6300 Princess Garden Parkway, Lanham, MD 20706. 3015524889, www.muruganTemple.org Wish you all Happy New Year 2013.

NEW YEAR DAY CELEBRATIONS

THIRUPNI KUZHU REPORT ON MURUGAN RAJAGOPURAM & TEMPLE EXPANSION PROJECT

Start the new year with the blessings of Lord Murugan with grand celebrations at the Murugan Temple with special Pujas, Homams, Abhishekams and Alankarams. There will be special Archana and Aarthi on the eve of the new year. The events on the new year day include Vishesha Kanaka Lakshmi Puja, Moolamantra Srisukta Homam followed by Poornahuti. A special Dravya Abhishekam will be performed to Lord Muruga. Please refer to the calendar on page 3 for more details. Sponsor a brick for the Murugan Temple Rajagopuram. Ask the manager for more details.
Whats inside Thai Poosam Panguni Uttiram Maha Sivarathri Jan Mar calendar 2 2 2 3

By the grace of VaLLal Washington MURUGAN, the Rajagopuram & Temple Expansion project is progressing very well as per our schedule. Prince Georges (PG) County, MD has i s s u e d t h e b uilding permit for the construction of Phase I of the project MURUGAN TOWER (the Rajagopuram concrete framework) on October 5, 2012. The contractor has been selected and a construction contract was signed. The contractor started securing the Foundation place for the Rajagopuram in the first week of December 2012. We will get the permit for Phase II of the Temple expansion in the spring of 2013. The complete cost of the project is estimated around $3M. We seek t he generous support of all ardent Washington VaLLal Murugan devotees for the fruitful completion of the project s c h e d u l e d for the completion by first half of 2014". Please visit our Temple website for further details.

2013 MTNA calendar is now available at the Temple. Contact the manager for more details.
YOUR YEAR END CONTRIBUTIONS LETTER

Contribution letter for the year 2012 will be available online from January 15, 2013 at our secure web site at www.murugantemple.us. 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.

Singing Thirupalli Ezhuchi daily, Ardra Darisanam and recitation of Thirumurai were some of the festivities held at the Temple during the Tamil month of Margazhi.

THAI POOSAMJAN 26
Please join hundreds of devotees from all over North America in celebrating Thai Poosam at the Murugan Temple on Jan 26th . The Pushya asterism in the tamil month of Thai (Mid-Jan-Feb) celebrated as Thai Poosam, is the auspicious day on which Lord Muruga obtains the Vetri Vel from His mother Goddess Parvathi, with which He will vanquish Soorapadma. Murugan Temple celebrates this festive occasion on a grand scale every year with audience

MAHA SIVARATHRIMAR 9 & 10

Fasting all day and keeping vigil all night while praying to Lord Siva on Maha Sivarathri is the most pleasing prayer to the father of all worlds. The Murugan Temple will celebrate the Maha Sivarathri on Mar 9th and 10th with 4 Jama Pujas. Each Jama Puja will include special Abhishekam to Lord Siva followed by unique Alankaram to each Jama and recitation of different hymns. Please refer to the Temple calendar or the calendar on page 3 for more details. Mark your calendars and attend the Maha Sivarathri at the Temple with family and friends.

PANGUNI UTTIRAMMAR 26 AND 30

Carrying Kavadi and Pal kudam is a popular and routine exercise of devotees during Thai Poosam from devotees from all over North America. The celebrations include Ganesha Puja, Subramanya Homam, Kavadi and Pal kudam, special Murugan Abhishekam and Alankaram. Thirukalyanam of Lord Muruga with his consorts Goddesses Valli and Devasena will also be performed. Following this, the procession of the utsavar idols of the Lord with his consorts in the Temple precincts is a major highlight of the function. Panguni Uttiram, the Uttiram asterism in the Tamil month of Panguni, is the most auspicious day for marriage and married couples. This is the day when Lord Muruga marries Goddess Valli. This is also the day when Lord Sudareswara marries Goddess Meenakshi. Murugan Temple will celebrate Panguni Uttiram on Mar 26th with Subramanya Homam, Kavadi/Pal kudam and Murugan Abhishekam. Special celebrations will be conducted on Mar 30th. The special celebrations include Abhishekam, Alankaram, Kavadi/Pal kudam and Thirukalyanam and procession of Lord Muruga inside the Temple. Mark your calendars for this auspicious function.
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JANUARY
Jan 1stNew Years Day Dec 31 2012 Midnight Special Archana and Arthi 09:30AM Ganesha Puja followed by Vishesha Kanaka Mahalakshmi Puja, Moolamantra Srisukta Homam and Poornahuti 11:00AM Murugan Vishesha Dravya Abhishekam, Alankaram and Bhajans 12:30pm Deeparahanai followed by distribution of special Bhajans.
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Feb 15th Shukla Sashti 06:00pm Murugan Sahasranamam Feb 17thKarthigai 06:00pm Palani Andavar Special Abhishekam Feb 23rd 06:00pm Nataraja Special Abhishekam Feb 25thMaasi Magam 10:00AM Murugan Special Abhishekam MARCH Mar 9thMaha Sivarathri 07:30pm Ganapathi Puja and Kalasa Puja 08:00pm First Jama Puja Siva Special Abhishekam followed by Vibhuti Alankaram, Veda Parayanam and singing Thirumurai 11:00pm Second Jama Puja Siva Special Abhishekam followed by Santhana Alankaram and singing Siva Puranam Mar 10 Maha Sivarathri (contd) 01:00AM Third Jama Puja Siva Special Abhisekam followed by Pushpa Alankaram and singing Thiru Neetru Pathikam 03:00AM Fourth Jama Puja Siva Special Abhishekam followed by Special Alankaram and singing Kolaru Pathikam and Deeparathanai 3
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Mar 10th Thirumurai recital in front of Siva sannidhi Mar 16thKarthigai 06:00pm Palani Andavar Special Abhishekam Mar 26thPanguni Uttiram 09:00AM Ganesha Abhishekam 09:45AM Subramanya Homam and Kavadi, Pal kudam 10:30AM Murugan Abhishekam Mar 30thPanguni Uttiram Special celebrations 09:00AM Ganapathi Puja 09:30AM Subramanya Homam, Kavadi and Pal kudam 11:00AM Murugan Abhishekam 12:30AM Deeprathanai and lunch 03:00pm Thirukalyanam and Murugan procession. MONTHLY EVENTS
Friday Bhajans (at 08:00pm) Jan 4, 18, Feb 1, 15 and Mar 1, 15. PradoshamJan 9, 24, Feb 7, 22 and Mar 9, 24 06:00pm Special Siva Abhishekam PoornimaJan 26, Feb 24, Mar 26 06:00pm Meenakshi Special Abhishekam Adhi Parasakthi Puja (at 02:30pm) Jan 27, Feb 24 Sankata Hara ChaturthiJan 30, Feb 28, Mar 30 07:00pm Ganesha Special Abhishekam

Jan 13 Bhogi Thirumurai recital in front of Siva sannidhi Jan 14 Thai Pongal Jan 16thShukla Sashti 06:00pm Murugan Sahasranamam Jan 26th Thai Poosam (Poornima) 09:00AM Ganapathi Homam and Abhishekam 09:45AM Subramanya Homam 10:30AM Kavadi and Pal kudam 11:00AM Murugan Abhishekam followed by Bhajan and Deeparathanai 03:00pm Thirukalyanam and Murugan procession
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FEBRUARY
Feb 10 Thirumurai recital in front of Siva sannidhi
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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 301 552-4889 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.

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.
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