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Hindu Satsang Samachar
Vol 22 N0. 2
February
2001
.
COORDINATORS
Gul Bhatia
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JANUARY MEETING
General Coordinator
Lemont: The January meeting of Hindu Satsang was convened by Mr. Sudhir Gupta. The invocation
and Vedic Sandhya was performed by Dr. Jai Datt Upreti ‘Shashtri’, Shri Ramesh Malhan and Hindu
Subhash Pandey Satsangies. Smt Kanchan Pandey, Smt Hemlata Bakane, Shri Subhash Sharma, Mrs Shanti Dixit, Mr.
Asst General Coordinator
Sanjay Upreti and Mrs. Rashmi Gandhi sang beautiful bhajans and were accompanied on Tabla by Mr.
Prem Sabharwal Anant Vyas.
Our guest singer Shri Ashok Misra treated us with melodious bhajans. Hindu Satsangies really
Liaison
enjoyed their bhajans. Mr. Hans Upadhyay introduced Dr. Jai Datt Upreti ‘Shashtri’, the guest
speaker who enlightened Hindu Satsangies with the teachings of Vedas. Mrs. Rashmi Gandhi also
Vinod Gandhi
sang patriotic song in celebration of India’s Republic day, which was on January 26. Mr. Gul Bhatia
Liaison
also made an appeal for donation on behalf of Hindu Satsang for earthquake relief in Gujarat India.
Anupam Agnihotri
Finance
Silent prayers were held for all the victims of earthquake in Gujarat.
Mamta Shah
Prasad
Gitesh Shah
General announcements and introduction of newcomers was done by Shri Gul Bhatia. The meeting
was concluded with the arti by Hindu Satsang Youths and Satsangies, and with the distribution of
prasad by the Host Family.
Property
Flower Fixer
Vibha Sharma
Publication
Yaduvir Singh
Education
Sharda Saini
Education
Feeling anxious? The chamomile flower may put you in a better frame of mind.
Studies reveal that chamomile tea may have anti-anxiety effects. Researchers believe that the
antioxidant apigenin is what gives the flower of the chamomile herb the ability to soothe frazzled
nerves.
RealAge Benefit: Taking care of your emotional health and well-being can make your RealAge up to
16 years younger.
Sudhir Gupta
Education
Courtesy of RealAge.com
Feminine Fitness
Tripti Khare
Special Events
Jagdish Khurana
Special Events
Abha Beri
A regular workout may be one of the best ways to preserve your reproductive health.
A recent study revealed that women who regularly engaged in physical activities had a much lower
incidence of ovarian cancer compared to women who exercised the least. Taking part in any form of
physical activity, from running and rowing to swimming and squash, can offer the protective benefit.
Youth
RealAge Benefit: Exercising regularly can make your RealAge as much as 9 years younger.
Vikas Pandey
Youth
Courtesy of RealAge.com
Hindu Satsang Samachar
Upcoming Events
Feb 24,
Phalguna masa
Begins
Mar 1,
Mar 6,
Mar 7,
Mar 9,
Mar 9,
Krithika
Amalki Ekadasi
Pradosham
Poornima
Holi
Holika Dahan
Sankata Haran
Chaturthi
Papa Mochni
Ekadashi
Pradosham
Amavasya
Shri Vishnu Nama
Samvatsara begins
Chaitra Masa
Begins
Ugadi
Krithika
Mar 14,
Mar 20,
Mar 22,
Mar 25,
Mar 26,
Mar 26,
Mar 26,
Mar 29,
April 1, Daylight Savings
Time begins
April 2, Ramanavami
April 4, Kamda Ekadashi
April 8, Poornima
April 13, Mekh Sankranti
April 14, Hanuma Jayanti
April 19, Ekadashi
April 23, Somavati
Amavasya
April 24, Parasurama
Jayanti
April 27, Ganesh Chaturthi
May 1,
May 3,
May 6,
May 7,
May 10,
May 13,
May 14,
May 15,
May 19,
May 23,
May 26,
May 26,
Durga Ashatami
Mohini Ekadashi
Narasimh Jayanti
Purnima
Ganesha Chaturthi
Mother’s Day
Vrsh Sankranti
Durga Ashtami
Apara Ekadashi
Amavasya
Ganesha Chaturthi
Maharana Pratap
Jayanti
May 28, Memorial Day
May 30, Durga Ashtami
Vol 22 N0. 2
February
2001
Appreciation
Hindu Satsang graciously acknowledges and is grateful for the $500.00 donation by Vijay & Brij
Sharma to subsidize expenses associated with the 2000 Hindu Satsang picnic.
February Birthdays
Anupam Agnihotri
Charu Gupta
Kiran Gupta
Jyostna Salgia
Priya Pandit
February Anniversaries
Shilpa Shah
Vikas Upadhyay
Bhavana Prajapati
Anil Pal
Sneh L. Gunya
Kiran & Dharam Punwani
Usha & Kishor Shah
February
Jyotsna & Anant
- Vyas
Sujata & Gopal Sharma
Kusum & Raj Taneja
January Contributions
Checks:
Cash:
Bereavement
Vijay & Brij Sharma
Sadhana & Rajesh Tiwari
Sudha & Hans Upadhyay
Richa & Anu Agnihotri
Saroj & Sadhuram Mittal
Shanti & Saryu Dixit
Ravinder K. Saini
$500.00
101.00
101.00
51.00
31.00
25.00
21.00
Collections:
112.00
---------$942.00
TOTAL:
Mr. Krishnalal Parikh, brother of
Kantaben Shah and Mamaji of Gitesh
Shah, passed away in Ahemdabad on
Jan 10th of a heart attack.
May God give peace and strength to the
family and friends to bear the loss.
As we release the spirit, we hold onto
the love. May love be what you
remember the most.
Mrityunjaya Mantra
Earth Quake Relief Collection
Checks:
Jyotsna & Anant Vyas
Sadhana & Rajesh Tiwari
Richa & Anu Agnihotri
Poonam & Yaduvir Singh
Sukhada & Newal Agnihotri
Jyotsna & Surendra Salgia
Chhaya & C.S. Trivedi
Vibha & Manu Sharma
TOTAL:
$100.00
100.00
50.00
50.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
21.00
$396.00
Om Tryambakam yajamahe sugandhim
pushtivardharnam!
Urvarukamiva bandhanatmrtyormuksiya
mamrtat!!
We offer our worship to the fragnant
three-eyed Lord Shiva who confers ever
increasingly prosperity. Please liberate
us from the hands of death as effortlessly
as Urvaruka fruit (watermelon) is
separated from the vine; please do not
let us turn away from liberation..
Mark your Calendar for Mahashivaratri Celebrations!!!
Please mark your calendar for Mahashivaratri Celebrations at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago on Wednesday, Feb
21st, 2001 from 7:30AM to 5AM on Feb 22 nd at the HTGC. For more information please see the attached flier or call the
temple @(630) 972-0300.
Hindu Satsang Samachar
Vol 22 N0. 2
February
2001
Hindu Satsang Samachar
Mahashivaratri
Vol 22 N0. 2
February
2001
Hindu Satsang Samachar
Vol 22 N0. 2
February
2001
Mahashivaratri (the great night of Shiva) falls on the fourteenth day of the dark
fortnight of Phalguna (February- March), and is dedicated to the worship of Lord
Shiva. This festival is purely religious in nature and universally observed by all
Hindus. On this day devotees sing bhajans in honor of Shiva, recite Sanskrit shlokas
(verses) from scriptures, offer prayers in the morning and evening, and some observe
fasting throughout the day. People visit nearby temples of Shiva and offer prayers in
large crowds. The prayers and worship continue late into the night when the devotees
offer coconut, Bilva leaves, fruits, and specially prepared sacred food to Shiva and his
divine consort Parvati. Offering Bilva leaves to Shiva on Shivaratri is considered very
auspicious by his devotees.
The origin of Shivaratri is attributed to several stories in Hindu mythology. One very
popular story traces the origin of this festival to the churning of the Ocean of Milk by
devas (gods) and asuras (demons). It is said that when both gods and demons were
churning the Ocean of Milk to obtain amrita (water of immortal life), they came
across many unusual substances, including the deadly poison Kalakuta. As soon as
they touched the poison, it exploded into poisonous fumes that threatened to envelope
the entire universe by darkness. When the destruction of the universe seemed
inevitable, the gods ran for assistance from Brahma and Vishnu, but neither was able
to help. At last they ran to Lord Shiva, who raised his trident and condensed the
fumes. In order to save the creation, Shiva swallowed the poison without spilling a single drop. The poison left a dark blue
mark on Shiva's throat. The gods praised and worshipped Shiva for saving the universe.
The philosophical essence of the above myth is as follows: gods and demons symbolize all kinds of individuals (both good
and bad) in the world. The Ocean of Milk represents the ideal world that is full of peace and happiness for all human beings.
Churning the Ocean of Milk signifies the human activity in the world. The amrita symbolizes happiness and the poison
represents human greed and selfishness. Shiva symbolizes the atman (self), the spiritual essence of an individual. Worship of
Shiva denotes meditation and contemplation by an individual on his or her own self.
The above story is symbolic of the fact that individuals perform actions in the world in order to achieve happiness. In this
process a person is usually overpowered by greed and selfishness, ruining his or her efforts for obtaining peace and happiness.
Thus the only way to achieve peace and happiness is by worshipping Shiva at night, that is, by meditating on one's own self
during the night when the individual is free from the distractions of the physical world. When the individual attains selfknowledge, he or she can live in the world without being affected by anger, greed, and selfishness, the three enemies of one's
soul. Shlce Shivaratri symbolizes the worship of the atman within, this festival is celebrated as a purely religious festival by
all Hindus, as stated earlier.
Another story in Hindu mythology also emphasizes the auspiciousness of Shivaratri: On the day of Shivaratri, a hunter, who
had killed many birds in a forest, was chased by a hungry lion. The hunter climbed a Bilva tree to save himself from the lion's
attack. The lion waited throughout the entire night at the bottom of the tree for its prey. In order to stay awake to avoid falling
from the tree, the hunter kept plucking the leaves of the Bilva tree and dropping them below. The leaves fell on a Shiva Linga
that happened to be located at the bottom of the tree. Shiva was pleased by the offering of the Bilva leaves by the hunter,
although inadvertently, and saved the hunter in spite of all the sin the hunter had committed by killing the birds. This story
emphasizes the auspiciousness of worshipping Shiva with Bilva leaves on Shivaratri.
Courtesy of Mahashivaratri. by Bansi Pandit. www.koausa.org/Festivals/Shivratri
“Karpura gauram karunavataram Sansara saram bhujagendra haram
Sada vasantam Hridayarvinde Bhavam Bhavani sahitam namami.”
I bow to Bhavani as well as as to Lord Shiva who is white as camphor, who is compassion incarnate, who is the essence of the
world, who wears a garland of a large snake and who always dwells in the lotus like hearts of his devotees.
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Hindu Satsang Samachar
Vol 22 N0. 2
February
2001
Hindu Satsang’s FebruARY Meeting
Sunday FEBRUARY 25, 2000
AT
Hindu Temple Of Greater Chicago
10:00am - 2:00pm.
Host Families: Kiran Punwani, Madhu Bahl, Saroj Singla, Ranjana Sahni, Aruna Grover
Convener:
Abha Beri & Vikas Pandey
Program agenda for February 25, 2000 meeting:
9:30 to 10:00
Registration for Children’s Program
10:00 to 10:15 - Invocation and Vedic Sandhya by Ramesh Malhan and Satsangis
10:15 to 12:00 - Children’s Annual Program
12:00 to 12:05 - Newcomers introduction
12.05 to 12:10 - General Business/Announcements by Mr. Gul Bhatia
12:10 to 12:30 - Aarti by Hindu Satsangies
12:30 to 2:00 - Prasad ( Lunch ) by Host Families.
(All the members, please be advised to be present at the temple premises by 10:00 AM so as to avoid any delay in the
program schedules.)
Hindu Satsang Samachar
VOL. 22
A Monthly Newsletter
NO.2
February 2001
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