GHHF and Andhra Pradesh Government Join Hands

Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Endowments Department of announced that Hindu Parirakshana Trust of Andhra Pradesh Government has devised a unique and sacred plan to provide an opportunity for all Hindus to offer collectively Arthi to Sacred Rivers – Krishna, Godavari and Thunga Bhadra – on Karthik Purnima Day that falls on November 28, 2012.

Dr. Ghazal Srinivas, the Brand Ambassador of Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF) and SaveTemple came up with this idea to create pride among Hindus about their customs, rituals and traditions. He has been tirelessly working to preserve our Temples, culture, traditions and rituals. We feel the more we provide opportunity for Hindus, more they will participate, and even more appreciate the importance of these rituals. He met with the Endowment Minister, the Chief Secretary of Revenue (Endowments) and the Commissioner of Endowments Department presented his idea of offering Arthi to Krishna, Godavari and Thungabhadra rivers on an auspicious day. They all immediately saw the significance of the idea and immediately started working on it and made an official announcement to do Arthi to the three rivers in Andhra Pradesh.

GHHF extends their appreciation to the Andhra Pradesh Government for accepting the idea initiated byDr. Ghazal Srinivas of our organization. Sri C Ramachandraiah, the Minister for Endowments Department, Smt. Chitra Ramachandran, The Chief Secretary for Revenues (Endowment), Sri Balaramaiah, the Commissioner for Endowments Department, and many Executive Officers deserve congratulations for readily accepting the initiative suggested by Dr. Srinivas of GHHF/ SaveTemple.

The objective of Arthi to Sacred Rivers is to respect and practice the traditions and customs of Hindus as described in different Puranas so that the rivers are respected, significance of Karthik masa is esteemed, lighting of Deepam is valued, Karthik Purnima is treasured, and Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Karthikeya are duly worshipped. Any community that respects it’s traditions and customs will promote society with certain values and allow the virtues to prevail to strengthen the fabric of the society.

Krishna River: Arthi will be offered in the Pushkara Ghats of Krishna River in Vijayawada, Sri Sailam and Amaravathi. Sri Durga Mallikharjuna Swamy Temple will take the responsibility of conducting the Arthi to Krishna River in Vijayawada, Sri Bhramarambha Temple in Sri Sailam,and SriAmareswara Swamy Temple in Amaravathi.

Godavari River: The Arthi will be offered at the PushkaraGhats in Rajahmundry, Bhadrachalam and Basra. Sri Veera Venkateswara Swamy Temple of Annavaram will conduct the Arthi to Godavari in Rajahmundry, Sri Sitaramaswamy Temple at Bhadrachalam and Sri Jnana Saraswathi Ammavari Temple at Basra.

Thungabhadra River:  Sri Mahanandeeswara Swamy Vari Temple will undertake the responsibility conducting Arthi to Thungabhadra River at Kurnool.

Schedule of Arthi Offering to Sacred Rivers

On November 28 (Wednesday), the following program is scheduled:
2:00 pm             Mahanyasa Purvaka Rudrabhishekam
4:00 pm             One Lakh Bilva leaves will be offered.
7:00 pm             All the Hindus will be allowed to offer Arthi to the there  selected Sacred Rivers
8:00 pm             Prasadam will be distributed

Special Vedikas (platforms) will be built to conduct all the religious activities in the Ghats to make sure that all the devotees have the opportunity to participate and also have clear darshan of the Abhishekam and Bilva archana. The priests from the respective Temples will conduct the Abhishekam and archanas. All Hindus irrespective of caste will be allowed to participate in the function.

Methods of Informing Devotees

1) All the devotees will be informed and invited through press notes to be published in the prominent daily newspapers.  Emphasis will be given about the significance and importance of the Arthi to Sacred River initiative. 2) They have requested a number of Swamiji’s and Peethadhipathis to send their message encouraging the devotees to attend the event. 3) All the Temples will inform the devotees attending the Temple activities about the Arthi program.  4) All the TV channels will be requested to scroll the Arthi to Sacred River initiative inviting all the devotees to attend this special program. 5) Publicity banners describing the event will be erected in the City as well as nearby villages inviting them to attend. 6) Auto Rikshas that are equipped with sound system will be hired to announce the program in the city and nearby places.

Arrangements

1)Proper seating arrangements, free water distribution and Prasadam Distribution will be provided. 2) All the materials needed to offer Arthi to the River will be provided to all the devotees. 3) District Municipal Authorities will take the responsibility of cleaning the premises and nearby places. 4) Since huge numbers of devotees are expected to participate in the event, District Police authorities are requested to provide security for them. 5) Safety Boats and Professional Swimmers will be placed near the Rivers to prevent any kind of accidents. 6) Ambulance vans are requested to be on the stand by for any emergency situation to transport the devotees to the nearby hospitals.

Why offer Arthi to Sacred Rivers on Karthik Purnima.

For Hindus, lighting Deepam, worshipping rivers, and Karthik Purnima have special meaning and significance. Hindu scriptures are replete with the information on all these rituals. India is rich with customs and traditions. Every thing is connected, ever thing has meaning, every thing has relevance, every thing is divine, and every thing has importance.

Skanda Purana and Padma Purana have glorified the month of Karthik Masa:

Skanda Purana states:
Karthikkhaluvaimasamsarva, masesucauttamam
punyanamparamampunyam, pavananamcapavanam
The month of Karthik is the topmost of all other months. It is the most meritorious and purified of all other pure months.

Padma Purana also talks about the importance of Karthik Masa:
Dvadasu apimase su kartikah Krsna valabhah
tasmin sampujito visnur alpakair apy upayanaih
dadati vaisnavam lokam iti, evam niscitam maya
Among all twelve months, the month of Karthik is dear to Lord Krishna. If somebody performs a little worship of Lord Sri Hari in this month, that devotee is offered His own abode

Karthik Deepam

Deepam is light. It is lit everyday in many houses in the morning and evening. Symbolically, light evokes chaitanya (consciousness). It is considered the source of knowledge, remover of darkness, eradicator of ignorance, and germinator of higher ideals.  Whenever the knowledge is awakened, the negative vaasanas are slowly eliminated while new seeds (vaasanas) are sown for this and next life. Also the light always burns upwards implying that one should grow upward better living. Hindus also light the lamp before starting any auspicious event. In fact Hindus call it Divya Deepam – Divine Lamp.

It is customary to start our daily prayers as well as any major functions by lighting an Oil lamp by chanting this sloka:

SubhamKarotiKalyanam,
ArogyamDhanaSampadah,
ShatruBuddhiVinashaya
Deepa JyotirNamostute.

“I salute the One who lights the lamp that brings auspiciousness; prosperity, good health, abundance of wealth, and the destruction of the intellect’s enemy (These 6 enemies are Kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada and matsarya)’.

After lighting the lamp we also chant the following sloka or prayer:

DeepajyothiParabrahma,
DeepajyothiJanardhana,
Deepo me haratupaapam,
Deepa JyothirNamostute

“I salute the Brahman, the sustainer of the creation, in the form of this light. I salute the Lord, may He destroy afflictions resulting from my omissions and commissions.”

Peoplewho Lights up a Deepam in Kaarthika Masam will receive the blessings of Pitrudevatulu (our ancestors) and also the blessings of SIVA and VISHNU. It is recommended that the Deepam be lighted up only in Mud Plates (Matti Pramidas).
The wick represents body; the ghee represents purity and clarity. When the wick is lit, it stands for illumination. Similarly, an individual should serve as wick to illuminate others and should not be selfish. Just the way light removes darkness, individual efforts should be directed to get rid of ignorance and exuberate knowledge.

To celebrate the killing of Tripurasura, images of Lord Shiva are carried in procession. Temple complexes in Southern India are lit up throughout the night. People offer Deepam consisting of 360 wicks in the Temples to secure escape from reaching hell after death. Some people offer 720 wicks to symbolize 360 days and nights.  In Varanasi, the Ghats come alive with thousands of diyas (brightly lit earthen lamps. The Deepas (lamps) are kept throughout the night in houses and Temples, especially Shiva temples. This day is also known as "Karthik Diparatna" - the jewel of lamps in Karthik. On this day Deepas are offered to the sacred rivers. It is sight to see so many Deepas floated in the rivers

Sacred Rivers

A ritual bath at a Tirtha (a sacred water body like a lake or river) at a pilgrimage center is prescribed on KarthikPurnima. This holy bath is known as "Karthik snana". A holy bath at Pushkara or in the Ganges River, especially at Varanasi is deemed as most auspicious. KarthikPurnima is the most popular day for bathing in the Ganges at Varanasi.
In this month Ganga Mata (Goddess Ganga) enters in to all the rivers, canals, ponds and wells and makes them as sacred as Ganga. Hence taking bath in any rivers on this day is as good as taking bath in Ganges.

According to some scientific reports, water will acquire more magnetic power from Earth and will be stored in water before the Sunrise in Karthik Masa. Any body, who takes bath in flowing water, is relieved of stomach problems, liver disorder, and other health related problems.

Also in this month, Lord Vishnu, who goes to sleep on Ashadha suddha ekadashi, wakes-up on Karthik suddha ekadashi.Ayyappa deeksha is also taken in KarthikMasam.

Karthik Purnima

Na kaarthika samo masa
Na Deva Kesavaatparam
Nacha Vedasamam Shaastram
Na Teerdham Gangayaasamam

"There is no month that is equal to Karthik Masa, there is no god equivalent to Lord Kesava (Sri Hari), there is no scripture equal to Vedas, and there is no Teerdha equal to Holy Ganges."

According to Padma Purana, any one, who performance pujas in the Karthik Masa, will accumulatemore merits than conducting them at other months.These merits are more powerful than even the study of Vedas and performance of japa, charity, and austerity.

Karthik Purnima is also called Tripuri Purnima. In some legends Tripurasura, a demon king, had conquered the whole world, defeated the gods and created three puras (cities), also called "Tripura". The killing of the demon(s) and destruction of his/their cities with a single arrow by Shiva overjoyed the gods and they pronounced the day as a festival of illuminations. Since Lord Shiva killed three sons of Tripurasura on Karthik Purnima day, it is called Deva Diwali – the Diwali of Gods.

KarthikPurnima is also the birthday of Lord Vishnu inMatsya Avatara -Vishnu's fish-incarnation. It is also the birthday of Vrinda, the personification of the Tulsi plant and of Karthikeya, the god of war and son of Shiva. This day also is considered dear to Radha, the lover of Krishna - Vishnu's incarnation. It is believed that Krishna and Radha danced rasa and Krishna worshipped Radha on this day.

Tulasi Worship

Padma Purana elaborately describes the importance and glorious attributes of Tulasi plant in thirty chapters.  Tulasi is very special for the followers of Vaishnava tradition. "Just by looking at Tulasi, all of one's sins are removed. Just by touching Her, one's body becomes purified. All diseases are removed by praying to Her. Watering Her destroys fear of death. Just by planting or transplanting Her, one achieves realization of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If someone offers Her leaves at the lotus feet of Sri Krsna, Tulasi will award liberation and devotion to Lord Sri Krsna."

Encourage your friends and relatives

GHHF strongly recommends our readers to encourage all their friends and relatives, who live in and around these cities, to participate in Arthi to Sacred Rivers initiative. Hindu society will be enriched spiritually and religiously by their full participation in this Arthi. Hindus can make their religion more vibrant, dynamic, colorful, energetic, lively and active by participating in their festivals.

Donations
As many of you know that SaveTemple Office was opened in June 2012 in Hyderabad.  Office is located in Khairatabad. Dr. Ghazal Srinivas and his family is coordinating and managing the office activities. Four full time employees are working on the update of our website, Aalayavani Web Radio, Aalyavani magazine, conducting various activities to preserve and protect Hindu Temples and Culture. Our budget is approximately 2 lakh rupees per month.  We request your generous donation to conduct our activities.

Please DONATE. Your donations are appreciated to continue the work.

NOTE: GHHF is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue code.    Our tax ID # 41-2258630

Please send your tax-deductible donations to: Global Hindu Heritage Foundation, 14726 Harmony Lane, Frisco, Texas 75035

You can go to http://savetemples.org and pay by PAYPAL.

For more information, please visit our websites:

http://www.globalhinduheritagefoundation.org

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Read our magazine: http://aalayavanimagazine.org

GHHF Board of Directors
Prakasarao Velagapudi PhD, (601-918-7111 cell), (601-856-4783 home); Prasad Yalamanchi(630-832-2665; 630-359-5041); D. Satya (732-939-2060); K. R. Venkatramaiah (Canada) PhD (416-925-8167); Satya Nemana (732-762-7104); Sekhar Reddy (954-895-1947); Tulasichand Tummala (408-786-8357); Raju Polavaram, MD (919-959-6141); Nandini Velagapudi, PhD (601-942-2248); Rama Kasibhatla (678-570-1151); Srinivas Murthy (212-538-8716); Shankar Adusumilli MD (919-961-9584); Sireesha Muppalla (631-421-8686); Prasad Garimella MD (770-595-8033);  Raghavendra Prasad MD (214-325-1969); Murali Alloju MD (703-953-1122) Veeraiah Choudary Perni MD (330-646-8004); Vishnu Kalidindi MD; and  Dr. Ghazal Srinivas, Honorary Brand Ambassador.

GHHF Dallas Core Group
Rajesh Veerapaneni (773-704-0405); Sunil T Patel (214-293-4740); Gopal Ponangi (214-868-7538); Ram Yalamanchili (214-663-6363); Ravi Pattisam (617-304-3577); Krishna Athota (214-912-3724); Rajendra Narayanadas (214-901-3399); Sesharao Boddu (972-489-6949); P. Srinivas (832-444-6460); P. Viswanadham, PhD (972-355-7107); I V Rao (214-284-6227); Sridhar Kodela (214-907-8552); Vijay Kollapaneni (818-325-9576); Ghanashyam Kakadia (469-583-1682); R K Panditi (972-516-8325); Mahesh Rao Choppa (732-429-5217); Viswas Mudigonda (972-814-5961); Satish Reddy MD (972-724-3232); Srikanth Akula (952-334-9990); Kalyan Jarajapu (972-896-8352).