Holy Pilgrimage - Hindu temples in USA
Sri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple, Edina,
MN
Mission
Facilitate and conduct Cultural, Educational, Social, Spiritual and Religious services in Greater Minnesota.Vision
Develop and implement a phased approach to realize the mission.Goals
Create an institution dedicated to providing the services
established in the mission. This institution, dedicated to Lord Venkateswara,
will be named as Sri Venkateswara Center (SVC).
TRANSCRIPT OF SPEECH BY GAUTAM REDDY AT EDINA TEMPLE
Hindu temples have served as important centers of personal and
spiritual development for thousands of years. The foremost purpose of a temple
is, of course, to provide an auspicious space to feel connected to the divine.
A temple is a place we can go to with our wishes and anxieties, our hopes and
dreams. It’s a place we can find mental relief, to get a sense of something
larger than our own egos. But a temple is also more than a place of personal
spiritual development–it is an integral place for community building. This is
especially true for new temples like ours, growing out of an American context.
The American
Hindu Temple
has become a vital center for the arts, education, and service work. It is here
that traditional forms of music and dance can be performed, enjoyed, and passed
on to future generations. Well-intentioned individuals can gather to embark on
projects of good will and social justice. The temple is an important cultural
resource for our community, not only for youth but for adults as well. Through
yoga, meditation classes, and spiritual discourses, it offers us all the
opportunity to engage with our cultural heritage in a deeper, more significant
way.
In India,
such cultural activities are omnipresent and it is easy to take them for
granted. We see them on tv, in our next door neighbor’s homes, and in school.
But in the United States,
they become a much rarer sight, and thus all the more precious to us. Because
of this situation, the Hindu temple in America becomes an important center
for nurturing these extracurricular activities. The temple creates a positive
and affirming place for us in American society to practice our religion as well
as our culture.
One thing that is distinctly unique to the American Hindu
Temple is that it is an
important site for inter-cultural dialogue. Hinduism is a minority religion in
the United States
and there is a great deal of misinformation and ignorance about our tradition among
the general population. The greatest way to get rid of cultural
misunderstandings and clear up prejudice is by the simple act of dialogue. The
temple gives us a concrete base for reaching out and creating bonds of
friendship with members of other communities. It is a place we can bring our
American friends, where curious co-workers and neighbors can come, to learn
more about our cultural traditions and where we come from. It’s through such
simple acts that we can educate and enrich the greater community around us.
In ancient times, temples were built by great kings and queens who
wanted to attain good karma and increase their own fame. But in this modern
day, temple building has grown into a community activity that brings good merit
and will to everyone involved. The institution that we establish today will
serve to strengthen and rebuild us as a community in the years to come. Let it
be remembered: the efforts and energies that we invest in building our own Sri Venktateswara
Temple here in Edina will be repaid a thousand fold in the
coming years, in ways we can not yet even imagine.
Pooja Services
Temple is not charging mileage and priests are paid for this by temple .Priests Sambhavana is up to to the discretion of devotees Only. Please pay for the services per invoice only. NO CASH is accepted for services.Only checks or credit cards to S.V.Temple.
Silver Coins 5.10 and 15 gms available at SV Temple Premises please contact priests for more details.
Very unique way of celebrating Lord Venkateswara’s ( Balaji)
wedding in your own house along with your family members and friends. you can
call and schedule this event at your convenience and receive blessings from
God. priests will bring all the Gods vigrahams and perform this event in a
traditional way like in Tirumala in your own house. It is an interactive event
so that you can actively participate in the wedding of Lord Venkateswara and
get blessings.
Temple will provide garlands and priests will give a list of puja supplies when you call and set up a date for this auspicious event.
Temple will provide garlands and priests will give a list of puja supplies when you call and set up a date for this auspicious event.
Gita Study Group
Facilitated by Arvind Naik
Facilitated by Arvind Naik
This would be a spiritual study group organized regularly, every
Sunday morning, 10:15 AM-11:00AM at SV Temple.
Purpose:
To help ourselves become true human being, live a life where our thoughts, words and deeds that are aligned to our true nature and we become one with our ultimate source, the supreme.
Background:
Bhagavad Gita also known as the song of God has been beacon of spiritual path in the east. The poem authored by Maharshi Ved Vyaas has captured the essence of spirituality in very few words for anyone seeking to start a spiritual journey. The verses of Bhagavad Gita represents deeper spiritual meanings, albeit difficult to understand for a common person not familiar with the Sanskrit language. Several Scholars and Teachers have elaborated the significance in various languages and spread the teachings throughout the world. While reading of scripture helps significantly, it is still insufficient to get the grasp of complete message. The only way to get complete access to the significance of the message is being in the company to the enlightened saints and mystics who not only live the message but are committed to passing it to humanity. They do so through simple messages, their own living of it and undivided personal attention on individual seekers. We call them Sat-Gurus or Spiritual Masters. As seekers we can start reflecting on this message and seek guidance through our Sat-Guru who is completely awake and aware of our need and will help in person or otherwise. This study group is one such effort to start reflecting upon the spiritual message and start seeking the ultimate truth within.
Schedule:
We will start at around 10am with silent prayer and meditation for 5 minutes followed by prayer and then start the study of Gita verses. We will read the Sanskrit version of Bhagvad Gita from start to end, reflect upon the message of each verse through sharing of various reputed references of the message and discussion of our understanding with examples and quotations around the topic. Everyone is encouraged to raise the question and share their insight. Let us avoid any arguments and maintain a loving spiritual atmosphere. The purpose is not to reach an agreement but have personal reflection and take steps towards our own spiritual goals.We will conclude the session with 10 minutes of meditation, a prayer and close by 11AM.
Purpose:
To help ourselves become true human being, live a life where our thoughts, words and deeds that are aligned to our true nature and we become one with our ultimate source, the supreme.
Background:
Bhagavad Gita also known as the song of God has been beacon of spiritual path in the east. The poem authored by Maharshi Ved Vyaas has captured the essence of spirituality in very few words for anyone seeking to start a spiritual journey. The verses of Bhagavad Gita represents deeper spiritual meanings, albeit difficult to understand for a common person not familiar with the Sanskrit language. Several Scholars and Teachers have elaborated the significance in various languages and spread the teachings throughout the world. While reading of scripture helps significantly, it is still insufficient to get the grasp of complete message. The only way to get complete access to the significance of the message is being in the company to the enlightened saints and mystics who not only live the message but are committed to passing it to humanity. They do so through simple messages, their own living of it and undivided personal attention on individual seekers. We call them Sat-Gurus or Spiritual Masters. As seekers we can start reflecting on this message and seek guidance through our Sat-Guru who is completely awake and aware of our need and will help in person or otherwise. This study group is one such effort to start reflecting upon the spiritual message and start seeking the ultimate truth within.
Schedule:
We will start at around 10am with silent prayer and meditation for 5 minutes followed by prayer and then start the study of Gita verses. We will read the Sanskrit version of Bhagvad Gita from start to end, reflect upon the message of each verse through sharing of various reputed references of the message and discussion of our understanding with examples and quotations around the topic. Everyone is encouraged to raise the question and share their insight. Let us avoid any arguments and maintain a loving spiritual atmosphere. The purpose is not to reach an agreement but have personal reflection and take steps towards our own spiritual goals.We will conclude the session with 10 minutes of meditation, a prayer and close by 11AM.
About the Facilitator:
Arvind is an electronics and software engineer living in Twin Cities for last 7 years with his wife and children. He is coordinates Science of Spirituality Meditation Group with his wife and other dedicated volunteers. He has been keen student of spirituality from his childhood has studied Gita and other spiritual scriptures under the guidance of his father. He persuaded spirituality in his young adult life through several teachers and developed deeper interest. He moved to US about a decade ago and continued his study in Western spirituality
Arvind is an electronics and software engineer living in Twin Cities for last 7 years with his wife and children. He is coordinates Science of Spirituality Meditation Group with his wife and other dedicated volunteers. He has been keen student of spirituality from his childhood has studied Gita and other spiritual scriptures under the guidance of his father. He persuaded spirituality in his young adult life through several teachers and developed deeper interest. He moved to US about a decade ago and continued his study in Western spirituality
Temple Timings
Mon to Fri :
9:30am to 12pm / 5:30pm to 8pmSat and Sun : 9:30am to 8:00pm
For Pooja
Services Call
Temple Priests
The American
Hindu Temple
has become a vital center for the arts, education, and service work. It is here
that traditional forms of music and dance can be performed, enjoyed, and passed
on to future generations. Well-intentioned individuals can gather to embark on
projects of good will and social justice. The temple is an important cultural
resource for our community, not only for youth but for adults as well. Through
yoga, meditation classes, and spiritual discourses, it offers us all the
opportunity to engage with our cultural heritage in a deeper, more significant
way.
Hindu temples have served as important centers of personal and
spiritual development for thousands of years. The foremost purpose of a temple
is, of course, to provide an auspicious space to feel connected to the divine.
A temple is a place we can go to with our wishes and anxieties, our hopes and
dreams. It’s a place we can find mental relief, to get a sense of something
larger than our own egos. But a temple is also more than a place of personal
spiritual development–it is
SV Temple Management like to appreciate all the volunteers who
have taken lot of time to organize many events during the last year and
succesfully complete the 1st anniversary a grand sucees.
Maha Mandala Abishekam
Hindu temples have served as important centers of personal and
spiritual development for thousands of years. The foremost purpose of a temple
is, of course, to provide an auspicious space to feel connected to the divine.
A temple is a place we can go to with our wishes and anxieties, our hopes and
dreams. It’s a place we can find mental relief, to get a sense of something
larger than our own egos. But a temple is also more than a place of personal
spiritual development–it is an integral place for community building. This is
especially true for new temples like ours, growing out of an American context.
Religious Events
To perform pujas at home or at the temple, please contact temple priests:
December Events
|
|
Date
|
Event
|
DEC 11th – TUESDAY 6:30PM -
|
Masa Sivaratri ( Rudrabhishekam)
|
DEC 15th – SATURDAY 11:30am –
|
Sudarsana Homam
|
DEC 16th – SUNDAY 11:30AM –
|
Sri Venkateswara Sravana Nakshatra Abhishekam
|
DEC 22nd -SATURDAY 11:30AM
|
Hanuman Abhishekam and pooja
|
Dec 23rd – SUNDAY-
Vikunta Ekadasi Program Details
|
|
09:30 am
|
Aaradhana , Sattumarai
|
10:15 am
|
Vaikunta Dwara Darsanam
|
11 am
|
Sri Venkateswara Sahasra Naamarchana
|
12:10 pm
|
Teertha Prasada Viniyogam
|
LUNCH IS AVAILABLE
FOR DEVOTEES
|
|
School Project
we are planning to expand classrooms in SVTemple school. Due to increased enrollment we need bigger and more class rooms to accommodate more students from our community. Temple is looking for sponsors / donors to help with this project. Please make generous donations to complete this project this summer before next year school starts in fall ( sept. 2013). All donations are tax deductible and sponsors / donors will be recognized.Class Timings
Classes schedule follows as below
9.00 – 10.00 am
|
YOGA class for adults and kids
|
10.00 – 10.15 am
|
ASSEMBLY-all kids and parents meet and announcements will be
made if any and prayer.
This is a requirement for all parents and kids to attend. |
10.15-11.00 am
|
LANGUAGE classes
|
11-11.15 am
|
SNACK time. parents to stay with kids and provide snacks and
kids use bathroom if needed .
we do not want kids run around the building and get hurt. |
11-15 – 12-00 pm
|
Culture Class
|
11.15 am – 12 pm
|
Music Class
|
Dance Teachers
1.Purnima Dasari – started teaching Kuchipudi dance on
friday nights at S.V.Temple since December 2012 and accepting new students. She
is a disciple of Mrs. Sobha Naidu.
Contact her directly for more info. 612 594 9883 or at purnimag.satish@gmail.com
Contact her directly for more info. 612 594 9883 or at purnimag.satish@gmail.com
2.Ragamala Dance school will start Bharata Natyam classes
at S.V.Temple starting from sept. 10 th at 6pm( Tuesdays ).
Contact
Ashwini Ramaswamy for more details at 718 483 4102 or
ashwini@ragamala.net.students must be 7yrs. And above. NRITYALAYA DANCE ACADAMY
Conduct Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi Dance Classes
every Sunday from 9:30am to 2:30pm
Accepting New Students
Contact:Padmaja Dharnipragada
Phone:612-670-3397
Email:pdharni@yahoo.com
Angika Dance Academy
Conducting BharataNatyam Dance classes for kids and adults
Time- Saturday Afternoons
Accepting New students
Contact – sujatha Akurati
Phone – 763 843 4555
Email – suja_aku@yahoo.com
Auditorium
Another important project was started on 1st of jan. 2013
to complete our auditorium. We celebrate our cultural events,
music and dance competitions in our auditorium in addition to
a lot of our community events and SV Temple school ‘s events.Some
devotees already started donating money and some donated labor and
the target to complete this project is by sept. 2013. We are looking for
sponsors to support this project and devotees can donate on PayPal
and donations are all tax deductible.
Kitchen
Started our kitchen project on 1st of jan. 2013 with intentions to
complete the kitchen in our temple . kitchen is a very important part of all
temples to make prasadams and prepare food for devotees. Our intentions are to
complete the project by the end of dec. 2013 and looking for sponsors who can
support financially to buy appliances and support construction.so many devotees
donated already generously and temple management is very appreciative.Devotees
can pay on PayPal towards this project and all donations are tax deductible.
Contact
S V Temple
Reg.sv center inc
7615 Metro Blvd.
Edina, MN 55439
Phone:952-835-2250
Reg.sv center inc
7615 Metro Blvd.
Edina, MN 55439
Phone:952-835-2250
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My
humble salutations to the great devotees
, wikisources and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the
collection )
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