H i n d u T e m p l e a n d C o m m u n i t y C e n t e r o f M i d - M i s s o u r i 2 0 0 6 H o l l y A v e n u e , C o l u m b i a , M O 6 5 2 0 2 - 2 0 4 3

h t t p : / / s h a n t h i m a n d i r . m i s s o u r i . o r g ( 5 7 3 ) 8 1 4 - 1 2 8 6

Shanthi Sandesh

V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 4 N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 0

Uddhava Gita 1, 2

Executive Board 1, 3

In Memoriam 2

Medium Term Plan 3

Yoga Corner 3

Summer Poem 4

My Favorite Sport 4

Crop Walk 4

Bal Sandesh 5, 6

Ganesh Chaturti 5

Bal Sabha Fall Clean Up 6

Lord Ganesha 6

A Musical Journey 7

Navratri Durga Puja 8

HTCC Youth Day 8

Lotus 8

Bhagavad Gita 9

Quarterly Fiscal Report 10

Donor Acknowledgment 10

Community Calendar 11

Capital Campaign 11

Inside This Issue

W e would like to wish you a Happy Diwali and a

very prosperous New Year. The HTCC Board of Trustees (BoT), Executive Committee members, and several HTCC members are actively engaged in serving the community better by planning for the future. You must have already noticed the repair patch, the filling of the cracks, and the asphalt wedge on the handicapped ramp of the parking lot. At the August BoT meeting, Ranadhir Mitra was elected to serve as President, and Chandrasekhar as Vice President of BoT till February 14, 2012 with a reversal of roles (Chandrasekhar as President and Randhir Mitra as Vice President of BoT) for the second half of the 3-year term. Das Kutikkad was also elected to serve a 3-year term as Secretary of BoT.

At that meeting, the BoT accepted and proceeded with the recommendations of the BoT Committee on Property Exploration/Options, chaired by Sudarshan Loyalka, to undertake medium term renovations of the Shanthi Mandir. The architectural renderings and blue prints for the renovations are already in progress and should be ready by early 2011 with possible renovation taking place during summer 2011 (see page 3). Community input would be sought in 2-3 Open Houses once the architectural plans are ready. A Long-Term Planning Committee chaired by Ranadhir Mitra was also formed by the HTCC BoT to articulate the vision of a permanent temple. The BoT

launched a new round of the capital campaign at the 2010 Ganesh Chaturthi, the fifth year anniversary of Shanthi Mandir, with a goal of raising $150,000, through December 2011.We seek generous donations from you and appeal to you to open your hearts to fulfill our shared vision. You can use the donations/pledge form on Page 11 or on the Mandir website (url: http://shanthimandir.missouri.org/) to make your generous contributions and help us achieve our campaign target. The annual HTCC Youth

Day/Bal Sabha/Bal Puja Picnic held on August 28 was a success, with several new families attending the event.

(Continued on Page 3)

I n the previous issue of Shanthi Sandesh we

introduced the philosophical teachings of Lord Krishna to his disciple Uddhava. Often referred as “Uddhava Gita,” this work has been recognized by scholars for its deep insights and eerie similarities to Bhagavad Gita. These teachings are narrated via engaging stories and imageries and capture the imagination of the reader. This dialogue forms the bulk of the eleventh chapter of the Bhagawatha Purana, credited to sage Vyasa. In this article we explore the story of an Avadhuta as narrated by Lord Krishna to Uddhava “Purify your mind. Control

the senses, Abandon all indulgences. Strive for self realization. Calm your mind. These are the ways to attain the true state of liberation,” said Lord Krishna and narrated the following episode

to Uddhava “Let me tell you the story of

an Avadhuta, who wandered the earth with the ultimate knowledge of Brahman and detachment. King Yadu sought this noble monk and asked him this question: “Oh, great soul, you watch mankind burn in the inferno of lust, anger and greed. Yet you are unaffected by them. What is your secret? In wisdom, demeanor, and physical strength you are superior to those around you. Yet, you hold a stick, wander the earth like a drunk and a possessed madman. This kind of detachment is new to me. Please tell me how this came about? Where did you obtain your wisdom? Who are your teachers? Pray tell.” The holy man replied:“I

obtained knowledge and detachment from many teachers. My mind does not move though my body does.

Let me tell you the wisdom of my Gurus who are many and are found easily everywhere. “Patience, equanimity,

compassion, seeking the well-being of others are some of the virtues of mother earth. Her grace discriminates no one and seeks nothing in return. A quiet brilliance is the hallmark of fire and purity that of water. I learned from them to burn all desires and cleanse my heart. Being immersed in everything yet remaining untouched is the virtue of Vayu (wind). Like the sky, the Brahman pervades everything. Thus I realized the virtues of the five elements (earth, air, sky, water and fire) and became wise. “The Sun is impervious to

the changes that occur with time and shines for the good of others. He is respected for his constancy with time. He is

(Continued on Page 2)

Uddhava Gita – Avadhuta’s Story - H.R. Chandrasekhar

Message from the Executive Board

Capital Campaign

2010

P A G E 2 S H A N T H I S A N D E S H

one of my teachers. “I once saw the vast ocean. Its

depth and extent were profound and unfathomable. It was an illustration of the nature of Brahman who is unbounded in time and space. “I once saw a huge tree in the

middle of a forest. A family of parrots lived there with joy. The male was attached beyond measure to the female and brought anything she desired. One day as the male had gone to find food for the chicks, a wily hunter caught them in a net. The male returned to see his family in danger and was grief-stricken ‘My dear wife is gone. What good is my life without my children. My home is not worth living in without them.’ Wailing in that manner, the male also fell into the net, as the hunter walked off with them in glee. “Men are caught in the net of

Samsara seeking fleeting moments of worldly joy but eternal sorrow and misery awaits them. Attachment only leads to increased misery. “A party of men went in

search of a bride and went to a home where no one but the bride to be was present. She offered them seats and went inside the kitchen to husk the rice to prepare food for them. The bangles in her hand jingled when she husked. Ashamed that the guests would hear the sound and know that she did the menial job, she broke the bangles one at a time till only one bangle remained in each hand. She husked quietly in

peace. “I watched this act of vanity in

amusement. Suddenly it occurred to me that even in that act there was a subtle message. By letting go of her bangles she had gained calmness. Had she let go of her vanity, how much peace would she gain. Ego is at the heart of unhappiness. “Even as the king passed by, I

saw an artisan fixing the arrowhead on an arrow continue his work without batting an eye. Such should be the devotion to duty and concentration of mind as one struggles to fix the Brahman in one’s mind. “As a spider weaves a web

out of its own secretion, stays

at the center of it and withdraws it into itself, the supreme Brahman creates the world of all beings - fixed and moving. He remains in it and ultimately withdraws it into himself. I learnt it by watching a spider. “I once saw a caterpillar in a

cocoon frightened and obsessed by the butterflies buzzing around it. Then I saw the caterpillar turn into a butterfly and fly away. I learnt that if one is totally focused on the Brahman, he can become

one with him. “These are my many Gurus.

We are caught in this ocean of happiness and sorrow. If one seeks to learn the wisdom of the self (Atman), this body can serve as an oar to cross the ocean of Samsara. It has no other purpose. I may appear like a drunken fool to others due to my indifference to outward appearance. I am supremely happy within myself. The Lord teaches us in his many forms and creations. It is for us to see and recognize the truth. He is the true Guru and there is no one else. See the oneness of his glory in the myriad forms of his creation. Be happy in the company of the pure.” “As Avadhuta concluded his

story, King Yadu was filled with gratitude to the great soul. He reached the ultimate abode of the Lord by honoring and listening to the Yogi,” concluded Krishna to Uddhava☯

Uddhava Gita (Continued from Page 1)

Sources: Srimad Bhagawatam by Sage Vyasa; Karnataka Bhagawatha (Volumes I and II), edited by H.R. Chandrasekhar Library of Congress Control No.: 2008419974

One who is disinterested in all mundane things, who has conquered his self, and is free of desires will attain by renunciation, a supreme perfection requiring no action. Bhagavad Gita 18-49

Dr. Arthur J. Robins, 89, died on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010. His long and active life was marked by a fascinating and varied career in academics, public service and community activities. His travels abroad cultivated an enduring passion for South Asian arts and culture. After retirement as professor emeritus of Psychiatry in 1991, Dr. Robins remained active at the university, teaching in the Honors College until spring 2010. He has been ardent supporter of the Cultural Association of India and many India-centric activities in town, including the HTCC. He was recognized with an Honorary Membership of HTCC during the 2009 Annual HTCC Banquet. Art will be greatly missed. Kala Gupta, 63, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010, in Columbia, surrounded by loved ones. She was born on Sept. 5, 1947, in Muzzaffarpur, India, and married Mangal Gupta on Aug. 21, 1972. She later moved to the United States and began a 38-year career in nursing, working in local hospitals. She was a regular volunteer reader during the annual Akhand Ramayan Paath at the Shanthi Mandir. She was also passionate about cooking, gardening, nature and spending time with family and friends. Kalaji will be greatly missed by our community.

In Memoriam

I am the divine fragrance upon Earth; the brilliance in Fire; Life in all beings; Meditation in those who meditate upon me Bhagawad-Gita 7-9

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 4

The jury is still out on who won this year’s tug of war event at the picnic. Fall always turns out to be a festive

season at the Mandir. Celebrations of Fall festivals have been very well attended and well-received by the members. Krishna Jayanthi marked the continuation of the traditions of singing the praises of Lord Krishna and of breaking the piñata for treats by setting up a children’s pyramid. At the fun Ganesh idol-making activity, children and adults joined together to make the Ganesha idol, mushika vahana, modaks, fruits and prasad out of clay for the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration. Both the Mid-Missouri Marathi Mandal and the

Bengali Samaj of Columbia were actively involved in the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi and Navaratri/Navami Durga Puja, respectively, at the Mandir. There is also a growing interest among

members to hold discussions on spiritual topics. With God’s grace, we were able to host two talks on Gita, one by Swami Atmananda Girijee Maharaj, the recipient of a Mandaleshwar position (Niranjania Akhada), and the other by Dr. Avinash Sathaye, a professor at the University of Kentucky. We are also receiving more calls to represent the Hindu Community at interfaith events organized in Columbia. Students enrolled in the Hickman World Religion class were also at the Mandir to learn first-hand about Hinduism. Our youth and several HTCC members participated in

the CROP Walk held in October and raised $500 for a worthy cause (see Page 3) . As 2010 comes to an end, please

remember to renew your membership. Please also consider upgrading your annual membership to lifetime membership. The lifetime dues provide the HTCC with a strong ownership base and steady stream of revenue for delivering quality devotional, education, service and youth programs. We are encouraged by the growth in HTCC activities and look forward to your contributions to make a difference☯

Inder Khurana Ravi Thawani Meera Chandrasekhar Manjula Narasimhan

Executive Board Message (Continued from Page 1)

T his time In “Yoga Corner” we will look at an asana called Sukhasan. I am

going to break this asana into smaller steps so that you can follow it easily. 1. Sit on the floor with legs stretched out in front. Bend the left leg at the knee and place the foot under the right thigh. Next, fold your right leg and tuck the foot under your left thigh.

2. Place the hands on the knees, palms facing upwards. Press the hipbone towards the floor. Keep the back straight. Press the chest forward.

Keep the chin parallel to the ground. 3. Relax and breathe deeply through the nose filling the lungs completely with air. Hold the air in lungs as long as convenient, then exhale and start normal breathing. 4. Fix your gaze at the point midway between eyebrows (this is called Kuthasta). Sit for at least five minutes☯

Yoga Corner - Ritcha Mehra-Chaudhary

Sukhasan Position

Medium Term Plan Implementation Committee Update Vellore S. Gopalaratnam

H TCC Medium Term Plan Implementation Committee

(abbreviated MTP Committee for convenience), an ad-hoc committee, was formed by Inder Khurana in mid-September to follow-up action taken by HTCC’s Board of Trustees (BoT) at it’s August 2010 meeting. The BoT voted unanimously to accept and proceed with the recommendations of the BoT Committee on Property Exploration/Options chaired by Sudarshan Loyalka. At the August meeting, the BoT also endorsed HTCC Executive Committee’s action to approve $2,000 to develop an architectural plan for the renovation of Shanthi Mandir. The Shanthi Mandir renovation plan developed by the HTCC Facilities and Renovation Committee (FRC) and shared with the community at several forums (since October 2006) and in Shanthi Sandesh (Nov. 2007 issue) will also be accompanied by an expanded parking lot and improved fencing of the Mandir lot. Up to $30,000 has already been approved by the BoT for the parking lot expansion and improvements to the fencing. Gopalaratnam chairs the MTP

Committee. It’s members include: Meera Chandrasekhar, Leela Jashnani, Das Kutikkad, Nitin Patel, Anuradha Rajagopalan, Chandra Rawlani, and Ravi Thawani, all of whom are BoT members. Ravi serves as the Secretary. The committee is ably assisted by Bimal Balakrishnan, an MU faculty with Architectural Studies. The first meeting of the committee was held on October 15 where details of the original FRC floor plan were fine-tuned by Bimal (see preliminary rendering of proposed renovation above). The committee plans to hold 2-3 Open Houses after a near-

complete draft of the plan is available. This will allow HTCC members to provide suggestions for changes to improve functional features and general aesthetics of the Shanthi Mandir renovation plan. Concurrent with the medium term plans, Capital Campaign 2010 is also underway beginning Ganesh Chaturthi 2010 (Shanthi Mandir’s fifth anniversary) with a target of raising $150,000 by the end of 2011. The BoT also formed a Long-Term Planning Committee (BoT Committee) to articulate the vision of a permanent temple with

Ranadhir Mitra (Chair), Sanjiv Sethi, V. Ramachandran, Nitin Patel, Gagneesh Rawat, Nirja Loyalka, and Chandra Rawlani as members. The tentative plans of the MTP

committee are to have a draft Shanthi Mandir renovation plan ready by early 2011 with possible renovations to take place during summer of 2011. Please support us with the Capital

Campaign by making generous donations. We also look forward to your thoughtful input to plan for a better, more spacious and safer Shanthi Mandir. Our community deserves no less☯

Preliminary architectural rendering of proposed Shanthi Mandir renovations. Planning currently underway within the MTP Committee may result in changes to the cladding, windows and entrances in the rendering shown.

P A G E 4 S H A N T H I S A N D E S H

Greek Vase Shreyas Srinivasan

5th Grade Paxton Keely

Summer Poem Urmila Kutikkad 9th Grade, Jefferson Junior High School

T he CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome

Poverty) Hunger Walk is an annual event that combines fun and fundraising to raise awareness and funds for international relief and

development, as well as local hunger-fighting. The local chapter of CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) organized the Columbia CROP Hunger Walk on

the 3rd of October. This is the 3rd year that HTCC

participated in the walk. 25% of

the money raised by the Columbia CROP Hunger Walk is used to partially support the Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen and the Russell Chapel Food Pantry. The rest of the funds are used to support global hunger education and in support of refugees, disaster relief and self-help projects in more than 80 countries. Registered walkers have their

friends and family make donations to the cause and sponsor the walk. Prerna Srinivasan, Bharath Srinivasan, Nila Palaniappan, Visala Palaniappan, K .Palaniappan, Suryanshi Rawat, Gagneesh Rawat, Ravi Thawani , Meena Thawani, Sonal Hate and Mayukh Ghosh registered to walk on behalf of

HTCC. They were supported by several other walkers from HTCC (see photo). Our youth walkers did a splendid job of raising over $500 for the CROP walk this year. The walk routes had a short walk option of approximately one mile and a long walk option of three miles. The walk routes were

designed around the downtown area with the First Christian Church as the start and finish locations. The total amount collected during the Columbia CROP Walk was just under $19,000. The walk was an enriching experience in near perfect weather conditions and helped create awareness for a very worthy cause☯

Crop Walk - Mayukh Ghosh

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; for it becomes your destiny

Sri Satya Sai Baba

You know it’s summer…. When the inky blues of the night slowly melt into a brilliant pink that paints the clouds

When the morning sun yawns up into the eager sky, peeping over the faded skyline

When a lone bird calls out a pregnant note to the vanishing moon

When the brilliant pink of the bleary morning melts into a forget-me-not blue that seems to stretch on….and on….and on….

When the molten sun shatters

through the sky, dripping its gold flecks everywhere

When white, woolen clouds perch lazily on the horizon

When the forget-me-not blue that seems to stretch on….and on….and on….melts into a dusty grey

When the sun becomes a buttery dollop tumbling down through the clouds

When the grass outside transforms into cold, emerald fleece

When golden trees rustle their crimson tipped leaves, looking

for all the world as if they were enormous flames

When the dusty grey of the fading evening melts into a deep lavender shot with gold

When crickets call their hoarse songs to dancing, iridescent fireflies

When stars embedded into the dark canvas of a sky wink at the joyously emerging moon

When the deep lavender shot with gold gently melts into the inky blues of the night….

You know it’s summer ☯

I love playing soccer. Soccer is my favorite sport. My team is

called Columbia-Red Spain and we won all our games except for one where we tied 2-2. In soccer we work on passing, scoring, tackling, defending, dribbling around the field and working together to score goals. Soccer helps with a lot of things like exercise, working together as a team, and having lots of fun. Having a fun time is my favorite part of soccer. Some teams are hard to beat but you can win when you work

together. Sometimes when you score goals, make great passes or tackle and defend then people will compliment you. I have been playing well this season (Fall 2010) and so far I have scored seven goals. I need to work on tackling. I am really good at defending, dribbling around the field, passing and scoring goals. My target is to give my best and try to score ten goals. I have scored a goal in every game except for the first game. A game like soccer is really

fun. Even if your team doesn’t win, you still had a good time and gave your very best☯

My Favorite Sport - Soccer Tia Rawat - 2nd Grade Mill Creek Elementary

Photo Illusion Aishi Sethi

P A G E 5 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 4

Newsletter of Bal Sabha of Columbia, MO November 2010

EDITOR’S NOTE Bal Sabha Officers

President Ravi Thawani

Vice-President Presently Vacant

Secretary/Treasurer Abirami Elangovan

Cultural Secretary Alagu Arunachalam

Bal Sandesh Coordinator Hema Srinivasan

B al Sandesh wishes one and all a very Happy Diwali. In this issue, we have two poems and some stories on Ganesha as well as exciting

articles about the picnic and sketches and photographs. We also continue with the second part and concluding part of the series on a Musical Journey. Congratulations to all the members for participating and performing in CAI’s India Nite. Please submit your essays, poems, articles and drawings to Bal Sandesh as soon as you think they are ready for submission. We are very pleased to have an increase in the Bal Sandesh submissions this issue and hope the trend will continue with your help and enthusiasm. Bal Sandesh joins the members of Bal Sabha in giving a huge welcome to

Ms. Abirami Elangovan as the new secretary/treasurer ! ☯ The Editors

G anesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular Hindu festivals and is

celebrated for the birthday of Lord Ganesh, the God of wisdom and prosperity, on the 4th day of the bright fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada (mid August - mid September). During this festival of Ganesh, the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees. His birthday is celebrated on a slightly different day each year as it coincides with the phase of the moon. It is observed throughout India especially in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Historical records reveal that Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations were initiated in Maharashtra by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, the great Maratha ruler, to promote culture and nationalism. And it has continued ever since. There are also references in history to similar celebrations during Peshwa times. During the Ganesh festival, a Ganesh

statue is installed in street corners and in homes in India, and elaborate

arrangements are made with lighting, decoration, mirrors and flowers. Poojas (prayer services) are performed daily. The main sweet offered is modak which is a dumpling made out of wheat flour and filled

with fresh or dry coconut, mixed with sugar, nuts and raisins. It is then steam cooked or fried. Ganesh Chaturthi has a very special significance to Hindus in Columbia. The festival also marks the day in 2005 when Shanthi Mandir was first made available to the community. This year’s celebration marked five

years of service of Shanthi Mandir to the Hindu community of Columbia and surrounding areas. Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated this

year on 11th September, 2010. The Mid Missouri Marathi Mandal took a lead in the celebration. Similar to last four years, many devotees got together to make the clay idol of beloved Lord Ganesh, his mooshika vahana (favorite vehicle, the mouse), modakas (favorite sweet dish) and pillows (for celestial rest). Many children and youth participated in this activity. The preparation of the reinforced-

clay, the molding of the idol, and the subsequent painting and decorations brought youth and adults together in a fun spiritual activity. On Ganesh Chaturthi day a Murti was decorated with garlands, flowers and ornaments. A Sthapana Pooja was performed to mount the Murti by the Naiks and was guided by Mr. Mahendra Joshi. The Pooja was concluded by reciting the Aarti/ Mantra Pushpanjali, ending with chants of “Ganapati Bappa Moraya”. Following the Pooja, Ganesh Bhajans were performed by the Sai Bhajan group, and few devotional songs were presented by Smt. Nalani Ramprasad. The cultural program was followed by the Aarti in Hindi and Marathi. A Prasad (pot lock dinner) was served at the end of the celebration. The sweets/fruits that devotees had brought were distributed along with the Prasad. Approximately 150 people attended the celebration. The idol of Ganesh was kept in the

Shanthi Mandir for 10 days. The Mandir was kept open for prayers and Aarti from 6-8 pm during those 10 days. Several devotees made use of the special temple open hours to offer their prayers to Lord Ganesh on a daily basis. On the 10th day i.e. Ananth Chathurdashi day, HTCC did a Visarjan, submergence, of the Murti into water. That day devotees send their guest back home with the chant “Ganapathi Bappa Morya Phudchya Varshi Lavkar Ya” - come sooner next year☯

Ganesh Chaturthi Celebration Radheya Naik, 10th Grade, Jefferson City High School

F our Bal Sabha children participated in the K-12 Missouri Grade Chess

Championship held on 16th of October, 2010 at the Memorial Union. Akhilan Elangovan, Vishnu Arunachalam, Ashwath

Elangovan, and Vikram Arunachalam won many games and

medals in their respective grade levels. The highlight

was Akhil's first grade team from Mill Creek winning 1st place trophy!

Congratulations to all of them. Maya Cutkosky was awarded a '1' rating

in the District Piano auditions of Missouri Music Teachers Association and advanced to State MMTA auditions. On Saturday October 23rd, Maya performed one of her pieces in the Honors Recital for all the pianists who qualified for the State☯

Kudos

P A G E 6 S H A N T H I S A N D E S H

B al Sabha’s annual Fall Clean Up was scheduled

on Saturday, October 2nd, 2010 from 10:30am to 11:30 am at Ridgeway Elementary School 107 East Sexton Road Columbia, MO 65203. Twice a year, as part of the

City of Columbia's "Adopt a Spot" program, Bal Sabha children and parents clean around the adopted spot "Ridgeway Elementary School". This is an excellent way to add a "volunteer project" on youth’s

"resume" while having fun doing something worthwhile for the community. On Saturday, October 2nd,

2010 it was a perfect day for some outdoor activity. The temperature was in the 60’s and wind was calm. Six parents and six youth arrived to the Fall Clean Up. All participants were given

protective gloves and vests provided by City of Columbia Volunteer Division. The grown ups cleaned the streets and

open grounds of the Ridgeway Elementary School. Young children under supervision of Ashwath Kumar cleaned within the fenced playground area. Six trash bags full of trash were collected. No unusual items were found. Bharath Srinivasan provided

refreshments to all the volunteers. We also took some photographs after the clean up was completed. Please join us again for Citywide Columbia Clean up in April 2011☯

Editorial Staff Phone E-Mail

Maya Cutkosky (573) 445-2854 Neeta Thawani (660) 888-9329 booneville.kid@hotmail.com Nidhi Khurana (573) 874-9647 n_khurana@yahoo.com Prerna Srinivasan (573) 445-0033 Vikram Arunachalam

Parent Advisor Hema Srinivasan (573) 445-2854 srinivasanh@missouri.edu

Sandesh needs you! We welcome submissions of all types (reports, poetry, short stories, artwork, puzzles, jokes etc.). Work can be submitted to the Editors or the Parent Advisor. We prefer electronic version of the submission (e-mail or diskette). Artwork can be submitted on paper. Older kids interested in volunteering to serve on the editorial team should contact the Editorial Staff or the Parent Advisor.

Bal Sabha meets every fourth Sunday of the month from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. at Shanthi Mandir

Bal Sabha Fall Clean Up 2010 - Ravi Thawani

L ord Ganesha is one of my favorite deities. He is the

remover of obstacles and the first God to be worshipped before any religious functions. He is the God of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Lord Ganapati is further acknowledged by the Pillaiyar suzhi, an inscription written on top of the page, with the fifth vowel (உ) oo’ from the Tamil alphabet and two straight lines below it. The symbol signifies that Lord Ganesha will guide us through our thinking process and inspire us to become a creative writer. On August 29th, my friends

and I made Ganesh murthis at the temple. We mixed clay and water to give form to the formlessness. We molded clay to resemble the elephant head God and made his trunk, ears, eyes and mouth. I also sculpted ladoos, modhakas, coconuts, bananas and his vehicle Mooshika Vaahana (mouse). My mom and I painted the clay

molds and added glitter for an extra touch. We dressed Lord Ganesha with a blue shawl and white beads. I thought he looked grand! Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated on September 11th at our temple. Lord Ganesha was invoked with bajans and shlokas to shower his blessings onto us! My Bharata Natyam teacher,

Mrs. Padmani Dorairajan taught me the hand mudras and foot gestures for the shloka (text box) in a dance form Meaning: He who has the

mouse as the vaahana, He who always keeps Modhaka, He who has ears that resemble a hand held fan, He who wears a chain-like ornament around his waist, He who is short statured, He who is the son of Lord Maheshwara. O! Lord Vinayaka who removes all obstacles, we worship your Divine Feet. On September 21, 2010,

Vinayaka Visarjan was observed at the temple. We immersed the clay Ganapati idol in a wide

bucket full of water. The one that took form became formless again. We sang “Ganapati Bappa Moriya” and went in a procession inside the temple. I watched the clay moulds as it started to disintegrate and dissolve in the water. Lord Ganesha is very wise as

well; one legend states that, long time ago, in Mount Kailash, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati gave a competition to the brothers. They asked Lord Ganesha and Lord Murugan (also known as Kartikeya), “Who can go around the world three times and return first” Lord Murugan said “I can” and took off on his peacock, But Lord Ganesha said, “Wait a minute, my parents are my world, so if I go around my parents that it is the same as going around the world.” And that’s exactly what he did, he circumambulated Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati three times reciting ‘Om Nama Sivaya’ and won the reward, the divine mango of knowledge. Of course, when Lord Murugan found out, he was furious, but I’ll save that story for Skanda Sashti☯

Lord Ganesha Nila Palaniappan - 6th Grade, Smithton Middle School

Mooshika Vaahana Modhaka Hastha Chaamara Karna

Vilambitha Suthra Vaamana Roopa

Maheshwara Puthra Vighna Vinayaka

Paadha Namasthey

Siddharth Kutikkad 5th Grade

Ridgeway Elementary

P A G E 7 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 4

T his organization of ragas and talas likely helped composing. The mid 17th

century is widely considered the golden age of Carnatic music. The famous Thyagaraga comes from this period. However, he benefited not only from the classification of ragas and talas, but also from the construction of the kritis. Kritis are made of a pallavi, or refrain, followed by an anupalavi and then one or more charnams. It is in the 15th century that the pallavi, anupalavi, and charnam started to form. Padam, Javali, Tillana, and Swarajati are other musical formats that developed in this time period. Purandara Dasa also came around this

time. He came near the beginning of the kritis. However, Annamacharya, an early 15th century composer, seems to have seen the change during his time The great composers that came before him, like Arunagirinathar and Jeyadeva, did not have anupalivis. Instead, they either had, or did not have a pallavi, and then added several charnams, often eight. This format reminds one of slokams. The actual music, in most cases, has been lost in time. Purandara Dasa uses the standard kriti style. He also introduces a new category of songs, called geethams. These songs are marked by their purpose. They exist to teach classical music. It does not have the kriti style. The standard way of playing is to go straight through the whole thing and then play the first line again. It was Purandara Das who wrote the first four geethams that all Carnatic musicians learn today. He was also the one who determined that the beginners in Carnatic music should start in the raga Maya Malava gowlai. The beginning exercises, as a result, can also be attributed to him. In summary, Purandara Das accomplished the standardizing of Carnatic music teaching The desire to make music simpler has

always pursued Carnatic musicians. In the modern era this is shown by making performance and listening easier. However, even when these musicians were discovering the fundamentals of their music, the idea of ease was on their mind. Ever since formalized dance, and subsequently music came into being as a simplified form of God, the desire to make listening and playing easier could not be more natural. After all, was it not something understandable that had been promised? It was in an attempt to put some sense into what makes music show such emotions and so be able to replicate it that tala and raga were discovered. Nurtured by these structures, improvisation developed and popularized. With an understanding of what patterns of notes and rhythms sound good together, improvising is easy. In every

Carnatic performance, all the artists get a time to improvise, yet if the understanding of raga and tala had not developed, this tradition would never have existed

In the 15th through 18th centuries, Carnatic musicians improved their understanding some more. The greatest known composers of Carnatic music come from that time period. The much recognized “Carnatic trinity,” Shyama Shastri, Thyagaraja, and Muthuswamy Dikshitar, are 15th to 19th century composers. There is no doubt that they were helped by the inventiveness going around them. Thyagaraja, a mid 17th century, early 18th century composer, is thought to have figured out the connection between music and God and he outlined the way to reach salvation through music alone. It is no question that his music is wondrous. K. Sundararajan while secretary of Nanganallur Sri Tyagaraja Sangeetha Samajam listed four reasons for this greatness: the variation, his use of Divyanama Kirthanas and Kirthanas, simple emotional wording written in Telugu, and a fit of words with tune. Some of these have little to do with any advancement of time. However, traits like variation would have been near impossible if so many variations had not already existed and so nicely defined. Ironically, this desire for simplicity has

made Carnatic music quite complex. Nothing but human nature is to blame for that. The only way we know to make something simple is to understand it and the only way we can understand it is to put it into terms we know. Just like to understand the simple shape

of a circle, we think in terms of squares and so make understanding irrational numbers necessary for understanding some of its properties, to understand the properties of music we are forced to think about it in terms of something that is not quite the soul of music. Every few centuries, the Carnatic musicians seemed to go back and re-explain what they had explained earlier. While this leads to easy learning, it does not lead to much progress in music itself. In fact, the number of compositions has gotten steadily smaller. Annamacharya, an early 15th century composer, is credited with 32,000 songs . People like

Thyagaraja wrote around 700 . Most composers nowadays write less then 100. A similar pattern is seen is western music. However Carnatic music is again going in the opposite direction in terms of audience. Western classical music, while popular in its old form all over the world, has lost its audience. Carnatic music is still really popular in South India, where it originated. The history of Indian classical music

shows an consistent desire to develop; first in rhythm and tone patterns, then in reorganizing the structures that are already existent, then in adding new technologies. It has reached its peak and gone past it. Music comes from ones heart, and so is universally accepted. The rules that apply to it always will, no matter when. A long time ago, after realizing the joys of perfect fourth and fifths, the music of the west and the east took off in different directions towards the same goal. They each made remarkable realizations about music. They each reached their golden age. They each have gone past it. Maybe it is time the musicians of both sides put their other (musical or non musical) differences aside and join together. The goal, to find out why and how music makes us feel the way it does, remains the same. On the other hand, if progress is made

towards this goal, which it eventually will, would we want it? With the progress of the sruti box it is easy to see instrumentalists and then singers themselves being displaced. With the western self writing accompaniment programs existing from the western understanding of harmony, it is easy to see the same Carnatic understanding of melody and rhythm completely undermine the need to compose. It is extremely doubtful any of these could accumulate the fatigue washing exuberance a live Carnatic performance brings. The possibility nonetheless exists that these performances will almost completely go away. Even more scary a thought: what would happen if we actually do discover why music works? Would it continue to captivate us, or would it loose our respect, like a magician whose trick is already known? Should music continue in its goal? Can it, with human nature’s desire for new knowledge, not continue? Unknown knowledge is too enchanting a snare. There is nothing to do but hope that God will hide the secret from us☯ References: Sambamurthy, . History of Indian Music.

fourth edition. Chennai, India: The Indian Music Publishing House, 1998. 1-10. Print Subba Rao, T. V. Ragas of the Sangia

Saramrta. First. Madras, India: The Indian Music Academy, 1994. 8. Print.

A Musical Journey– Part II

Maya Cutkosky - 11th Grade, Hickman High School

P A G E 8 S H A N T H I S A N D E S H

Navaratri Durga Puja Celebrations - Ranadhir Mitra

T he Navaratri Durga Puja was celebrated at the

Shanthi Mandir in Columbia with intense 3-day fanfare this year. Starting with the “Kalas” and “Pratima Sthaapna” by Shri Sateesh Bhagwat on Oct. 10th, the Mahalaya (the first day of the Navaratras) Devi Jagaran day, the atmosphere at the temple became charged with an air of serene purity by the chanting of mantras accompanied by jingling bells, Shankha-naad, Aardhaas, Aarati and Pushpanjali rituals. The attendance at the Puja was quite high and Shri Bhagwatji’s explanation of the mantras, the rituals and the essence of Durga Puja kept us all captivated. Shri Bhagwatji led over a dozen of the devotees to perform the Puja under his guidance. It was followed by several bhajans by devotees and the Puja hall reverberated with frequent “Bolo Jai Mata Di” calls from Tarang Parashar which were enthusiastically reciprocated by the congregation. Prasad and dinner arranged by the Devotional Committee of the Mandir were then served concluding the Mahalaya rites of worship on Saturday, October

10th. The Mandir was decorated

from the very first Mahalaya day and Aarati offered to Ma Durga by Chandraji each evening; the Bengali community of Columbia took the lead in organizing the Maha Navami and Vijaya Dashami days of the Puja to express devotion to Ma Durga with festive flair. The captivating fragrance of myrrh and incense, the Shankh-Naad, the beat of the “Dhak Dhol” bells and the jubilant expressions of the devotees on the evening of Maha Navami brought out the passion for Durga Puja. Nilotpal chanted mantras accompanied by Saikat. The chanting overlapped “asttora-satanaam stotra” recitals by Alpana and the 'Chandipath' by Mitra proclaimed the glory of Ma Durga during the Puja service. After paying obeisance to Ma Durga through bhajans, Pushpanjali and Aarati in a

highly charged spiritual ambiance, the congregation sat down in rows to enjoy Prasad and bhog before heading home for the rest of the night. Gathering for the “Bisarjan” ceremony the next morning, the

devotees chanted hymns to bid goodbye to Ma Durga with Aarati, Pushpanjali and beats of “Dhak' Dhol” bells and by blaring Shankh-Naad to the fullest. Then followed the 'sindur khela' – the married women smearing one another’s face with sindur (vermillion powder), wishing each other long and happy married lives. This tradition of concluding the Durga Puja festivity started among the married women of the Bengali community some 400 years ago; it also engages the male and unmarried female members of the congregation these days - as it did on Sunday, October 17th at the Shanthi Mandir this year. After sharing Prasad and lunch together, the congregation departed planning to have the Durga Puja again at the same facility next year which is to be renovated to accommodate greater numbers of devotees☯

During Navaratri, Goddess Durga is

invoked first to cleanse the mind. Goddess Lakshmi is invoked

next to cultivate noble values and qualities.

Finally, Goddess Saraswati is invoked

for acquiring supreme knowledge of the Self.

This is the significance of Navaratri (the three

sets of three nights dedicated to each of

these Goddesses). Victory of the mind and

the intellect is celebrated on the tenth day or Vijayadashami.

O n August 28, 2010 the day we had the annual HTCC

Youth Group/Bal Sabha/Bal Puja Picnic, the weather was nice and the park was quiet. The Saturday weather was perfect for a picnic. We arrived at Dexheimer Shelter in Cosmo Park and set up the tables and food. Everyone arrived in due time

and greetings were exchanged. The smell of food was in the air, but no one's mind was on that

yet. Many fun events took place

that day: volleyball games, sand castle building in the sand box by the younger kids, games of tag and the customary tug of war. The tug of war always generates a lot of excitement. It draws everyone in ,kids, youth and adults alike. By the 3rd and final round - it's a do or die time. The boys do not want to lose and the girls want to beat them and win. The food was truly delicious. It

was simple, and yet had a great

variety, thanks to all the cooks who pitched in. Mayukh Ghosh and Prerna

Srinivasan announced details from the upcoming fund raiser "CROP WALK". Following the annual tradition, we took a group picture at the end of the picnic. Thanks to all the Aunties for

preparing such delicious food, Nandhu Radhakrishnan and other HTCC volunteers for making the annual picnic such a big success. We can hardly wait for the picnic in 2011☯

HTCC Youth Day/Bal Sabha/Bal Puja Picnic Neeta Thawani - 10th Grade Booneville High School

The small flower at the bottom of a pond amidst the mud and muck grows

To become green leaves, white petals, yellow pistils in between

A sweet fragrance like no other aroma,

No other flower anywhere,

Has such loveliness to compare Beauty kissed by dew It waits upon the water for its Spring debut

Oh Lotus, in the swamp you reign

Constant, day by day, To the light you grow

Living in the muddy waters, yet still pure,

Here lies the exquisite flower That no other can compare.

Lotus - Nidhi Khurana 10th Grade, Rock Bridge

P A G E 9 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 4

Shreemad Bhagavad Gita - Part 11 Saroj Mohan

I n the previous chapter, Karma yoga, i.e.yoga by actions or Pravriti was

described as one of the paths of Self Realization. But, we understood that Gyan or wisdom must be there to make ‘work as worship’ unto the Divine. Thus, Karma or ‘action’ must end in ‘inaction,’ or ‘Nivriti’ or Gyan.( The Knowledge of Reality, the Infinite Consciousness.) In this chapter Shri Krishna’s eternal

divine presence is also made clear to Arjuna, who looked upon Him only as his beloved friend. Shri Krishna is Sarvagya or knower of all, the immortal Parmaatma and Arjuna is an ignorant, mortal Jeevaatma. We learned in the previous chapter that

this eternal knowledge or Gyan was given in the Vedas, by the Divine Lord himself. Now, Shri Krishna proceeds to tell Arjuna how this great knowledge was at first given to the Sun or Vivaswaan by Him in the very beginning. In the cosmic time span, many suns were created, existed and dissolved but this knowledge was not totally destroyed. Shri Krishna also described how it was relayed traditionally, from master to disciple over the generations, according to the Guru Shishya Parampara In the 1st and 2nd verses, Shri Krishna

said, “O Arjuna, in the very beginning, I told this eternal, imperishable, immortal Yoga to Vivaswaan or the Sun God. The Sun God told it to his son, Vaivswaat Manu, the law-giver of ancient India. Then Manu passed on this knowledge to his son Ikshwaasu, the ancestor of the Solar dynasty or Surya Vansh. “ Oh Paramtap Arjuna, the Royal king sages or Rajarshees knew this Yoga for a long time. The eternal knowledge of the Vedas is imperishable, and it is handed down from master to disciple but in time it was almost lost and destroyed from this Earth In the 3rd verse, Shri Krishna described

how it was revived again. He said, “You are my devotee and a very beloved friend, so I am sharing this with you today, this ancient knowledge which is the greatest secret; which is worth knowing and preserving.” Before we continue, it is important to

understand that Lord Shri Krishna is the immortal, imperishable Parmaatma; the knower of eternal knowledge. However Arjuna is a mortal Jeevaatma who does not know or remember the eternal truth. If we keep this in mind, it is easier to understand the following verses. The Lord had praised this ancient knowledge in the previous verse. After listening to it, Arjuna was confused and doubtful. He wondered that if Shri Krishna were here at the present time and these events just

referred to took place in ancient times, how could it be possible for Him to know all these things? The 4th verse begins with Arjuna asking,

“O Lord, your birth is in the present time and the Sun’s birth is very ancient (in the beginning of Kalpa, a certain measure of time) so how can I comprehend that you imparted this knowledge in the beginning of Kalpa, to the Sun God?” Shri Krishna responded, “ O Paramtap,

or destroyer of enemies, there were many births of Me and you, only you do not remember them at all but I do.” (I know all the births - Mine and yours). It is clear that Shri Krishna is describing to Arjuna his immortality and divinity and Arjuna’s or a Jeevaatma’s mortality, which He further elaborates in the 6th verse Shri Krishna said, “ Even though I an

Ajanma or un-born, Avinashi or imperishable but still with my Prakriti and Yogamaya or nature and power I am the creator of all living beings and my own Maya.” The Lord is the Master of His Maya and

appears and manifests Himself on this earth by his own free will. He creates, sustains and destroys the creation according to His will. Maya is under His control and does whatever He desires. In the next verse He declares when and why He manifests himself on this earth. Continuing in the 7th verse Shri Krishna

says,“ O Bharata, whenever there is a decay of righteousness and a rise of unrighteousness, then I take a form and appear on the earth. I manifest Myself for the welfare of all.” The purpose of His manifestation is

clearly stated in the 8th verse which is very well-known and often quoted. The Blessed Lord said, “To protect good and destroy sinners and evil people, I manifest myself in every Yuga. I appear on the earth, again and again to reestablish Dharma or righteousness.” From time to time we see a rise in

unrighteousness, degradation of nature, and destruction of Dharma in all fields of life. At such unfortunate times the Lord

appears to help mankind, to protect good people and punish evil ones . In 9th verse Shri Krishna addresses how

and why He manifests Himself. He says, “O Arjuna, those who know the fundamental Reality or Tattwatah, know that my births and creations are pure and divine. Such a knower of the truth comes to me when he leaves his body and does not fall into the cycle of life and death.” Tattwa Gyan or Knowledge of Reality or

Self Realization leads to liberation from duality, gives immortality and Godhood. Devotees who totally surrender themselves unto the divine and do Sadhna or spiritual practices, in time, become pure and egoless and realize the Self. They become immortal and eternally enjoy the pure, blissful state of Godhood. Shri Krishna in 10th verse and says, “O

Arjuna, even in earlier times, those devotees who were free from attachment, fear and anger (Veet-Raga Bhaya Krodhah) and completely took refuge in me were purified by the light of Tattwva Gyan or the light of wisdom and have merged in to Me.” After Self Realization there is no ego or

duality, the Self Effulgent non-dual, pure being exists. Jeevatma dissolves into Parmaatma, like a droplet of water merges with the ocean. The devotee becomes one with God. As we know, in Indian culture and

philosophy, there are many paths to Self-Realization. The Beloved Lord tells us about it in the 11th verse. Shri Krishna says, “O Partha, son of

Pritha, whoever worships and reveres Me, (by whichever path) in whatever way, I reward him totally according to their choice.” I reward, bless and satisfy them according to their reverence, feelings and path. This is about the unselfish devotee, who worships the Lord without the desire for the fruits of his actions. Now in the following verse Shri Krishna

talks about the people who desire fruits of their action by worshiping various Devatas or Godheads. So in 12th verse our Beloved Lord says,

“Worldly people who worship various Gods are granted their wishes quickly.” This verse highlights the fact that in the

short term, perishable joys can be achieved by individuals by performing Sakam puja or worship for desired fruits of their action. But this does not give them the bliss and liberation which result from Nishkam Karma or unselfish devotion for the Lord. Only through Nishkama karma yoga can one gain liberation and this is the devotion where work becomes worship☯

P A G E 1 0 S H A N T H I S A N D E S H

$24- Jashnani, Ghansham and Leela Kumar, Lalit and Arpita Mohan, Amitabh Nair, Satish and Jyotsna Pennathur, Shiva Kumar Radhakrishnan, Nandu and Selvi Rawlani, Ramesh and Chandra Tolani, Bhisham and Rajini

$25 - $99 Krishna, Gopal and Santosh Paul, Kamalendu Rangachari, Lakshmi Rao, Samir and Shraddha Srinivasan, Bharath and Manjula Narasimhan Sudha Patney Vandrangi Krishna and Palavalsa Kavitha

$100 - $199 Chaudhary, Kunal and Ritcha Kuttikad, Das and Geetha Mantrala, Murli and Surya Manusmare, Purushottam and Usha Mitra, Ranadir and Roma Ratneshwar, Srinivasan and Subbalakshmi Subramanian, Krishna and Raji Thawani, Ravi and Meena

$200 - $499 Batchu, Sudhir and Priya Basu, Asit and Sandra Sehgal, Santosh $500 - $999 Mahal, Satnam and Jasvir Malhotra, Kusum and Anil Palaniappan, Kannappan and Visala Sethi, Sanjiv and Punam Shankha, Banerji $1000-$2,499 Aggrawal, Kul and Archana Dabir, Vishwanath and Pramila Gupta, Ghanshyam and Manorma Khanna, Sanjeev and Vinita Loyalka, Sudarshan and Nirja Rawat, Gagneesh and Aditi Sethi, Yash and Anjna $2,500- $5,250 Chandrasekar, Holalkere and Meera Gopalaratnam, Vellore and Anantha Khurana, Inder and Jasmit

Thank You! Donor Acknowledgement, August 1 – Oct 31, 2010

We gratefully acknowledge the following donations made during the above period. If we have inadvertently made an error in not including your name, please let us know. We will correct the error at the earliest available opportunity with our apologies.

HTCC Quarterly Fiscal Report For the period July 1, 2010 - September 30, 2010

Prepared by Manjula Narasimhan, Treasurer, Oct 17, 2010 Quarterly Revenues

Interest Income Interest Income

$980.73

$980.73

Membership: 2010 Annual Individual Members

$50.00

$50.00

Donations: Check Donations Hundi Donations/Prayer Services

$11,238.00

$1062.65

$12,300.65

Facilities Use Donations: Mandir and Educational Center Use Donations

$220.00

$220.00

Other Revenues Special Events (Beat the Heat) Summer Workshop

$705.00 $25.00

$730.00

Total Quarterly Revenues $14,281.38 Quarterly Expenses Administrative $10.00 Bank Charges $50.00 Insurance $698.00 Lawn and Garden $408.01 Maintenance and Supplies $222.61 Printing and Mailing $287.89 Special Events (Beat the Heat) $662.57

Total Quarterly Expenses $3,417.99

Net Income for the Quarter $10,863.39

Upgrades and Repairs $116.62 Utilities $962.29

Please donate or pledge generously

to our Capital Capital Campaign 2010Campaign 2010.

With Lord Ganesha’s Grace and your active support we can

surely reach the target of $150,000 ahead of schedule!

P A G E 1 1 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 4

Nov 6 Deepavali Lakshmi Puja Saturday 6:00 - 8:00 pm Contact: Kusum Malhotra (573) 445-1867

Nov 13 Siddha Yoga Talk Saturday 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Contact: Visala Palaniappan (573) 446-1962

Nov 21 Interfaith Thanksgiving Sunday 4:00 pm, Stotler Lounge MU Contact: Leela Jashnani ljashnan@yahoo.com

Dec 4 Guru Nanak Jayanthi Contact: Chandra Rawlani - (573) 446-5960

Jan 1 New Year Celebration Saturday 10:30 am - Noon Contact: Chandra Rawlani - (573) 446-5960

Jan 16 Pongal/Sankranti Celebration Sunday 6:00 - 9:00 PM Mark Twain Ballroom, MU Memorial Union. This annual community event to celebrate the harvest

festival will as usual also include an entertainment program, pot-luck dinner and a food drive to benefit the Central Missouri Food Bank. Please donate generously!

Further information: Nandhu Radhakrishnan (573) 882-4082

Jan 30 Republic Day of India Celebration Tentative Schedule. Location and Time: TBD Further information: Ranadhir Mitra - (573) 268-3736

Community Calendar (November 1, 2010 - January 31, 2010) Unless otherwise indicated, all events are at Shanthi Mandir, 2006 Holly Avenue, Columbia, MO 65202.

We are pleased to report that Capital Campaign 2010 is making steady progress towards our target of $150,000 (see graphic). Detailed information on HTCC BoT approved plans and Donor Benefits are posted at:

http://shanthimandir.missouri.org/HTCCCapitalCampaign2010.pdf

The Medium Term Plan Committee update is also included on Page 3. As we implement medium- and long-term plans, we seek generous donations from our members and friends. Thanks to our many benefactors and volunteers, the Mandir is on a sound financial footing. We have no debt. The scope and size of our activities have rapidly exceeded what our current facility can accommodate. As we grow the activities of the Mandir to better serve our community and work toward a more spacious and safer Mandir, we view support from the community as integral to our success. We appeal to you to open your hearts to fulfill this shared

vision. As you consider your donations, remember that…

Donations to HTCC are tax-deductible per IRS 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation designation. HTCC serves 150+ families; 100 families are members, 67 families/individuals are Sustaining Members. We need to facilitate safer operations of the Mandir as we plan for the next phase of our growth. Volunteers contribute over 15,000 of hours of service each year; this holds our operational costs to a minimum. 100% of donations made to the Capital Campaign will be available solely for capital expenditures.

Yes, I would like to donate to the Hindu Temple and Community Center of Mid-Missouri (HTCC):

I am ENCLOSING (or) PLEDGING to pay

by ________________________________ (indicate details of payment schedule)

an amount of $100 $200 $500 $1,000 $5,000* $10,000* Other __________________

(specify amount of donation)

* Please see DONOR BENEFITS section in the Capital Campaign 2010 brochure (link alongside)

I would like my gift to be used toward: infrastructure improvements approved by

HTCC BoT purchase of land as described in the

long-term plan (see CC 2010 brochure)

If you would like to discuss other customized donation options in installments, or would like to make recurring donations, please contact Dr. H. R. Chandrasekhar, Chair HTCC Capital Campaign Committee at (573) 446-6143 or sudhama08@gmail.com

Donation/Pledge Form

Name (Please print clearly)

Signature Date

Address

Phone

E-Mail Address

HTCC Capital Campaign 2010 We need and appreciate your generous donations!

Complete and return the form included alongside (detach along the dotted line) with your check to:

HTCC Capital Campaign Committee, Attn: Dr. H. R. Chandrasekhar, 2404 Limerick Lane, Columbia, MO 65203

Please make checks payable to HTCC

Shri Krishna Jayanthi 2010 Several devotees stayed back at the Mandir past midnight to welcome baby Krishna

Shanthi Mandir Hindu Temple and Community Center of Mid‐Missouri (HTCC) 2006 Holly Avenue, Columbia, MO 65202-2043

HTCC is registered as a Nonprofit Corporation in MO HTCC is tax-exempt under IRS Section 501 (c) 3

Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 286

Columbia MO 65201

Current Programs at the Mandir (November 15, 2010)

Devotional Programs Open prayer time/Aarti Tuesday 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Sai Bhajan Thursday 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Venkateshwara Suprabhatam/Vishnu Sahasranaamam Saturday 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Open prayer time/Aarti Saturday 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Kirtan (Monthly event) 1st Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Educational/Youth Programs Tamil Classes 1st /3rd Sunday 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Hindi Classes 2nd Sunday 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. 4th Sunday 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Bal Puja 2nd Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Bal Sabha 4th Sunday 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Service Programs Volunteering at Central Missouri Food Bank 1st Tuesday 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Shram Daan 1 (Labor Donation) Friday 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Shram Daan 2 (Labor Donation) Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Narayan Seva (Sai Group - St. Francis Home Lunch) 2nd Sunday 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Non-Perishable Food Collection (Ongoing continuously)

Fitness and Cultural Art Programs Bharata Natyam classes (instructor fee required) Wednesday 4:00 - 8:30 p.m. Yoga Classes (instructor fee required) Saturday 10:15 - 11:45 a.m Tabla classes (instructor fee required) Sunday Flexible for now Carnatic vocal music classes (instructor fee required) Sunday 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Shanthi Sandesh is a quarterly publication of the Hindu Temple and Community Center of Mid-Missouri (HTCC). It is published on behalf of HTCC by its Publications Committee. Editor: Tarang Parashar (tarangparashar@gmail.com). Formatting help from B. S. Balaji (Hyderabad, India) is greatly appreciated.

Directions: Take Exit 127 on Interstate 70, Head north on Rangeline Street, Right at first traffic light on Vandiver Drive, Left on Parker Street, Right on Holly Avenue, Shanthi Mandir sign will be visible on the right after 5-6 homes. (Note: Holly Avenue is immediately before the Sunrise Optimist building) Please visit our web site and send us your e-mail address if you would like to be included on the Friends of the Mandir distribution list to receive timely program notices. http://shanthimandir.missouri.org