Durgai Amman Sannidhi Kumbabishekam Celebrations The Kumbabishekam celebrations for Durgai Amman were a very successful event

at our Temple. With the vast support of our devotees and the strong drive to build the new Durgai Amman sannidhi, our committees worked together to make this a joyous celebration. We would like to thank the board of trustees and the executive committee who used the opportunity to create the Durgai Amman Sanndhi. We are also grateful to our Temple priests, who provided us with the guidance to ensure all the necessary religious attributes were met. And a very heart-filled thank you to all our volunteers who participated in the three day event to make the Kumbabishekam so successful. Thank you, and please continue to support our Temple so that we may continue to move forward. Thank you, The Durgai Amman Committee.

The Ashtabandana Kumbabishekam Celebrations at the Murugan Temple Ashtabandana Kumbabishekam of the Murugan Temple will be celebrated during May 2011. Since this is the 12th anniversary of the Kumbabishekam, the celebrations will be of a very grand magnitude and we are waiting for auspicious dates from the Palani Andavar Temple in Tamil Nadu. The revised dates will be announced soon. Please join us for the grand celebrations as the Temple scales new milestones with every passing year. You may sponsor either the celebrations for a single day or on both days. Please check the Temple blog or contact the Temple manager at 301-552-4889 for updates. Vaikasi VisakhamJune 13th 2011 Vaikasi Visakham is the birthday of Lord Muruga. Lord Muruga emerged from the third eye of Lord Shiva. Thus, His birth signifies the opening of the eye of consciousness. Please join us for the Vaikasi Visakham celebrations at the Murugan Temple. Refer to the MTNA calendar on page 3 or for more details. Check out the Temple blog for photos from Thai Poosam, Maha Sivararthri and Panguni Uthram celebrations.

Abhishekam to Noothana Durgai Amman after Parthishta: The Kumbabishkam to the new Durgai Amman was performed on January 22nd. Please refer to the Temple blog for more photos and video from the celebrations

Tamil New Year Grand Celebrations Every new year heralds new promises and hopes. Join us for the grand Tamil New year celebrations at the Murugan Temple on April 16th. Start your new year with the blessings of Lord Muruga. You may also choose to be an all day sponsor of the celebrations. Please refer to the calendar on page 3 or the 2011 MTNA calendar for more details.
Whats inside
Saiva Saints Guru Puja Vilakku Puja Projects in Progress Announcements Nandavanam Graduation ceremony Apr-Jun Calendar Directions to the Temple 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 4

2 Saiva Saints Guru Puja at MTNASunday April 3rd 2011 Hinduism, as we know it, has gone through many trials and tribulations over several centuries but still stands up as an insurmountable tower. During the trying times, the great saints of the past, with their unflinching devotion to God, upheld the beacon light of Dharma and guided the common folks, by their teaching and by example, on the right path of virtuosity and devotion. MTNA will celebrate the glorious works of the 63 flag-bearers of Saivism, the Nayanmars and the contemporary Sivacharyar Late Sri. Kripanandavariar on April 3rd. The celebrations include recitation of some of the Nayanmars works including Panniru Thirumurai by children, Abhishekam to Lord Muruga, religious discourse by an eminent devotee of the Temple and lunch. Please refer to the calendar on page 3 for the schedule. Please note the small change from the MTNA 2011 calendar. We invite all adults and children to participate, enjoy, learn and appreciate the devotional way of worshipping God shown by our great Saiva saints. Vilakku Puja Sunday April 17th 2011 Darkness is nothing but absence of light. When the light called devotion light up in our hearts, the God residing in them is revealed. It is this phenomenon that is signified by the practice of showing deeparathanai to the deities in the Garbagraham. Let our hearts illumine with the light of devotion to Lord Muruga on the first poornima of the Tamil new year, April 17th, also called Chitra poornima. Come, join us on the very auspicious day as the Temple will be beautifully lit up with lamps around each santum. Please refer to the calendar on page 3 for the schedule. Important Announcements: Projects in Progress GOLD CROWN PROJECT A gold Crown for the Utsavamoorthis of Lord Murugan, Valli and Theaviyani are in the process of being made. If you are interested in donating towards this project, please mail a check to MTNA in the memo list "Gold Crown Project". PANCHALOKAM PROJECT Somaskandhar, Separate Amman, Pradooshamoorthi and Sandikeswarar are being custom-made from Panchaloakam in India. If you wish to donate towards this project, please mail a check made out to MTNA and in the memo list "Panchaloakam Project"
Thank you for all the support and donations. If you have any questions please call the Religious chair at 301-545-0002

Announcements
Sign up for the temple blog: please sign up for the Temple blog http:// murugantemple.wordpress.com/ to receive e-alerts about forthcoming events at the temple and articles, photos and videos from past events. Go to the temple website www.murugantemple.org/main.jsp and choose subscribe to blog in quick links or leave your email ID at the sign-up sheet with the Temple manager. Tamil, Religion, and Hatha Yoga Classes For Children: The Murugan Temple offers Tamil, Bajan, and Religious classes for children. Classes on Sundays from 10:15AM - 12:00 noon. Please call Jana Kesavan at 410747-0019 for more information.
YOUR YEAR END CONTRIBUTIONS LETTER can now be easily obtained

from www.murugantemple.us secure website. Register if not already done so. Retain this newsletter for help during registration. Click 'Register' and Click 'Help' adjacent to the DevoteeID field to obtain DevoteeID. Sponsors needed: MTNA needs sponsors for corporate grade printer fax fax machine with maintenance service and a sturdy refrigerator costing approximately $ 1,100.00 or more each. You can sponsor a badly needed replacement or addition to the Temple for items as inexpensive as $25. Please call the Temple manager 301 552-4889 to find out what items are needed at the time.

Nandavanam at Murugan Temple (Flower Garden) The flower garden at the Murugan Temple premise is still in its infancy. We need flowers on a daily basis for the pujas and for garlands. I am calling on all devotees to join in and bring your friends as volunteers to have a beautiful garden at the Murugan Temple. We need not only planting of flowering plants but help on a weekly basis to make sure we maintain well whatever is planted. We need to form a team, have regular meetings and decide how we are going to plant and have a beautiful garden with plenty of flowers for pujas. Please contact the Temple at (301) 552 4889 or Mr. Elyathamby Vignarajah at (410) 788 - 7251. MTNA 2010 & 2011 Children's Graduation Ceremony We had originally planned the 2010 ceremony for Navarathri Day. We would like to do it on the same day for our children who follow the Tamil and religious classes in Bethesda, Ellicott City, and at the Temple. But, we could have the graduation from High schools, Universities, Baratanatyam etc. during the Kumbabishekam anniversary since some of you will leave on holiday or for college. So kindly leave your names at the Temple manager's desk if you are graduating and at what level high school, college, fine arts, music etc. Please contact the Temple at (301) 552 - 4889 or e-mail Mr. Elyathamby Vignarajah evignarajah@hotmail.com for updates.

Ganapati Tunai Why Fear? I Am Within You and Protect You Always Murugan

Murugan Temple Sponsorship Form

Make Murugan Temples Rajagopuram Part of Your Legacy
_ _ _ _ First Brick (Special) Ten Bricks One Thousand Bricks North or South Gopuram $51 $1,010 $101,000 $35,000

Kavasam for Peedam in Silver for Amman .............................$__________ Check Enclosed for................................................................$__________ Name Address City State _________ ZIP ___________________ Phone ____________EMail ________________________________ Family Gothiram _________________________________________ Birth Star (el:rj;jpuk;) _____ Name of Family Member

SubTotal Rajagopuram Contribution ....................$________ Sponsor Temple Operations Full day of temple operations ........................................ $750 Full month: Garlands (all deities) ................................. $900 Full month: Abhishekam and Omam provisions .......... $450 Full month: Milk .......................................................... $250 A full week of Garlands (all deities).............................. $125 One day: Simple garland for a deity........ ....................... $ 15 Choice of Deity for garland :_________________ Sub Total Operations ..........................................$________ Please indicate desired dates _________________ MTNA Newsletter Printing and Mailing .................$__________ Thiruvasi for Sivan ..................................................$__________

Please use separate sheet for additional family members Mail: The Murugan Temple of North America, 6300 Princess Garden Parkway,Lanham, MD 20706 You can now make contributions and fill-out your donation forms on-line at www.murugantemple.org

Vilakku Puja*: Chitra PoornimaSun, April 17th 06:00pm Meenakshi special Abhishekam Adhi Parasakthi PujaSun, April 24th at 02:30pm APRIL Saiva Saints guru Puja Sun, April 3rd 10:00AM Reciting Panniru Thirumurai 11:00AM Murugan Abhishekam 11:30AM Reciting Panniru Thirumurai 12 noon Panniru Thirumurai Procession 12:30pm Lunch Thirumurai RecitalSun, April 10
th

JUNE Vaikasi VisakhamMon, June 13th 09:00AM Subramanya Homam 09:30AM Kavadi and Pal kudam 10:00AM Murugan Abhishekam Fathers DaySun, June 20th 10:00AM Special Abhishekam to Shiva Adhi Parasakthi PujaSun, June 26th at 02:30pm

Mon, April 25th 06:00pm Nataraja Abhishekam Sani PradoshamSat, April 30th 06:00pm Special Abhishekam to Shiva MAY Mothers DaySun, May 8th 10:00AM Special Abhishekam to Meenakshi 12 noon Thirumurai recital at Siva sannidhi Sani PradoshamSat, May 14
th

Monthly events First Friday Bajan 08:00pm Apr 1, May 6 and June 3 Third Friday Bajan 08:00pm Apr 15, May 20 and June 17 Karthigai: Special Abhishekam to Palani Andavar 07:30pm Apr 6, May 4, May 31 and June 27 Pradosham: Siva Special Abhishekam 06:00pm April 15, April 30 (sani), May 14 (sani), May 29, June 13 and June 28. Poornima: Meenakshi Special Abhishekam 06:00pm April 17, May 16 and June 14 Sankatahara Chaturthi: Special Abhishekam to Ganesha 06:00pm April 20, May 20, June 18

12 noon Thirumurai recital in front of Siva sannidhi Tamil New Year (Khara)Thu, April 14th 09:00AM Ganapathi Homam 09:45AM Ganapathi Abhishekam 10:30AM Murugan Abhishekam Tamil New Year Grand celebrations* Sat, April 16th 09:00AM Subramanya Homam 09:30AM Kavadi and Pal kudam 10:30AM Murugan Abhishekam 11:00AM Bajan 12:30pm Deeparathanai 01:30pm Lunch 03:00pm Thiru Kalyanam and procession

06:00pm Special Abhishekam to Shiva Adhi Parasakthi PujaSun, May 22nd at 02:30pm Ashtabandhana Kumbabishekam celebrations: Revised dates and schedule to be announced soon. Check the Temple blog or call the manager for updates. * Sponsorship details: Refer to MTNA calendar or call Temple manager 301-552-4889

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

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID So. MD Permit No. 3958

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

TEMPLE SERVICES: Please call the Temple Manager at 301-552-4889 to make prior arrangements for ceremonies at the Temple or in your home.

Also, ask for information about local hotels.

TEMPLE HOURS: Monday Friday 9 am 12 noon & 5 pm - 9 pm; Saturday, Sunday, & Holidays 9 am 9 pm 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. Call the Temple Manager at 301 5524889 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.

The Murugan Temple of North America is a traditional Saivite Temple. It has a floor area of 7000 sq. ft with main sannidhi for Murugan (Karthikeya) and 4 small sannidhis for Vinayaka (Ganesha), Nataraja (Siva), Meenakshi and Palani Andavar. We also have an auditorium that is available for community use.