एकं सद ्िवा बधा वदि। (One Truth is variously spoken by Sages)

Shanti A Newsletter of the

Hindu Temple & Cultural Centre of the ACT (Incorp.) 81 Ratcliffe Cres (Cnr Coonah St), Florey – www.htcc.org.au ावणः व॰ स॰ २०७१ – फगुनः व॰ स॰ २०७२ Sept 2015 — March 2016

शातपिकायाः अय वषय थमम् अं भवतां हताै दवा अानदः जायते। भवतं २०१५सतबरमासय अते इमां समितं िनरवचन्। तात् कालात् एव वयं मदरय काय िनवाेढं यापृताः ः। केबरानगरे वसतां सवेषां हदजूनानां कथम् अाकं मदरं पूजा-पव-याेग-शणानां कें भवेत् इित समतेः थमः येयः अत। तं येयम् अनुसृय वयं कांत् िनयमान् अरचयाम। मयामहे ते िनयमाः भेयः मदरय उपयाेगं सरलकरयत इित। अाभः शकाः यूनीकृताः च। शकैः मदरय ययं न पायते। भानां दानःै एव मदरं चलित। यथाश भाः दानं ददित इित मयामहे। ईरकृपया अावधं सव साध ुएव अभवत् भवये अप सव साधु एव भवयित इित अाशाहे।

इदं हदकेूम् ईराेपासनाय अत कत लाैककशणाय अप अत।वयं गवामः यताे ह मदरे वभास भाषास शणं भवित। याेगायासय शणं भवित। नृयकलायाः शणं भवित। पूजावधानय शणं भवित। सतकलायाः शणं भवित। कय शणं अ न भवित। यद काेऽप भः शणं ाुम् इछित अथवा शणं दातम् इछित तह अाभः सह सपक कराेत।

मदरे यषेां पूजा-पवणाम् अायाेजनं भवित तेषाम् सूचनां भान् वयं वुपेण ेषयामः। अन् शातपे अगामनाम् उसवानां सूचना अत। कत ाधायतः अन् पे मदरय बधवषयाणां चचा अत। कृपया िनयमान् अवधानेन पठत। शा अत चेत् अाकं सपक शीमेव कराेत।

वयं मदरय सेवायै कृतसपाः ः। न केवलं समितसदयाः कत नैके भाः अप सेवायै कृतसपाः सत िनयं सेवाकाय कुवत च। तेयः सवेयः भेयः सादरं नमांस। पडतकाशपाडेयमहाभागः अप धयवादाहः अत। सः अाकं मागदशनं साहायं च कराेित। धयवादः।

वयं भान् ाथामहे भवतः सततं मदरय हताय अान् मयताम् इित। अाभः यात् ुटयः कृताः ताः यताम्।

We are very pleased to present the first edition of Shanti for this year for your information and consideration. You elected the new committee at the end of September 2015. Since then we have been busy with every aspect of the Temple work. Our main focus is that the HTCC becomes a centre for learning, worship, celebrations, and yoga for the Canberra residents and surrounding regions. With this in view we have made a few simple rules. We believe that these rules will make it easy for the devotees to use the Temple. We have reduced and rationalised the fees structure. The Temple cannot be run and maintained with fees alone. It is run on donations and goodwill of the devotees. The devotees donate according to their capacity. By the grace of God all has been well so far and we hope and pray for a better future.

We are proud to say that languages are taught along with yoga, dance, rituals, and music at the Temple. If a devotee wishes to learn something or teach something which is not in the above list, please contact us and we will make every endeavour to have that subject introduced in our curriculum.

Everyone who believes and respects Hindu religion and respects others is invited and is welcome to enjoy and learn the daily worshipping, rituals, languages, and yoga practices. No matter from which part of the world you come or what language you speak, if you believe and respect Hinduism, the HTCC welcomes you.

The information about the puja and celebrations held at the Temple is broadcast via e-mails. In this newsletter primarily the administrative matters are discussed. Please read the rules carefully and if in doubt contact us.

Not only do we have a committed committee to assist but also a dedicated group of devotees who volunteer many hours of their time on a regular

basis. We convey our sincere appreciation and thanks to them. Punditji is most deserving of our thanks for his guidance and help. We thank you all.

Kindly discuss your suggestions for improvements with a committee member.

We seek your forgiveness for errors and omissions.

Yours in service President: Shri Muneshwar Sahadeo; Vice-Presidents: Shri Anil Gupta & Shri Vijay Arora; Manager: Shri Anil Sharma; Secretary: Shri Himanshu Pota; Treasurer: Shri Rahul Vedi; Assistant Secretary: Shri Akhilesh Arora; Members: Shri Krishna Hamal, Shri Yogesh Kashyap, Smt Jyoti Jalota, Smt Rashmi Jain, Shri Sri Sripathy; Shri Raju Khiani; Smt Abha Gupta; Public Officer: Shri Prakash Mehta.

Special General Body Meeting (SGM) - 10.30am Sun 3 April 2016

There will be a special general body meeting of the HTCC on Sun 3 April 2016, starting 10.30am. If there is no quorum by 11.00, the SGM will reconvene after the monthly puja at 12noon. The agenda for the SGM is to appoint an auditor for the financial year 2015-16.

हदमूदरसांकृितककेय असाधरणसभा ३एल२०१६ितथाै रववासरे ातः साधदशवादने अाकारता अत। यद सदयानां यूनतमा िनदा सा एकादशवादनात् न भवयित तह पूजायाः परं ादशवादने सभा अारा भवयित। सभायाः अायाेजनय वषयः अत २०१५-१६वीयवषाय लेखाकारय िनयुः इित।

Shata-Chandi Yagya – Sun 10 April 2016 9.30-11.30am

Devotees have a wonderful opportunity to participate in a Shata-Chandi Yagya celebration during the coming holy Navaratris at the Temple. Yagya will be performed with the famous seven-hundred-verse Chandi Paath by 108 devotees (thus shata, i.e., hundred Chandi paaths). We will get 108 havankunds from India and prepare all the other material needed for the havan. The havan will be done outside the Temple in the area between the kitchen and the main Temple hall.

The requested sponsorship is $51. Please register your interest to be one of the 108 participants with Punditji or secretary@htcc.org.au or any other committee member. The havan will start at 9.30am on Sun 10 April 2016 and it will be for about two hours.

शतचडयः मदरे रववासरे १०एल२०१६ साधनववादने अारयते। अन् ये भवतं वयम् अामयामहे। अाधकशतेन यैः सह दगुा-सशती-पाठः करयामः। नवरािपवणः दयशतचडयेन सभाजययामः। भवानप अागछत।

Pranapratishthaa Anniversary 16 - 18 April 2016

The anniversary of the Pranapratishthaa will be celebrated during 16 - 18 April 2016. Swami Nirliptanandaji from Shivananda Ashrama in Hrishikesh is coming to participate and bless us.

• Sat 16 April 6.00-7.30pm – Swami Nirliptanandaji’s discourse, Satsang and bhajans

• Sun 17 April 11am-2pm – Pranapratishtha anniversary celebration: puja, bhajans, and bhojan-prasad

• Mon 18 April 7.30-9.00pm - Swami Nirliptanandaji’s discourse, Satsang and bhajans

मदरे ाणिताेसवः शिनवासरात् १६एल२०१६ितथेः ारय साेमवासरः १८एल२०१६ितथः पयतम् पालययामः। उसवाय भारतदेशतः ीशवानदामतः वामिनलानदः अागमयित। उसवय ववरणं अचरमेव ेषययामः।

Mahaveer Jayanti – Sat 23 April 9.30-11.30am Canberra Jain Mandal will be celebrating Mahaveer Jayanti in HTCC on Sat 23rd April 2016 from 9.30-11.30am. There will be abhishek, Mahaveer puja, and bhajans followed by Arti. Contact: Shri Ashok Jain (0431 662 559).

Educational Activities

The HTCC in collaboration with other kindred organisations is a centre for many educational activities. Please see below a short description of the activities. To get details please contact us.

• Sanskrit - Mondays 7.30-8.30pm Sanskrit classes are held each week on Mondays between 7.30-8.30pm. Shri Rahul Vedi conducts the classes. Fresh students can join anytime. Rahul supplies all the material and works with the beginners to bring them to the level of other students. Students with interest in Paninian grammar are also welcome; on alternate weeks we do Paninian grammar from the Ashtadhyayi. All welcome.

• English - Wednesdays 6.30-7.30pm Shri Subhash Mohindra conducts classes in elementary spoken English. This class is ideal for

new migrants.

• Hindi - Wednesdays 7.30-8.30pm Hindi classes are conducted for adult learners. The main focus is spoken Hindi. Students can join on a continuous basis. We attempt to bring the beginners to the level of the rest of the students within a short period of time.

• Study Group - Fridays 7.00-8.30pm The Canberra Centre of the Chinmay Mission Australia runs the study group on Fridays between 7.00-8.30pm under the guidance of Br. Gopal Chaitanya. These classes enable in depth discussions and study as a means to assimilate, practice and internalise learnings. Study of the Bhagvad Gita as taught through commentaries (in English) by Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda. The commentaries offer the seeker a systematic exposure to Vedanta.

• Bal Vihar - Sundays 10.30am-12.00noon Bal Vihar is run on Sundays between 10.30am-12.00noon by the Canberra Centre of the Chinmay Mission Australia under the guidance of Br. Gopal Chaitanya. The aim of Bal Vihar is to help children bloom and inculcate values through fun-filled activities. Classes help the child develop on a physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual level. Learning is imparted through chanting bhajans, stories of devotion, interactive discussions, creative games, and arts and crafts with a view to making them grow to be better citizens.

• Kathak Dance Classes Sundays 2-5pm Kathak dance classes are offered by Mudrakar Kathak Dance School at the HTCC on Sundays between 2-5pm. New students are welcome. Please contact Ira Patkar: 0430942375 or mudrakar@hotmail.com to join the classes.

Welcome to New Members

We welcome Divisha & Gaurav Sharma, Daxa & Chandresh Kotecha, Shivani & Mehul Dhanesha, Seema & Harsha Seneviratne, Kamal (Puran) & Rajina Singh, Shubhang & Dr Namita Mehta, Narendra Vemula & Padmaja Tummala, Dr Ashis & Tapoti Dey, Dr Biplob Das & Mita Rani Dey, Dr Ajoy & Sima Kar, Dr Debesh Halder & Nipa Dutta as Life Members and Subasree Iyer, Ajay Malik, Priti Indapurkar & Kiran Shimpi (Family), Akshay & Shri Gupta (Family), Newton Muhury (Single), as Annual Members.

नवसदयानां वागते वयं हषम् अनुभवामः। ते सवे धयवादाहाः सत यताे ह ते अाकं कायय अनुमाेदनं कुवत। सवागतम्।

Donations - Thanks

HTCC thanks the following donors for their generous contribution: Yogesh Kashyp $21.00; Udit Gera $51.00; Vijay Arora $51.00; Narendar Nath Chowdhri $51.00; Anil Rai $21.00; Keshav Goel $100.00; Pradeep Chopra $101.00; Vinod Mahajan $51.00; Himanshu Juidand $51.00; Vishnu Sharma $50.00; Anonymous $20.00; Subhash Jalota $51.00; Subhash Dang $51.00; Raman Bhardwaj $51.00; Mohan singh $51.00; Ashok Jain $84.00; Anil Gupta $50.00; Rakesh Malhotra $11.00; Harsha Seneviratne $51.00; Sameer Gaur $50.00; Subhash Chandra $50.00; Anil Kumar $51.00; Subhash Mohindra $101.00; Pradeep Sharma $185.00; Samvit Kaura $50.00; Keshav Adhar $21.00; Prakash Mehta $151.00; Surender Nagar $50.00; Biplob Das $10.00; Krishna Hamal $200.00; Rishi Bhushan $20.00; Keshav Goel $100.00; Manmohan Sehgal $20.00; Radhya Sharma $20.00; Rudra Gupta $20.00; Pradeep Chopra $100.00; Anonymous $201.00; Harmander Singh $11.00; Anil Gupta $21; and Mr K. Gaind $501, Anil Gupta $21.00, Rakesh Jain $51.00, Ajay Mehta (Sydney) $200.00, Hemant Kelshikar $51.00, Anonymous $50.00, Anant Srivastva $20.00, Yogesh Kashyap $50.00, Srinivas $10.00, Jeevan Mohindra $21.00, Shiv Kumar $50.00, Mr Ashok Jain $201.00, Mr Pardeep Sharma $50.00, Vishwanatahan $50, Bal Subramanium $100, Kamalakkannan $50, Smit, Nikita and Hiral Patel $21, Nisha Basu Banka $51, Singans (Sydney) $25, Vishal Pandey $20, Thirupathirao Balmvari $51, Varda Rajan ParathaSarathy $25, Vipinbhai Haria $51, Dilip Darji $50, Yogesh Kayshap $21, P Chopra $501, Keshav Goel $100, Subhas Rewal $101, Jyanthi Murali $50, Sunil Magoo $20, Anant Poonia $11, Shubhang Mehta $501, Pradeep Chopra $50, Sanjay Malhai $100, Sumvit Kaura $50, Navleen Malhotra $50, S. Sharma $2, Srinivash Rao $51, Samir Bookseller $21, Anonymous $51, Veeramalai Vishwanathan $50, Kanubhai Mahaisuria $21, Prakash Mehta $501.

If you have made a donation and your name doesn't appear above and also not in an earler announcement. Please contact us.

वयं सवे दातॄन् धयवादान् पाठयाम। यद भवान् दानम् अददात् कत भवतः नाम उपर नात अथवा इतः अप नात तह झटित अाकं सपक कराेत।

Membership

If you are not a member we request you to become a member. Membership form is attached with this newsletter. The form can be given to Punditji or any committee member or scanned and sent via e-mail to secretary@htcc.org.au.

Those who paid their annual membership between 1 June 2014 and 31 May 2015 have till 31 May 2016 to renew their membership. All those who have paid their annual membership after 31 May 2015 but before 31 May 2016 will be eligible to vote in the 2016 AGM. Those who become members after 31 May 2016 will not be eligible to vote in the 2016 AGM.

A membership list is displayed at the Temple and it will be available 24/7 from now onwards. New membership applications will be considered at every committee meeting and as soon the memberships are approved, the names of the members will be announced via the next e-mail broadcast and immediately displayed at the Temple.

भवान् मदरय सदयः नात चेत् सदयः भवेत् इित वयं िनवेदयामः। यद भवान् सदयताशकं ३१मई२०१६ितथेः पूव दायित तह अागामिन वाषकामसभायां मतदानं कत शयित। सदयतायै अावेदनपम् अय वातापय अते अत।

Shantiniketan Progress Work on the Shantiniketan project has commenced. An architect has been appointed and the plan has been finalised with the architect. Arborist inspection of the tree has been also completed. We are compiling quotes for making plans for various necessary requirements such as hydraulic services, fire safety, structural design, landscaping, and building certification. This work will go into preparing the DA application.

Temple Booking, Sponsorship, & Punditji Service Charges

मदरं सवेयः भेयः अत। मदरय उपयाेगः भवताम् उपासना-पूजा-पवणाम् अायाेजनाय सकरः भवेत् इित वचय वयं कांत् सरलान् िनयमान् अरचयाम। मुये त यद मदरय उपयाेगः अखलसमाजाय अत तह कः अप शकः नात इित। अये िनयमान् अधः पठत। पडतकाशपाडेयमहाेदयय सेवा वगृहे समाजककायमे अप ाुं शते। तय शकः

अत - $५१मतः सामाय पूजाय,ै $२५१मतः ववाहादिन कमयः।

Temple Bookings

Please note the new guidelines for Temple bookings and sponsorship.

For the following two categories there will be NO sponsorship fee or charges - donations are most welcome. Sponsors can offer bhojan-prasad or simple prasad as per their convenience.

1. For the functions that the HTCC is celebrating, devotees can sponsor and participate in the puja.

2. For the functions that a devotee or a group of devotees wants to sponsor but it is open to the entire community. For example: (a) a devotee wants to do a Satyanarayana katha or a similar puja at the temple and invite the entire community, or (b) a group wants to celebrate Swami Vivekananda's birthday and invite the entire community.

3. For community organisation the use of the Temple is welcome without any set fee - donations are welcome. There are two conditions: (a) the final aarati will be performed by Punditji and the aarati thaali offerings will be part of the HTCC hundi collection.

The use of temple for private function for (a) 2-3 hours will have no set fee (b) 4 hours or so $101 and (c) whole day booking $251. Donations are welcome.

It is expected that devotees will clean the Temple after every celebration.

Punditji Service Fee

Punditji may be requested to perform pujas at homes or other community events. The fee for a normal puja is $51 and for weddings it is $251. Dakshina to Punditji is welcome.

For bookings and sponsorships please contact the manager Shri Anil Sharma 0405360488 or Punditji 0420264578.

Regular Temple Activities

अधः अाकं िनयमतकायमानां सूची अत। सवे पाठाः पूजाः समाराेहाः सवेयः भेयः िनशकाः सत। अधकं ववरणं ातम् इछित चेत् अाकं सपक कराेत।

Temple Hours Monday - Friday 7:30-9:00am & 6.00-8.30pm Saturday 7.30-11am & 6.00-8.30pm Sunday 7.30am-1pm & 6.00-8.30pm

Regular Puja Mondays Rudherabishek 6.30-7.15pm Tuesdays Hanuman Chalisa 6.15-7.15pm

Thursdays Sai Baba Aarti followed by Bhojan-Prasad 7.30-8.00pm

Alternate Sundays Ayyappa Swami Bhajan 6.30-7.15pm

First Fridays Murughan Bhajan 6.30-7.30pm

First Sundays Puja Starting 11am

Third Sundays Havan Starting 11am

Education and Yoga

Mondays Sanskrit 7.00-8.00pm Wednesdays Hindi/English 6.30-7.30pm Fridays Scripture Study 7.00-8.30pm Saturdays Yoga 8.00-9.30am

Sundays Bal Vihar 10.30am-12noon

Sundays Bharata Natyam Dance 2.00-5.00pm

Contacts & Links

इमे से ताः भवः सत। कामप सूचनाम् इित अथवा कमप अभमतं ेषतम् इछित चेत् एषां से ताम् उपयुयत।

E-mail: htccfloreytemple@gmail.com, secretary@htcc.org.au, president@htcc.org.au Punditji - 0420264578, Temple - 62593057 Temple Manager: Shri Anil Sharma 040 536 0488 Public Officer: Shri Prakash Mehta 0418800753 Secretay: Himanshu Pota 62624794 or himanshu.pota@gmail.com

Our Webpage - http://www.htcc.org.au/index.html For the HTCC broadcasts please click here. Previous broadcasts from Oct 2015 onwards.

Income and Expenditure Statement for the period ended December 2015 The statement contains expenditure, bills, etc., from July to December 2015, and outstanding bills from FY 2014-15. (BF - Building fund, SF- Shantiniketan fund, GF- General Fund) Income and Expenditure Statement for the quarter ended December 2015 Donation (BF+SF) $4,300.00 Non-capital Expenditure Donation to SF + Interest on SF $0.00 Religious $66.36 Interest received (BF+SF) $0.14 Electricity $900.55 Interest received (GF) $7.62 Water & Sewerage $2,271.90 Membership $1,046.00 Groceries and disposables $138.81 Arti & Hundi $9,739.10 Telephone bills $418.13 Home Pooja $0.00 Repairs & Maintenance $300.00

Cultural $0.00 Salary & Employment Expenses $12,506.49

Food fair $0.00 Panditji's super $1,631.91 Education camp $0.00 Cultural $0.00 Religious $2,178.00 Gas bill - Temple $2,168.11 Rent $0.00 Gas bill - Residence $1,406.33

Hindi Classes $0.00 Postage, printing, stationaries $0.00

Use of Temple by other associations $201.00 Rubish Removal $0.00

Others $2,866.50 Legal Expenses $2,800.00

Total $20,338.36 Fire extinguisher maintenance $95.00

Operating Result -$5,138.95 Consultancy Fees $636.36 Bank fee $137.35 Cash at Bank - GF (31 Dec 2015) $59,868.91 Others $0.00

Cash at Bank - BF (31 Dec 2015) $3,039.41 Total (non-capital) $25,477.31

Short term FD (12 Feb 2016) $230,326.37 Cash at Bank - SF (31 Dec 2015) $3,465.50 Capital Expenditure

Total Cash at Bank (31 Dec 2010) $296,700.19

Total (asset) $0.00 Addition to asset $0.00

Total of Non-capital & Capital Expenditure $25,477.31

Net to Devotees $296,700.19

इदम ् अाकम ् आययपम ् अि। कृपया अवधातम ् अिन ् प ेगतिवीयवषा त ् अिप दयेनािन सि।

Membership Form Please send it to: HTCC, 81 Ratcliffe Crescent, Florey ACT 2615 or htccfloreytemple@gmail.com Name:____________________________________________E-mail:________________________ Spouse Name:__________________________________________E-mail:_________________________ Other Family Members: :_________________________________________________________________ Telephone no._____________ ______________ E-mail (home):___________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________________________________ Special Interests: ________________________________________________________________________ My contact details can be released to other HTCC members: Yes No I/We will abide by the rules and regulations governing the Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre of the ACT, Inc. Signature: Date: Please tick the appropriate boxes: New Membership Renewal

Annual Member - Single $21 pa. Annual Member – Family $31 pa. Life Member $251

I have enclosed a personal cheque/ money order for $ __________ made payable to ‘Hindu Temple &

Cultural Centre of the ACT (Inc.)

I have made a direct deposit (from an account with my name) of $ __________ in the following account: Account Name: Hindu Temple & Cultural Centre of the ACT (Inc.) BSB: 062-913 Account Number 0090 3107

Please charge an amount of $ ____________ to my Credit Card with the following details:

Master Card. Visa. Cardholder’s Name (as on the card and should be the same as the member’s name): ___________________________________________ Card Number: - - - Exp: / Signatures: _____________________

I have made a payment of $ ___________ in cash to Mr./Mrs. ______________________________ (a committee member).

For cash payment the following to be filled in by a committee member. I ______________________ have personally met the applicant and verified the ID _________________ Signature (of the committee member) and date.