Temple and Community Center of Mid-Missouri (HTCC) 2006 Holly Avenue, Columbia, MO 65202-2043

HTCC is registered as a Nonprofit Corporation in MO HTCC is tax-exempt under IRS Section 501 (c) 3

Non-Profit Org

U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 286

Columbia MO 65201

Current Programs at the Mandir (February 15, 2013)

Devotional Programs Open prayer time/Aarti Tuesday 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Geeta Study Circle Tuesday 7:00 - 7:30 p.m. Sai Bhajan Thursday 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Venkateshwara Suprabhatam/Vishnu Sahasranaamam Saturday 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Open prayer time/Aarti Saturday 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Kirtan (Monthly event) 1st Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Educational/Youth Programs Tamil Classes 1st /3rd Sunday 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Bal Puja 2nd Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Bal Sabha 4th Sunday 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Service Programs Volunteering at Central Missouri Food Bank 1st Tuesday 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Narayan Seva (Sai Group - St. Francis Home Lunch) 2nd Sunday 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Non-Perishable Food Collection (Ongoing continuously) Soup and Sandwich Service 4th Sunday 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Fitness and Cultural Art Programs Tabla classes (instructor fee required) Sunday Flexible for now Carnatic vocal music classes (instructor fee required) Sunday 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Yoga classes (instructor fees required) Saturday Flexible for now

Shanthi Sandesh is a quarterly publication of the Hindu Temple and Community Center of Mid-Missouri (HTCC). It is published on behalf of HTCC by its Publications Committee. Editor: Tarang Parashar <tarangparashar@gmail.com>.

Directions: Take Exit 127 on Interstate 70, Head north on Rangeline Street, Right at first traffic light on Vandiver Drive, Left on Parker Street, Right on Holly Avenue, Shanthi Mandir sign will be visible on the right after 5-6 homes. (Note: Holly Avenue is immediately before the Sunrise Optimist building).

Please visit our web site and send us your e-mail address if you would like to be included on the Friends of the Mandir distribution list to receive timely program notices.