Board of Trustees meeting: First Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM

Sunday Puja at 11:30 AM: February 10, March 3, March 10, April 7 and April 14, 2002

Soup Kitchen from 2:30 – 5:30 PM: February 9, March 9, and Aril 15, 2002,

Havan at 11 AM: February 17, March 17, and April 21, 2002

Jain Puja at 11 AM: February 24, March 24, April 28, 2002 and

Interpretation of Jain Sutra (Swadhyay) from 11:45 AM to 12:30 PM by Dr. Raju

From 6 AM on Tuesday, March 12 to 6 AM on Wednesday, March 13

Maha Shivratri, the great night of Lord Shiva’ is one of the holiest days in the Hindu religious calendar. It is considered the most auspicious day for the worship of Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Shiva manifests Himself as huge column of light (jyotirlingham) on this day and bestows His Grace on his devotees. It is said that the devotees who worship Lord Shiva on this day will accrue the benefit of worshipping Him for a whole year. On Shivaratri, devotees fast during the day, maintain a sleepless vigil during the night and worship the Lord in four yaamas (quarters) of the night. The observance of the fast and vigil is symbolic of self-control, one of the prerequisites for God realization.

Shivaratri, besides its great religious importance has also a special significance for our community because it is anniversary day for the Temple. The Board of Trustees extends a warm welcome to all of you and looks forward to your participation enthusiastically in sponsoring pujas, chanting "Om Namah Shivaya" japa, singing bhajans, and various other activities. May Lord Shiva's blessings be with you, your family and friends.

PROGRAM

Tuesday, March 12, 2002

6:00 AM Shri Ganesh Puja/ Kalash Sthapana, Shri Shiva Puja, Abhishekam and Aarti

8:00 to 11:30 AM Abhishekam open to Shiva Devotees*

NOON Shri Shiva Puja, Abhishekam and Aarti

1:00 to 4:00 PM Abhishekam open to Shiva Devotees*

4:00 PM Rudra Havan

6:00 PM Shri Shiva Puja, Abhishekam and Aarti

7:00 to 11:30 PM Abhishekam open to Shiva Devotees*

7:00 to 8:30PM Bhajan, Kirtan , Aarti and Prasad

MIDNIGHT Shri Shiva Puja, Abhishekam and Aarti

1:30 to 5:30 AM Abhishekam open to Shiva Devotees*

6:00 AM Shri Shiva Puja, Abhishekam and Aarti, Conclusion of Akhanda Japa, Aarti, Prasad (ending of fast)

24 Hours Continuous "Om Namah Shivaya" Japa. Please call Sharmaji at the Temple to sign up for your time slot.

Sponsorship: Rudra Abhishekam $25.00; Puja $25.00;

Rudra Havan $51.00

*Special Request to Shiva Devotees: Before you come to the Temple please shower, wear clean clothes (no work-clothes). At the temple please contact Sharmaji, do 108 times "Om Namah Shivaya" japa for cleansing the body and spirit and then do the abhishekam yourself so that the sanctity of the Temple is preserved. Your cooperation in this matter is extremely appreciated. For more information please contact Shashi K. Joshi at 517-349-6225 and Sharmaji at 517-339-6337

Bharatiya Temple is performing a Satyanarayan Puja on Thursday March 28, 2002, a Paurnima day at 6:30 PM. Puja will be followed by Katha, Arati and Prasad. This Puja will end at 8:00 PM. All of you are cordially invited to attend and sponsor the Puja. A sponsor will perform Puja, and distribute fruits and Halwa as Prasad.

The temple is planning to have this Satynarayan Puja every month on a full moon day. Please join us with all your enthusiasm and devotion to perform the most rewarding Puja. Devotees outside Lansing area are also encouraged to sponsor and attend the Puja.

Here are the Paurnima days for the remaining year.

Saturday, April 27 (Hanuman Jayanti) Sunday, May 27 (Budhya Paurnima)

Monday, June 24, (Vat Purnima) Wednesday, July 24 (Guru Paurniam)

Thursday, August 22 (Raksha Bandhan) Saturday, September 29

Sunday, October 20 (Vasant Paurnima) Tuesday, November 19 (Guru Nanak)

Thursday, December 19 (Datta Jyanthi)

For sponsorship and further information call:

Shashi K. Joshi @ 517-349-6225 or shashikjoshi@yahoo.com

Saturday, April 13, 2002 8:30 A.M. To 2:00 P.M.
Sunday, April 14, 2002 9:00 A.M. To 2:00 P.M.
Monday, April 15, 2002 6:00 P.M. To 8:00 P.M.
Tuesday, April 16, 2002 6:00 P.M. To 8:00 P.M.
Wednesday, April 17, 2002 6:00 P.M. To 8:00 P.M.
Thursday, April 18, 2002 6:00 P.M. To 8:00 P.M.
Friday, April, 19, 2002 6:00 P.M. To 8:00 P.M.
Saturday, April 20, 2002 9:00 A.M. To 2:00 P.M.
Sunday, April 21, 2002 9:00 A.M. To 2:00 P.M.

For Program Information, please contact: Mrs. Meena Sharma: (517) 347-0567

For Ramayan Reading & Food Participation: Rampal and Ratni Agrawal: (517) 349-8649; Prakash and Usha Kapoor: (517) 349-5958

Mahavir Jayanti is on 25th April, 2002. It will be celebrated on May 5th as first Sunday Puja. Snatra Puja which is about celebration of the birth of Lord Mahavir will start @ 10:30 am, followed by a talk on Jainism presented by Dr. John Grimes, Professor of Religion at Michigan State University. The program will end with some bhajans, arati, and Swami Vatsalya (lunch). Please, mark this event on your calendar and plan to attend. If you need further information, please, contact Navin & Sharmila Jain @347-4168 or Manoj & Minaxi Shah @332-5621.

Approximately 250 people attended Lakshmi Puja. About 525 people attended the Diwali celebration. Donations amounting to $16,286 (mostly outstanding pledges for FY 2001) were collected at the program. In addition pledges were made for next 4 years in the amount of $35,000. We ran out of parking place and we have to look for more alternative parking for next year.

New Year Resolution for all of us: Makar Sankranti and Pongal was celebrated with a puja at 7:30 PM on Monday, January 14, 2002. About 100 people attended the function. This occasion was also used to launch a six-month-long Sarva Devata Gayatri Purhcharan (recitation) at the temple. This is a vedic ritual that brings spiritual blessings to the devotees. It consists of reciting the Gayatri Mantra for each of the temple deities 24,000 times by interested devotees in the Temple’s sanctum. There are 14 deities in the sanctum and the mantra has to be repeated 24,000 for each of the deities (14X24000). We are well on our way towards this goal. So far about 100 participants recited Gayatri Mantra 11 times for 11 deities. A special corner is set aside in the temple for this japa and everyone is encouraged to come and participate in the recitation. The ritual will conclude with Havan and Homa on June 16, 2002 at the time of the anniversary of Pranan Pratishthapana. The celebration will include serving of Prasada to1200 devotees. We are looking for volunteers to donate time and money. Devotees will be requested to sponsor Prasada. Everyone is invited to attend and participate in the ongoing function.

Annual General Body Meeting and Elections for the Board of trustees: Annual General Body meeting of the Temple was held on December 2, 2001 after First Sunday puja at approx. 12:45 PM. After the general body comments, floor was given to elections committee. Champa Bhatia, Chair of the committee reported that 4 members (Ved Gossain, Leela Mohan, Sundari Rajan, and Dhiraj Shah) were nominated for 2 available positions. Ved Gossain and Dhiraj Shah were elected to serve on the Board for another three year term. Congratulations.

New Priest: Our priest Panditji has accepted a priestship in Virginia. Currently, Sharmaji has graciously agreed to double up and help us out. A priest selection committee (K.P. Gunaga, Sudhakar Kulkarni, Chandrakant Khiroya, Meena Sharma, and Ashok Gupta, and Manohar Naga as an advisor to the Committee) worked diligently and made an offer to Mr. Surinder Bhardwaj from Delhi and he accepted the job. Thank you for the committee’s fast action.

DVD SETS OF MAHABHARAT AND CHANAKYA: Are available for rent at $5/dvd. Additional donation to the temple to offset the cost of purchase of the DVDs will be most welcome. DVDs can be kept for a maximum of 14 days.

Youths' classes on Hinduism started at the Bhartiya Temple of Lansing on Sunday, February 10, 2002 at 11:30 AM and ended at 12:30 PM. These classes are for high school and college students. They will be held on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. We will start each class with a prayer and Geeta discussion led by Dr. Raju. Then we will read and discuss the book ‘Essentials of Hinduism’. In order for this program to be successful, we need parent volunteers to help conduct class and encourage students to participate. For further information, please call:

Rajiv Das 347-9843 or e-mail: rajivrdas@hotmail.com

Kumar Arun 349-0668 or e-mail: kumar2786@hotmail.com

Shashikant Joshi 349-6225 or e-mail: shashikjoshi@yahoo.com

Balvihar Classes for kids under 12 years of age are conducted at the Temple every Sunday from 11 am to noon. Parents of kids under 5 are required to stay at the Temple. All kids must be picked up at noon sharp. Classes are conducted by Amrita Karve, under the guidance of Dr. Raju, Mrs. Shashi Karve and a few other parents. Currently 20 kids attend these classes on a regular basis.

We are accepting Advertisement for Temple newsletter to defray the cost. If you wish to advertise your business, please send your Ad (camera ready) to Smruti Shah with check payable to Bharatiya Temple Of Lansing. Rates: Full Page $200, Half Page $100 and quarter page $50.

Wanted

Nominations for Unsung hero (Contact Ved Gossain)

Car donation for our new priest (Contact Gunaga Kuppaya)

Computer professional to volunteer time to develop Temple Data base (Contact Smruti Shah)

Articles for future newsletters (Contact Devi Tummala)

Temple mailing helpers (Contact Kusum Patel)

Parents to help with Sunday school (Contact Kumar Arun or Amrita Karve)

To sponsor Sunday Puja (first Sunday): Ramma Gossain 349-2886

To sponsor Havan (third Sunday): Jai & Raj Jaglan 337-8085

Youth Class (second and fourth Sunday): Kumar Arun 349-0668

Jain Puja (fourth Sunday) Minaxi Shah 332-5621

Bal Vihar Classes Amrita Karve 347-1892

Priest Services booking Gunaga Kuppaya 332-2446

Temple Rental Sudhakar Kulkarni 485-1060

To sponsor Soup Kitchen (second Saturday) Minesh Mody 347-4244

Our current membership stands at 81 (46 life members and 35 annual members). This newsletter is currently being mailed to 750 families or individuals in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Saginaw, and Jackson area. Just in the Greater Lansing Area alone, we have about 450 Hindu/Jain families. What these numbers highlight is that over 80 percent of families or individuals in our community currently are not members. It is the goal of your Board to have at least 50% of the devotees to be members this year. With that in mind, we are initiating a membership drive with this news letter and we need your help. We are appealing to all the members to enlist a few more members. If each one of us can enlist one new member we will double our membership base. So, Members, please become Temple's ambassadors in this membership drive. To all other individuals, we say that the visionaries in this community built this Temple to fulfill religious, spiritual, cultural as well as some social needs of our community. If this Temple has met any of these needs for you, please become a member. We are aware that most of you have donated monies to the Temple and we thank you for that. Please, we would like you also to become members. Please, participate in temple matters, attend Temple functions and activities as often as you can. If the Temple has not met your needs, please let us know, so those needs can be met. Please get involved, become a member and make your friends members too.

Once again, it is our great pleasure to print answers to the frequently asked questions related to membership issues. Please read them carefully and you are welcome to call our Treasurer, Mrs. Smruti Shah at 347-1209 if you still have questions. In case of any other questions please contact any of the Board members.

Remember that Membership dues are payable by June 30.

Q. What is the annual membership?

A. Any individual or family wishing to become a member must have

Q. Who can become a member of the Bharatiya Temple?

A. Any individual or family subscribing to the objectives of the temple and submitting the necessary dues and donations.

Q. Are there any exceptions to this policy?

A. Life members (an individual or family who has donated a total of $10,000) and honorary members need not pay annual membership dues.

Q. What are the benefits of the membership?

A. Membership in this great institution is a privilege. It primarily provides you and your spouse (family membership) a right to vote in the election of the Board of Trustees and therefore a voice in the administration of Temple activities. It also allows you to rent the temple facility for private functions such as weddings, birthday party etc.

Q. Who can serve as a Trustee?

A. (a) Life member

(b) Any individual or family, who has donated a total of $1,000 in their lifetime to this Temple and has paid annual membership dues.

Q. What type of payments made to the Temple are tax deductible?

A. Bharatiya Temple is a tax-exempt organization under Sec. 501 (c)(3) of Internal Revenue Code. We must use this status very wisely and follow all regulations. IRS regulations state that any donations made to the Temple in cash or kind to the extent that the donor does not receive any value of goods or services back from the Temple are tax deductible.

The following payments help the Temple activities but do not qualify for tax deductions as a contribution under the current IRS regulations:(These are few examples)

Q. Do I get a receipt for my contributions?

A. It is not cost effective and possible to send a receipt for every contribution we receive. Consistent with IRS regulations we will mail you a receipt only when your contribution exceeds $250 per donation. For donations less then $250, your canceled check will be your receipt. We also publish a list of all donors in the January newsletter for the previous calendar year.

Name: (Last and first name)____________________Spouse_____________________

Address:__________________________ State:___________Zip________

Dues: Circle one Family $150 Individual $75

Phone: Home__________________ E-Mail________________________

and mail to: 955 Haslett Road, Haslett MI 48840