• 15th Annual Festival of India

• Sponsor Poojas

• Calling All Volunteers

• Upcoming Heritage Seminars

• Yoga Camp and Discourse

• Visit to Ganges Retreat

• Festival 2004

• Fourth Quarter Events

• The Community Involvement Committee

• Volunteers needed at Boots Project

Hinduism    (Written By - Pandit Anant Dixit)


1. What does "Hindu" mean?

The word Hindu is not very old as it does not appear in Hindu scriptures. There are many interesting stories about its origin. Many historians believe early Hindu civilization developed along the banks of the river Sindhu in India (now in Pakistan). The most popular theory is that the word Hindu is a distorted version of the word Sindhu. It is believed the ancient Persians, who lived on the other side of the river Sindhu, pronounced the letter 'S' as 'H'. Hence, the word Sindhu became Hindu, and the Persians referred to the ancient Indians living on the opposite side of the Sindhu River as Hindus. However, a Sanskrit verse in the ancient Hindu writings, Birhanaradi Purana, contradicts the Persian origin theory. According to this verse, the word Hindu is a combination of the first letter "Hi" of Himalayas and the last compound letter "ndu" of the word Bindu. It refers to India as Hindustan, a country living between the Himalayan Mountains and Bindu Sarover (Cape Commorin Sea).

2. What was the original name of Hinduism?

Hinduism was originally known as Dharma. It is also called Sanatan Dharma; the word Sanatan means eternal.

3. What is the meaning of "Dharma"?

In the English language, there is no single word, which described the true and complete meaning of Dharma, although it is usually translated as religion. Dharma comes from the Sanskrit word "Dhr" which literally means to hold or to sustain. Virtues, beliefs, moral obligations, ethical laws, codes of behavior, traditions and righteous actions that sustain human life in peace and harmony are all aspects of Dharma.

4. How old is Hinduism?

Hinduism is the world's oldest religion. It predates recorded history. Hinduism is the first religion of humankind.

5. Who founded Hinduism?

Hinduism has no founder. It does not owe its existence to a specific prophet. It is based on divine revelations experienced by a series of sages, called Rishis, while they were in intense meditation. The divine knowledge received by the Rishis is contained in the four sacred books called the Vedas. The word Veda means knowledge, as the Vedas are the root and fountainhead of all knowledge. That is why Hinduism is also known as Vedic Dharma

15th Annual Festival of India

 Friday August 13th

• 6:00 pm Ganesh Puja. For sponsoring please contact Leena Jhunjhunwala at (419) 535-0970

• 7:00 pm Dinner by Taj of Columbus

• 8:00 pm Musical Program by Narender Seth from Detroit

 Saturday August 14th

• 08:30 am Srinivasa Kalyanam with Utsav Murtis. For sponsoring contact Sapna Reddy at (419) 824-0925

• 11:30 am Sri Satyanarayana Puja. For sponsoring contact , Surendra Matani at (419) 843-2229

• 12:30 Aarti

• Lunch Stalls by Taj of Columbus and India Kitchen, South Indian Flavor items

• Lunch available 11:30 am on-wards until 3:30 pm. Drinks on-going . Water , Pop and Mango Lassi

• Cultural Programs; 2:00 to 3:00 pm and 3:30 to 4:30 pm, Mayor of Sylvania has been asked to attend

• Vendor stalls open from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm

• Temple tours between cultural programs

• 7:00 pm dinner by Taj of Columbus

• 8:00 pm DJ

 Sunday August 15th :

• 09:00 am Mahavir Puja. For sponsoring contact Pushpa Shah at (419) 843-5359

• 11.00 am Havan ; For sponsoring contact Rajni Sharma at (419) 882-7710

• 12:30 to 2:00 pm cultural program (Patriotic themes)

• 2:00 pm Lunch by Tandoor

• Vendor stalls in the morning

Sponsor Poojas

Please sponsor the follwing poojas during the Festival.  You can write your name on the the bulletin board at the Temple or call the coordinator of the pooja. ( $ 125 for sponsoring  a pooja )  Your generous sponsorship is needed.                                                                     

    Date                                                     Coordinator                       

Friday, Aug 13       Ganesh Pooja             Leena  Jhunjhunwala            419 535 0970

Saturday, Aug 14   Srinivasa Kalyanam     Sapna Reddy                      419 824 0925
                                                                 Subba Rao                          419 861 3929 

Saturday, Aug 14   Satyanarayna              Surendra Matani                  419 843 2229
                              Pooja 

Sunday, Aug 15     Mahvir Pooja              Pushpa Shah                       419 843 5359

Sunday, Aug 15     Havan                         Rajni Sharma                      419 882 7710

Calling All Volunteers

The Temple needs you,  volunteers for various occasions including the upcoming  Ganesha Yagna  and the Festival of India. Please  put your names on the big sign-up sheet at the Temple  or call Jayant Bekal 419 841 4710. 

Community Involvement

Jayalata Patel and Leena Jhunjhunwala  are looking for volunteers for community projects. There  is a sign-up sheet for this separately.  Please, please sign up and let us contribute to the greater community we live in. Contact Jayalata Patel and Leena Jhunjhunwala   for further details. 

 Upcoming Seminar 

The next seminar in the Heritage Seminar series will be on  Saturday September 11at the Temple. Please mark your calendars.  The topic should be of interest to all. DIET, NUTRITION and EXERCISE . The moderators ,Manorama  Rao and  Savita Jindal , are working hard to bring this to the community.  

A  Big  Thank You 

All the Pooja   and Lunch  Sponsors !!   You have  done a wonderful job and  provided a great  service to the Temple. We thank you again.  Keep it up. 

Cultural Activities for the Festival

Jayashree Reddy is the chair of the Cultural Activities Committee. Their committee has planned a number of events for the Festival. Among them are an Adult Fashion Show and a Teen Age Fashion Show. Please contact Jayashree Reddy  419 842 1990 with your ideas, concepts, etc.

UPCOMING HERITAGE SEMINARS

• September 11, 2004: Topic: “Diet, Nutrition & Exercise”
  Moderators: Dr. Manorama Rao, Mrs. Savita Jindal
   

• October 2, 2004: Topic: Interfaith Seminar
  On Mahatma Gandhi’s birth day Peace strategies of leaders from diverse religions and traditions, their application to our world today.
   

• November (TBD) 2004: Topic: “Asset protection and tax reduction strategies”
  Moderator: Sujatha Hegde C.P.A.

Yoga Camp and Discourse

• Sri Swami Adhyatmanandaji Maharaj will be conducting a Yoga Camp and giving discourses at our temple September 21 through  September 25.

• To see more details click here.
   

On October 9, 2004 our Hindu Temple Senior group is planning a day visit to Swami Vivekananda Monastery.  Everyone is welcome to join us. The following is the program:

Non-refundable fee for the visit is $30. The last day of reservation will be September 9th. For Further information please contact:

Raj Joshi  (419) 691-8370,                Surendra Matani  (419) 843-2229

Subba Rao       (419) 861-3929               Arvind Shah   (419) 241-3891

 Festival of India 2004 

             THANK   YOU   THE     TEMPLE     COMMUNITY

 

We celebrated  the Festival of India 2004  on a grand scale on Aug 13, 14  and 15. The attendance and participation  was  extremely good.  Thanks to all  of the Temple  Community for making the Fifteenth Anniversary celebrations  great and memorable. The cultural and entertainment  program   was a feast for the eyes and ears.  DVD of the program  is being made and will be available at nominal cost.

KEEP UP YOUR SUPPORT OF THE TEMPLE

Upcoming Pujas and Celebrations

Vicka Jaggi (419-841-3109)

Deepavali Celebration 2004

Free Dinner (Annakoot Prasadam) Served Immediately After Cultural Program

The Community Involvement Committee

Dear Devotees,

Usha Salvi                                                        419 841 7109

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT “THE BOOTS PROJECT”

Location: Lucas County Courthouse Grounds and

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

Volunteers are needed for each shift. Background materials will be provided to volunteers in advance. Orientation and on-site coordination provided. You will be part of a crew of others interested in peace. We would be very grateful if you would consider more than one shift. Thank you.

Tuesday, November 9^th – Wednesday, November 10^th  – Thursday, November 11^th

Presented by: American Friends Service Committee of Chicago – http://afsc.org/eyes

Sponsored Locally by:

Volunteers please  contact  Leena Jhunjhunwala at 535-0970, if you like to help with this project. We can have a group going to downtown.