Sri Siva Vishnu Temple

6905 Cipriano Road, Lanham MD 20706

Newsletter

Tel: (301) 552-3335 Fax: (301) 552-1204

E-Mail: ssvt@ssvt.org Web Site: http://www.ssvt.org
Vol 23, No. 6

June 2014

Last Printed Issue of the Newsletter (Electronic Versions will Continue)

As part of SSVTs going green efforts, paper newsletter will be stopped effective June 1, 2014, unless specifically requested by email
to ssvt@ssvt.org. The temple has started distributing the monthly news letter by email. Devotees are encouraged to signup for electronic
newsletter by sending an email to ssvt@ssvt.org with the home address and subject line Subscribe to e-Newsletter and Unsubscribe
Paper Newsletter. The benefits of subscrining to the electronic Newsletter include:
Besides the monthly newsletter, frequently updates and special updates are also sent by email
You can print out, in color, only the portions you are interested in
Future newsletters will be available for you to download into your Kindle, I-Pad, I-Phone, Android devices, etc.
Video Clips of important functions will become available
You will help the Temple in saving monthly printing and mailing costs

Vaikasi Vishakam Celebration

Sunday, June 8 Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Sunday, June 8

9:30 am
Ganesha Puja, Subrahmanya
Moola Mantra Homam
10:30 am Subrahmanya Abhishekam with
108 milk kalasams, Shashti Kavacham Recitation, Bhajans, Archana
1:30 pm Deeparadhana & Prasadam Distribution

Monday, June 9

Tuesday, June 10

9:30 am Subrahmanya Abhishekam

7:30 pm Subrahmanya Trisati Archana
8:00 pm Visesha Arati, Prasadam Distribution
Sponsorship: Trisati Archana $11

9:30 am Subrahmanya Abhishekam

7:00 pm Subrahmanya Sahasranama Archana
8:00 pm Visesha Arati, Prasadam Distribution
Sponsorship: Sahasranama Archana $15

Wednesday, June 11 - Vaikasi Vishakam Day

9:30 am Subrahmanya Moola Mantra Homam

10:30 am Subrahmanya Abhishekam
7:30 pm Thirupugazh Bhajans
8:00 pm Archana, Visesha Arati & Prasadam Distribution
Sponsorship: Homam $25, Milk Kalasam Sponsorship $25,
Homam & Milk Kalasam Sponsorship $35

SAMVATSARA MAHOTSAVAM
Wednesday, June 25 - Friday, July 4, 2014

The Hindu Solar month of Mithuna (June 15 - July 15 this year)

is very special in the history of our temple. It is in this month
that many important milestones were reached like the Baalaalaya Prathishta, Bhoomi Puja, Prathistapana Kumbhabhishekams
for the main Deities and more recently the Rajagopura and Jeernodhaarana Kumbhabhishekams.Hence in keeping with the tradition, the temple will be celebrating the Samvatsara Mahotsavam
from Wednesday June 25 through Friday July 4. To compensate
for the acts of omissions and commissions during the year and to
rejuvenate the spirit of devotion and service in the minds of devotees such festivals are conducted in temples annually. During this
annual ten-day festival there will be special Pujas to every Deity
including special Homams, Abhishekams and Kalyana Utsavams.
Devotees are requested to participate in these Pujas, especially in
the Pujas to their favorite Deity (Ishta Devata) in large numbers,
extend their generous physical, financial and moral support as they
have done in the past and make this festival a grand success.
Wednesday June 25,2014
9:30 am Ganesha Puja, Anugnay, Dwaja Aarohanam, Mritsangrahanam, Vastu
Homam, Ankooraarpanam, Raksha Bandanam,Mahaganapathy
Homam, Sri Krishna Moola Mantra Homam
10:30 am Krishna Abhishekam (Rohini), Sarada, Andal, Navagraha
& Praakaara Ganapati Abhishekams, Siva Parivaara Devata
Aradhana (Siva Praakaara Ganapati, Dakshinamurthy,
Lingodbhavar, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara, Nandikeshwara,
Dwaara Ganapati & Dwaara Subramanya)
5:30 pm Andal, Anantapadmanabha & Ayyappa Sahasranama Archana

Thursday June 26, 2014

Guru Transition

9:30 am Vishnu Sahasranama Homam

10:30 am Subrahmanya & Krishna Abhishekams
5:30 pm Sarada, Venkateshwara & Krishna Sahasranama Archanas

This year Guru makes a transition from Mithuna (Zodiac sign

Gemini) to Kataka (Zodiac sign Cancer) on Wednesday, June 18
according to the North American Panchangam.

9:30 am Sudarshana Homam, Sri Sukta Homam

10:30 am Mahalakshmi & Sudarshana/Yoga Narasimha Abhishekams
7:00 pm Lalitha Sahasranama Archana to Parvati
8:00 pm Mahalakshmi Aradhana

Wednesday, June 18 & Saturday, June 21, 2014

9:30 AM Ganapati Homam, Navagraha Homam with special emphasis on Guru

10:30 AM Navagraha Abishekham, Lord Dakshinamurthy Aradhana, Archana,
Deeparadhana, Prasadam & Raksha distribution @ 12:30 PM
Sponsorship: $ 25 per day
Sponsors are requested to collect the Raksha (sanctified thread worn around
the right wrist) from the temple after the Puja. The effect of this transition
for various Rasis/Nakshatras will be posted on the SSVT website around first
week of June.

Friday June 27, 2014

Saturday June 28, 2014

9:00 am Suprabatham, Pancha Sukta (Purusha, Vishnu, Sree, Bhoo &

Neela Sukta) Homam
10:15 am Venkateshwara Pariwaara Devata Aradhana, Venkateshwara
Abhishekam
4:00 pm Rama Abhishekam (Punarvasu)
(Continued on Page 3)

Religious Calendar

(Important-Please Note: All Nakshtra & Thithi-based Aradhanas (as 22 Sun 9:30 AM Navagraha Homam & Abhishekam
well as Aani Tirumanjanam) from June 25- July 4 have been included (Please note the change from Annual Calendar)
under Samvatsara Mahotsavam Program)
(Homam & Abhishekam on June 29 is cancelled)
4:00 PM Anantapadmanabha Abhishekam (Ekadasi)
Religious Calendar for June 2014
24 Tue 9:30 AM Utsava Subrahmanya Abhishekam (Krittika)
01 Sun 9:30 AM Mahaganapathi Homam & Abhishekam (Chaturthi) 7:00 PM Siva Abhishekam (Mahapradosham)

10:00 AM Rama Abhishekam (Punarvasu)
25 Wed
SAMVATSARA MAHOTSAVAM BEGINS (please
03 Tue 9:30 AM Subrahmanya Abhishekam (Shashti)
see details)
05 Thu 10:00 AM Andal Abhishekam (Purvaphalguni)
26 Thu Amavasya (Mrigasira)
06 Fri 9:30 AM Ayyappa Puja (Uttaraphalguni)
27 Fri 10:00 AM Mahalakshmi Abhishekam

10:00 AM Parvati Abhishekam
(Please note the change from Annual Calendar)
07 Sat 4:00 PM Srinivasa Kalyanam
30 Mon 6:30 PM Sarpabali (please see details)
08 Sun 9:30 AM Vaikasi Vishakam Celebration Begins (Please see details)
09 Mon 7:00 PM Anantapadmanabha Abhishekam (Ekadasi)
Religious Calendar for July 2014
10 Tue 9:30 AM Sudarshana/Yoga Narasimha Homam & Abhishekam
(Swati)
04 Fri
SAMVATSARA MAHOTSAVAM ENDS (please see
7:00 PM Siva Abhishekam (Mahapradosham)
details)
11 Wed 9:30 AM Vaikasi Vishakam Day Celebration Ends (Please 05 Sat 4:00 PM Srinivasa Kalyanam
see details)
06 Sun 9:30 AM Maha Sudarshana Homam (Sudharshana Jayanti)
12 Thu 7:00 PM Satyanarayana Puja (Poornima)(Temple and offsite)
(please see details)
13 Fri 10:00 AM Anjaneya Abhishekam (Moola)
08 Tue 9:30 AM Utsava Subrahmanya Abhishekam (Vishaka)

10:00 AM Durga Abhishekam
7:00 PM Anantapadmanabha Abhishekam (Ekadasi)
15 Sun
Mithuna Month Begins
09 Wed 7:00 PM Siva Abhishekam (Mahapradosham)
9:30 AM Mahaganapathy Homam (Sankatahara Chaturthi)
11 Fri 7:00 PM Satyanarayana Puja (Guru Poornima)(Temple and off 9:30 AM Ayyappa Puja
site)
4:00 PM Ganesha Abhishekam (Sankatahara Chaturthi)

10:00 AM Durga Abhishekam
16 Mon 9:30 AM Utsava Srinivasa Abhishekam (Sravana)

10:00 AM Anjaneya Abhishekam (Moola)
17 Tue 9:30 AM Subrahmanya Abhishekam (Shashti)
13 Sun 9:30 AM Utsava Srinivasa Abhishekam (Sravana)
18 Wed 9:30 AM Guru Transition Day (please see details)
14 Mon 9:30 AM Mahaganapathi Homam (Sankatahara Chaturthi)
20 Fri 10:00 AM Sarada Abhishekam
7:00 PM Ganesha Abhishekam (Sankatahara Chaturthi)
(Please note the change from Annual Calendar)
16 Wed
Kataka Month & Dakshinayanam Begins (12 Noon)
7:15 PM Bhagawati Seva
Bhagawati Seva Daily till August 15
21 Sat 9:30 AM Guru Transition Special Puja (please see details)
(Rest of July in next Newsletter)

Sri Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma

DISCOURSES IN TELUGU ON BHAKTI YOGA

June 2, 2014 through June 4, 2014, 7:00 - 9:00 PM

Sri Siva Vishnu Temple Auditorium; Lanham, MD

Brahmasri
Samavedam
SHANMUKHA
Sarma garu is a profound speaker and
blessed with wonderful oratory skills on our
Sastras, Puranas, Itihasas and Vedas. Sree
Samavedam garu started his spiritual journey
in his childhood with the aim of protecting
the Veda Parampara and also sharing the
wealth of knowledge that was gifted to
us by our ancient sages and Rushis. Sri
Samavedams part in protecting the the Veda
parampara includes his Discourses, literature
in different ways, Dance Ballets, Lyrics and
many more. Some of his discourses includes
Siva Puranam, RudhraBhashyam, Siva Leela
Vilasam, Sree Krishna Tathvam, Narayaneeyam, Lalitha Sahasra
Nama Vybhavam, Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Stotra Bhasyamu,
Soundharya Lahari and Bhagavatha Sapthaham and the list goes
on. His first lecture on Agni at the Sivaramakrishna Kshetram
in Vijayawada laid the foundation for the endeavor and after that
he never looked back. He won many accolades and won many
followers during his journey.
Discourses in Telugu on Bhaagavata Saptaaham
June 18, 2014 through June 22, 2014
7:00 - 9:00 PM on week days and 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM on week ends
SV Lotus Temple; Fairfax, VA
For more information, contact:
Uma Potarazu: 301-670-5559
Vasanthi Aharam: 703-980-1629; Chandu Tadikonda: 732-689-2867

HH Sri Paripoornananda Swamiji

Pravachanam on Sri Lalitha Sahasranama Stotram

June 16, 2014 through June 18, 2014, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Sri Siva Vishnu Temple Auditorium; Lanham, MD
A brief bio-data of Swami Paripoornananda Saraswati
Sreepeetham: A luminous Centre of Wisdom and Service inspiring people to follow Hindu Dharma and its
Values. Sreepeetham was established by Swami Paripoornananda Saraswati in 1999 in Kakinada, East
Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Swami Paripoornanada Saraswati, a renowned Saint,
Scholar, and Visionary, was born on November 1, 1972 in
a traditional family. After his formal education, he joined
a Vedic School to study Krishna Yajurveda. He then
gained in-depth knowledge of Vedic Philosophy under
the tutelage of Pujya Sri Swami Dayananda Saraswathi
who hails from the lineage of Sri Adi Shankaracharya.

Swami Paripoornanada Saraswati

Is a social activist as much as a spiritual leader.

He opposes the illegal conversion tactics to woo Dalits
into other religions
He goes to Dalit communities encouraging them to return to the Mothers lap.
Global Hindu Heritage Foundation/Save Temples works closely with
the Swamiji to restore the Hindu pride.
He is well known for his discourses on Bhagavad Gita, Lalitha Sahasranama Stotram, Bhajagovindam, Dakshinamurthy, Atma Bodha,
Upadesa Saram, Keno Upanishad, Ishavasopanishad, Sadhana Panchakam, Manisha Panchakam, and Nirvanashtakam.
For more information, contact:
This Pravachan will
Prakasarao Velagapudi: 601-918-7111
Venkat, Adavikolanu: 301-249-2176
be in Telugu

(Continued From Page 1)

SAMVATSARA MAHOTSAVAM
Wednesday, June 25 - Friday, July 4, 2014
Sunday, June 29, 2014

7:30 am Ganesha Puja, Ekadasa Rudra Homam

9:30 am Ayyappa Pariwaara Devata Puja, Ayyappa Puja
11:30 am Siva Abhishekam
6:00 pm Ayyappa Sahasranama Archana
7:30 pm Ayyappa Padi Puja, Harivarasanam

Monday June 30, 2014

9:30 am Mahaganapathi Homam, Sankshepa Ramayana Homam

10:30 am Ganesha & Rama Abhishekams
5:30 pm Ganesha, Siva & Rama Sahasranama Archanas

Tuesday July 1, 2014

9:30 am Mahaganapathy Homam, Durga Sukta Homam, Pavamana Sukta Homam

10:30 am
Ganesha Abhishekam (Chaturthi), Durga & Anjaneya
Abhishekams
5:30 pm Durga, Anjaneya & Subrahmanya Sahasranama Archana
7:30 pm Nama Ramayanam and Vishesha Aarati to Sri Rama
8:00 pm Anjaneya Aradhana and Hanuman Chalisa

Wednesday July 2, 2014

9:30 am Medha Suktha Homam, Navagraha Homam & Abhishekam

10:30 am Sarada, Andal & Navagraha Abhishekams
5:30 pm Andal, Anantapadmanabha & Ayyappa Sahasranama Archana

Thursday July 3,2014

9:30 am Subrahmanya Moola Mantra Homam, Bhoo Sukta Homam

10:30 am Subrahmanya Abhishekam (Shashti), Andal Abhishekam (Purvaphalguni) & Krishna Abhishekam
5:30 pm Sarada, Venkateshwara & Krishna Sahasranama Archanas
6:30 pm Subrahmanya Bhajans, Vishesha Aarati to Subrahmanya

Friday July 4, 2014 (Concluding Day)

9:30 am Lalitha Sahasranama Homam

10:30 am Siva, Parvati & Ayyappa Abhishekams, Nataraja, Sivagami &
Anantapadmanabha Abhishekams (Aani Tirumanjanam)
11:00 am SreeDevi-BhooDevi-Srinivasa, Valli-Devasena-Subrahmanya,
Parvati-Siva Kalyana Utsavams, Sarva Devata Rathotsavam,
Vishesha Aarati to all Devatas, Acharya Sambhaavana, Paalikaa
Visarjanam, Dwaja Aavaarohanam, Concluding Pujas of the
Mahotsavam, Prasadam @ 1:30 PM
Sponsorship:
$ 15 per Sahasranama Archana $ 25 per Homam or Abhishekam
$ 51 for all Pujas for a Deity $ 101 per day Puja
$ 501 for the entire Samvatsara Mahotsavam

Sarpabali

Monday, June 30, 2014

Sarpabali is the worship of 55 divine snakes (including Sivas Vasuki and Vishnus Adisesha) to ward off the bad effects of Sarpa
Dosha, to help mitigate and eradicate the problems of skin diseases, to help people in search of life partners find suitable spouses,
for progeny (Putra Bhaagyam) and for the overall well being of
all. (Sarpa Dosha may be present due to harm done to snakes and
other reptiles in the past births and due to other causes. Sarpa Dosha is recognized when all the other grahas in ones horoscope lie
between Raahu and Ketu. Sarpa Dosha is often a reason for late
marriages). Sarpabali is performed about two or three times a year
especially on Aaslesha Nakshatra days in the Hindu Solar months
of Kanya and Kumbha. Turmeric powder, rice, milk, coconuts,
fruits and flowers are the ingredients generally brought by devotees
for Sarpabali. For the ingredients to be included in the Puja, they
must be given to the priest before the Puja starts. Sankalpam for
the Puja (when devotees can mention to the priest the problems
to be overcome or desires to be fulfilled) will begin at 6:30 pm.
Sarpabali Puja will be performed in the Kerala Tantric style from
7:00 to 8:30 pm.

6:30 pm Sankalpam (when devotees can mention to the priest the

problems to be overcome or desires to be fulfilled).
7:00 pm Sarpabali
Sponsorship: $ 25

MahaSudarshana Homam
Saturday, July 5 Sunday, July 6, 2014

Sudarshana, the holy discus (wheel) in the hands of Lord Narayana

(Vishnu), is the embodiment of the power of Lord Vishnu in destroying the evil and protecting the righteous as he took the shape
of the claws in Narasimha Avataram, arrows in Rama Avataram,
axe in Parasurama Avataram and Chakra (wheel) in Krishna Avataram.Hence the worship of Sudarshana as a devata (deity) is extolled in Vaishnava agama Sastras. Worship of Sudarshana bestows
good knowledge and good faculties as the syllable Su stands for
Good and Darshana for Vision.SSVT will be conducting a
grand Sudarshana homam followed by an abhishekam on Sunday,
July 6, to enable devotees to obtain all the beneficial effects of the
worship of Lord Sudarshana.
Saturday, July 5
7:00 pm Anugnay, Swasthi Vachanam, Sri Viswaksena Aradhana,
Sri Bhagavad Vaasudeva Punyahavachanam, Rakshabandanam,
Kalasa Sthapanam, Mangalanusasanam, Theertha Prasada Viniyogam.
Sunday, July 6
7:00 am Suprabhatam, Dhaama Pradakshanam, Yagasala Pravesham,
Viswaksena Aradhana, Sri Bhagavad Vaasudeva Punyahavachanam, Arani Manthanam, Agni Prathishta, Sudarshana Sathaka
Homam, Pancha Sukta Homam, Parivara Homam, Poornahuthi
11:00 am Mahasudarshana & Yoga Narasimha Abhishekam, Alankaram,
Sudarshana Ashtaka Parayanam, Archana, Sengolam, Saathumurai Seva, Maha Mangala Arathi, Theertha Prasada Viniyogam
Sponsorship: Yagnam: $51

Bhagawati Seva (During Kataka Month)

Wednesday July 16 to Friday August 15, 2014

Dakshinayana marks the southern transition of sun for a period of

six months. These six months are the night time for the Gods and
Goddesses. The first of these six Hindu months is especially important for the worship of Devi (the Universal Mother). Bhagawati
Seva which is worship of the Devi in the Kerala Tantric tradition,
will be performed daily from July 16 through August 15 at 7:15
PM. All devotees are encouraged to participate by way of Lalitha
Sahasranama recitation, Devi Stotram and Devi Namaskaaram.
Sponsorship details are given below.
Sponsorship:
$ 31 per day
$ 101 for all Fridays during the Kataka month
$ 501 for the whole month

Obituary
Dr. Janaki Balakrishnan of Baltimore, MD
attained the lotus feet of The Lord on April 23rd,
2014 after a prolonged illness. We are deeply
saddened by her loss.
Janaki and her husband, R. Balakrishnan, have
been involved with SSVT from the beginning.
They are founder patrons of the temple.
Memorial donations in Janakis name can be made
to the Vision of Children Foundation, at http://
www.visionofchildren.org/.

Employee and Volunteer Appreciation Day!

Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 2:00 pm

Please join us at the SSVT auditorium on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 2:00 pm to celebrate and honor
our employees and volunteers. This is an important day where we appreciate all our employees and
volunteers who make SSVT special. Our esteemed employees and their families look forward to your
participation in making this day special for them. This day also provides a wonderful opportunity
for existing and new volunteers to hear from committee coordinators about their goals for SSVT.
Please come and make this a memorable event for all. Refreshments will be served.

SSVT EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Learn More about Your Roots & Culture
Saturday Programs
Program

Time

YOGA FOR ALL

Initial part is Gentle Yoga; everyone can do irrespective of age or physical condition and consists of easy
stretches, breathing exercises and meditation

7:30 am - 10:30 am

Learn Spoken Sanskrit

(Intermediate Level II)

10:00 am - 11:30 am

Learn Spoken Sanskrit

(Intermediate Level I)

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Sloka for Children Vishnu Sahasranamam, Gopika Geetam, Aditya Hrudayam

1:00 pm 2:00 pm

Learn Hindu Scriptures

2:30 pm 5:00 pm

Bhagavatam Dasamaskandham uttaradham Balarama Leelas and Sanskrit Grammar explanations

2:30 pm 3:30 pm

Vaishnava Samhita Srikrishnacaitanya Mahaprabhu Story

3:30 pm 4:00 pm

Brindavana Mahatmyam

4:00 pm 4:30 pm

Valmiki Ramayan Ayodhyakandam

4:30 pm 5:00pm

Other Programs

1. Upanishad Series by Dr. Pradeep S. Kamath June 15, 10:30am -12:30pm

2. SAT Classes
Meets every month on the 1st and 3rd Sundays 3:00 5:00 pm SSVT Education Room
SSVT encourages students to sign-up for guidance on SAT preparation. Classes are organized into two semesters: September January and February - June. Email SAT@ssvt.org to sign-up.

3. Balagokul Sloka Class On Sundays from 10:30 am 12:00 noon.

4. Midweek Yoga at SSVT On Tuesday evenings 7:00pm to 8:30pm

Given the interest of those who attend the Saturday morning session, this new mid-week Satsang has begun since September 24.
Shri Sabnis will be leading this session. Please e-mail Shri Sabnis (sabnis@his.com) if you plan to attend. Session will be adapted to
the needs of attendees.

Homeless SEVA, Sandwich Program, June 14, 2014

Each month, on the 2nd Saturday, volunteers make sandwiches for the homeless. Every time, roughly about 1500 sandwiches are
prepared and delivered to Marthas Table, a DC shelter.
SSVT encourages all devotees especially youth to participate in the program. Please be at the Temple at 10:30 am. Devotees can
sponsor this program by donating $175 to SSVT.
For additional information, please send email to Email: Jaithm@gmail.com , Tribhuvannath Mishra, Contact Phone number-571.214.3198.
4

Twenty-Seventh Annual SSVT/Nadatarangini Music Festival

and Homage to a Legendary Musician
Sri Siva Vishnu Temple (SSVT) and Nadatarangini celebrated the
27th annual Thyagaraja and Purandaradasa music festival in Lanham,
Maryland, on April 12-13, 2014 with the usual enthusiasm of yesteryears.
This festival is the one that is eagerly awaited by the Karnatic music lovers
of the national capital area year after year.
The two-day music festival attracted hundreds
of local students and
teachers who participated in individual as well
as group singing of
Thyagaraja and Purandaradasa and many other composers. SSVT was
observing special religious services as a part of the annual Sri Ramanavami celebrations that
added special musical significance and a colorful ambiance
at
the
temple premises. In addition to the individual singing by young and seasoned singers, there were special group performances by Nirmala Ramaswamy (Mysore Vasudevachars compositions), Jayamangala (Veena
Kuppa Iyers compositions), Usha Char (Pattanam Subramanya Iyers compositions), Preetha Narayanaswamy (Veena ensemble), and the thriller
Laya-Lahari the percussion ensemble led by Anoor Dattatreya Sharma
that literally shook the temple!
This year was noted for its
special musical homage to
the memory of the doyen of
Karnatic music, Sangeeta-Kalanidhi, Padmabhushana, Dr. R.K. Srikantan
who breathed his last at the
ripe age of 94 at Bangalore. Srikantan performed until the very end and of his
life and moved on to Gandharvaloka singing! As a
token of respect to the departed singer, performer,
teacher and torchbearer of the great tradition of
Thyagaraja-Guru-Parampara, the main concert was
rendered by his prime student Ganakalashree, M.S.
Sheela. Just before the main concert, Nadatarangini
ensemble (students of Guru, Usha Char) presented a
special dedication song a composition symbolic of Guru-vandana. The
lyrics (by Dr. M.S. Nataraja) captured the essence of R.K.Srikantans musical life in three stanzas summarizing his saadhana, achievements, recognition he received and contributions he made to the world of Karnatic
music during a span of nearly seven decades during which he rose to great
heights and remained there reigning supreme. Mrs. Usha Char set the music as a raagamaalikaa (a garland of melodies) using Begade, Rasikapriya
and Kalyanavasantha to match the lyrics and to pay rich tributes to the
master of rich and melodious voice. The young students performed very
well and received ovation from the audience.
M.S. Sheelas concert
was something that her
Guru would be proud
of, a very traditional
rendition of select compositions with great
dedication. She aptly started her concert with an ugaabhoga of Purandaradasa in the raga Hamsadhvani, in praise of the Guru and quickly moved on
to a varnam in the same raga. After a couple of keertanas, she gave a memorable rendition of Lathangi and Pattanam Subramanya Iyers composition
marivere. The main
piece was the raagam-taanam-pallavi in
the lilting Hindola and
raagamaalikaa
swarakalpana at the
end, followed by a vibrant tani avartanam.

The sahitya for the pallavi (Sree Rama, Jaya Rama, Raghu Rama, maam
paahi, shritajana-paripaala) was most appropriate for the Ramanavami
season. She also sang the most sought after Shringapuraadheeshvari in
Kalyani, a song that she renders with great devotion and brings in very
special melodic aspects of that raga. Kannada poet laureate, P.T. Narasimhachars famous Krishnana kolalina kare was a request song that
came towards the end. Sheela was accompanied on the violin by the young
genius, Kamalakiran who demonstrated his mastery as a mature accompanist far exceeding his age limit (he is a high school student and a very
promising second generation Indian artist). Vidwan Anoor Dattatreya
Sharma was his usual expert self, matching and complementing the vocalist and the violinist. Vivek Chellappa added energy to the percussion with
his Khanjira under his Gurus guidance. All in all, it was a great dedication
to the departed Guru. Sheela was visibly emotional as she remembered her
Guru and it was a moving tribute at the end of the concert when she
praised R. K. Srikantan and shared her experiences as his student. She
remembered her Guru as a disciplined musician and a great human being
of high values and said that even though he may be physical gone, he is
with us for all times.
The finale for the two-day
festival was yet another
unique concert by a visiting artist from Bangalore,
Sri Thirumale Srinivas.
Thirumale was visiting
the national capital area
for the first time and
he impressed the art- lovers quite a bit by his unique style and rich repertoire of rare compositions. He is a composer, teacher, and vocalist, one
who is capable of playing multiple instruments.
He was accompanied on the violin by yet another second generation artist
of high caliber, Ranjani Atur. Anoor Dattatreya Sharma and Vivek Chellappa were on the Mrudangam and Khanjira respectively. Srinivas started
off with a Daru Varna his own musical composition in the raga Valachi, using Purandaradasas lyrics. In addition to Thyagarajas compositions
like, Raagasudharasa (in Andolika) and Evarikai (in Devamanohari), he
amazed the audience with some rare compositions like Bhujaga Bhushana of Venkatesha Vittala (in Kedara), Rama Bhaktha of Vyasarayaru
(in Janaranjani), Adahogalu Bedavo of Puranadaradasa (in Charukeshi),
kanakadasas Dasanaagabeku (in Sreeranjani). His detailed rendition of
Vasantha Bhairavi (Needayaraada) and a complex RTP in Vagadheeshvari
stole the hearts of the rasikas.
(The saahitya was very
meaningful when
melody, emotion and
rhythm come together,
the music becomes
timeless!) He briskly
introduced a number of
short pieces totally new
to the audience (music
composed by him using
rare ragas like Marva, Gomedakapriya, Nagavalli and Bhujangini). Ranjani was an able accompanist and kept abreast with the challenging taala set
by the vocalist while Dattatreya and Vivek added a lot of oomph to the rich
concert, a grand finale, indeed!
The
volunteers
of
Nalapaka team fed the
audience with sumptuous dinner on both
nights keeping with the
tradition of Nadataranagini. Three cheers to
the combined efforts of
SSVT and Nadatarangini and all the participating artists and volunteers.

Upcoming Cultural Events

Date

Time

Event

Artist

June 7

5:00 pm

Vocal Concert

R.Suryaprakash Vocal
H.N.Bhaskar violin
Vijay Ganesh - mrudangam

Admission Venue

Free

SSVT Auditorium

June 14
June 14

All Day

Sri Papanasam Sivan Festival

Multiple artists

Free

SSVT Auditorium

5:00 pm

Sri Papanasam Sivan Festival Evening

Concert

Smt. Raji Gopalakrishnan vocal

Chi. Kamalakiran Vinjamuri violin
Sri. Jayanth Balasubramanian -Mrudangam

Free

SSVT Auditorium

June 15

3:00 pm

Special Carnatic Music Workshop

Smt. Raji Gopalakrishnan

Part 1. Talk on Appreciating Carnatic Music
Part 2. Devi Compositions by Thyagaraja, Dikshitar
and G.N.Balasubramaniam

Free

SSVT Auditorium

June 21

5:00 pm

Namasankeerthan and
Sampradhaya Bhajans

Kovai Jayaraman and Party

Free

SSVT Auditorium

1st Annual SSVT Sri Papanasam Sivan Festival

Saturday, June 14th, 2014

On Saturday June 14th, 2014, SSVT will celebrate the first annual SSVT Sri Papanasam
Sivan Festival. This great composer of the
20th century (September 26, 1890 October
10, 1973), known as Tamil Thyagayya will
be remembered that day in music and dance,
through his varied compositions such as varnams, padams, javalis, krithis etc. The festival
is open to all rasikas of the greater Washington DC Metro area to attend and participate
as individuals or groups. All music / dance items should be strictly limited to 5 minutes or less. Raga alapana or swara kalpana are not expected. Group
participation is encouraged in order to accommodate a larger number of participants. Sri Papanasam Sivan used to go around the Mada streets surrounding the Kapaleeshwarar temple in Mylapore singing songs in praise of the deity. In emulating this practice, the SSVT event will start with a Giri
Pradakshinam, a procession around the SSVT temple prakaram. All devotees and music participants are invited to join in the procession singing of Sri
Papanasam Sivans krithi Mooladhaara Murthy in Hamsadhwani, culminating in an archana at the Praakara Ganapathy Sannidhi. The program will
begin with the Lighting of the Lamp in the auditorium, an introductory talk, followed by the presentations. The highlight of the evening will be a vocal
concert by the leading musician Smt. Raji Gopalakrishnan. Admission to the entire event is free.
To register for participation, you may follow this link: www.tinyURL.com/papanasam14 and provide the required registration information. Time slots
will be allotted, as available, in the order the requests are received. The deadline for registration is June 1, 2014. Further program details and updates will
be available via the temple notice board and website. For any other questions you may email: papanasam.ssvt@gmail.com or contact the event coordinating team: Nalini Iyer (703-620-6695), Preetha Narayanaswamy (703-794-2184), Prof. V. Sivakumar, and Narayanan Arakoni.

SRI SIVA VISHNU TEMPLE

6905 Cipriano Road
Lanham, MD 20706

Non Profit
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit #6038
Suburban, MD