Issue # 18
NASSTA NEWSLETTER OM SAI RAM
71
NASSTA
NEWSLETTER
Om Sai Ram
18th Issue
August 2014
OM SAI RAM
IN THIS ISSUE
This is our eighteenth NAASTA
UPCOMING EVENTS AT NASSTA
Rig/Yajur Upakarma(Sravana
newsletter with the list of upcoming
Health Fair, Saturday August 2nd,
Poornima) RAKSHA BANDHAN,
2014 from 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM
Sunday, August 10th, 2014 at 7:30
events, temple pictures, stories and future
temple projects. With our devotee’s
AM
participation, we would like to publish
Saraswathi Pooja, Sunday August
NASSTA is scheduling Upakarma on
more monthly newsletters.
3rd, 2014 10 AM and 4:00 PM
Sunday August August 10th , 2014 at
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
NASSTA is scheduling Saraswathi pooja
7:30 AM. Sponsorship is $31 per person
“If formless meditation is difficult,
then think of my form just as you
see it here. With such meditation,
at 10 AM & 4 PM on Sunday, August 3rd,
for the start of the academic year.
Satyanarayan Vrath, Sunday,
Sponsorship is $31 per child. Everyone is
August 10th, 2014 at 3 PM
cordially invited
Sponsorship is $51 per couple.
the difference between subject and
object is lost and the mind
Varalakshmi Vrath, Friday, August
dissolves in unity.”
8th, 2014 at 7:00 PM
NASSTA is scheduling Varalakshmi Vrath
ARATI TIME - EVERYDAY
Kakad Arati –6:00 am
Abhishekham - 6:30 am
Madhyana Arathi –12:00 pm
Dhoop Arati –6 pm
Shej Arati – 8:30 pm
on Friday August 8that 7:00 PM.
Sponsorship is $51.00. Sponsors need to
bring their own Kalasam.
Sai Vrath, Saturday, August 9th,
2014 at 3:00 PM
Sai Vrath will be performed by NASSTA
at 3PM on Saturday August 9th , 2014.
Sponsorship is $51 per couple.
Everyone is cordially invited
NASSTA NEWSLETTER OM SAI RAM | Issue # 18
2
Krishnaashtami, Sunday August
Ganesh Chaturdi, Friday August
6. My mortal remains will speak from my
17th, 2014
29, 2014
tomb.
6.30 AM : Sri Sainatha Abhishekam
NASSTA is celebrating Ganesh Chaturdi
$51.00
on Friday August 29th, 2014
8.00 AM : Sri Krishna Moola Mantra
6:30 AM Sri Saintha Abhishekham
Homam $51.00
$51.00
9.30 AM : Sri Krishna Abhishekam $51.00
8:30 AM Sri Mahaganapathi Homam
9.30 AM : Sri Krishna Archana $21.00
$51.00
11.00 AM : Vishnu Sahasranama
10:00 AM Sri Ganapathi Abhishekam
Sthothra Parayanam (by 108 devotees)
$51.00
4.00 - 5.45 PM: Bhajan $116.00
11:00 AM Atharva Seersha Parayanam &
6:00 PM : Dhoop Aarati
Sri Ganapathi Sahasranama Archana
7:15 PM : Palaki Seva
$31.00
7.30 PM : Kalahandi
6:45 PM Palki Seva
8.30 PM : Shej Aarati
7:00 PM Sri Sai Ganapathi Vratham
ALL DAY SPONSORSHIP (Except
$51.00
Bhajan) $ 151.00
All Day Pooja Sponsorship $116.00
Everyone is cordially invited
Samaveda Upakarma, Thursday,
August 28th, 2014 at 8 AM
SAI ELEVEN ASSURANCES
NASSTA is scheduling Samaveda
1. Whoever puts his feet on Shirdi soil, his
Upakarma on Thursday August 28th, at
sufferings would come to an end.
8.00 AM. Sponsorship is $31 per person.
2. The wretched and miserable will rise to
joy and happiness as soon as they climb
Lord Ganesh Making Idol with clay,
the steps of the mosque
Saturday, August 23rd from 10:00
3. I shall be ever active and vigorous
AM -6:00 PM
even after leaving this earthly body.
Nominal fee of $5, open for all kids
4. My tomb shall bless and speak to the
needs of my devotees.
5. I shall be active and vigorous even
from my tomb.
7. I am ever living to help and guide all
who come to me, who surrender to me
and who seek refuge in me.
8. If you look to me, I look to you.
9. If you cast your burden on me, I shall
surely bear it
10. If you seek my advice and help, it
shall be given to you at once.
11. There shall be no want in the house of
my devotee
North America Shirdi Sai Temple of Atlanta
700 James Burgess Rd, Suwanee, GA 30024
(678)455-7200 : www.atlantasaitemple.org
Shirdi Sai Health Fair 2014
Saturday July 26, 2014 - 7:30AM - 1.30PM
Blood drawing and other Tests - ONLY
No specialists will be available.



Screening for cardiovascular risk factors like diabetes,
hypertension, and high cholesterol.
Screening for anemia, thyroid and male prostate conditions.
EKG for patients with cardiovascular risk factors.
Complete Blood Profile: Includes, complete Blood Count, Sugar, Kidney & Liver function,
electrolytes, Cholesterol & Thyroid function panel. PSA included for males above 40 years.
Complete Blood Profile Testing. $25 charge for the lab tests.
Please do not eat after midnight, for blood test
Continental & Indian Breakfast provided
Saturday Aug 2, 2014 - 9:00AM - 2:00PM
Consultation with following Specialists
 Cardiologist
 Internal Medicine
 Gastroenterologist
 Ecdocrinologist
 Family Practice
 Dentists
 Nephrologist
 Pediatrician
 Dieticians
 Ophthalmologists
 Pulmonologist
 Ayurveda
 Orthopedic
Homeopathic
Contact Information:
Sohini Ayinala - 678 361 7574
Sai Temple - 678 455 7200
This event is made possible by North America Shirdi Sai Temple of Atlanta
(NASSTA), Physicians, Dentists with the support of devotees and volunteers of
NASSTA
NASSTA NEWSLETTER OM SAI RAM | Issue # 18
3
Joyous Celebrations of Guru Purnima
Thousands of devotees thronged
Temple priests Srinidhi Kadambi
This year, the priests had chosen
to the Shirdi Sai Temple of Atlanta
and Amol Kulkarni, in the
a theme to replicate the Guru
in Suwanee, Georgia to offer their
presence of hundreds of devotees
Sthan present in Shirdi, India.
prayers and seek Sai Baba’s
who had turned out for an early
Guru Sthan represents the place
blessings at the joyous and
darshan of Sainath. After the puja
under the neem tree in Shirdi
spiritually suffused Guru Purnima
rituals to the kalasas, the priests
where Saibaba meditated.
Celebrations on Saturday, July
performed the havan in the name
Volunteers had worked tirelessly
12, 2014.
of Lord Sainath, Ram Parivar and
for the past few days to create a
Shiv Parivar.
replica of Guru sthan which was
Guru Purnima is celebrated on the
later assembled in the sanctum.
auspicious full moon day in the
While the decorations were going
month of Ashada. Guru Purnima
on, bhajan singers engaged the
or Vyas Purnima is celebrated in
audience with their uplifting
reverence of the universal
bhajans.
teacher.
Around 11 am, the priests
Shirdi Sai Temple of Atlanta
celebrated much revered Guru
Purnima Day with daylong
celebrations. The celebrations
began at 5:45 am with Kakad
Aarati, the ceremonial awakening
of the Lord. Following this, the
Nava (9) Kalasa sthapana was
performed invoking the lord in the
form of energy into the 9 kalasas
(pots). The ritual was performed
by the learned and experienced
performed abhishek to Lord
Around 9 am, the priests
performed abhishek (ceremonial
bath) to the larger than life and
blissful main deity of Shirdi Sai
Baba along with the utsav murthy
and the padukas. The hour long
ceremony with Vedic chants
energized the whole sanctum and
the devotees present.
The stage was set for the
decoration of the main sanctum.
Dattatreya. Shirdi Saibaba is
considered an avatar in the
lineage of Lord Dattatreya. Upon
completion of the ceremonial
rituals and decorations, the noon
Aarati was performed at 12 PM.
Devotees were pouring in and by
about 1 pm, approximately 1000
people had already made Sai
Baba’s darshan.
NASSTA NEWSLETTER OM SAI RAM | Issue # 18
4
Around 3 pm, more than 100
is Guru Pranam – the act of
More than 2,500 people visited
families participated in the
submitting oneself to a guru and
the temple between 7.30 and 10
community sai vrat. Sai vrat is
touching his feet in respect.
pm. All were accommodated to
similar to satyanarayan vrat where
Chapter 22 of Sai Satcharitra says
do Guru Pranam. The Temple
the 9 governing planets, ashta
“How to meditate on Baba? No
had courteously arranged for a
dikpalakas (rulers of the 8
one has been able to fathom the
separate lane for convenience of
corners) and the five presiding
nature or the form of the Almighty.
senior citizens, pregnant women
deities are invoked along with
Even the Vedas and the
and families with infants.
Lord Sainath. As an added
thousand-tongued Shesha are not
feature this year, the 52 week
able to describe it fully; but the
The Temple kitchen served
sainath paduka puja was also
devotees cannot but know and
delicious Maha Prasadam to all
performed as part of this sai vrat.
look at the form of the Lord, for
the attendees from 11 am to 11
they know that His Feet are the
pm. The dedicated volunteers
only means of their happiness.
efficiently and cheerfully managed
They know no other method of
the parking lot throughout the day.
attaining the supreme goal in life,
More than 100 volunteers worked
except meditating on the Holy
ceaselessly to help in the
Feet.”
sanctum, kitchen and parking
areas to ensure that devotees had
a smooth and safe darshan.
The dhoop aarati at 6 pm was
The devotees lined up in the
followed with Palki Seva at 6.30
sanctum by 7:15 PM to take the
PM. Devotees enthusiastically
opportunity of reaching out to the
The joyous celebrations
sang and danced to the loud beat
Baba, touching his feet and
concluded with community
of the drums throughout the palki
receiving his blessings. The
archana on behalf of the entire
procession around the temple
queue started inside the sanctum
local community, followed with
while dazzling firecrackers lit up
and the long line stretched out
Shej aarati at 10.30 PM.
the sky overhead.
into the plaza and tent area.
Priests chanted Vishnu
Sahasranama and Lalita
Sahasranama as the devotees
went up to touch the feet of the
Lord. Later, volunteers continued
chanting “Om Sai Namo Namaha,
Sri Sai Namo Namaha, Jai Jai Sai
The significant part of the
Namo Namaha, Sadguru Sai
elaborate rituals of Guru Purnima
Namo Namaha” till 10 pm.
With the blessings of Lord Sai
Baba, dedication, commitment
and hard work of the Temple
Officers, priests and volunteers,
the mammoth and spectacular
Guru Purnima Celebrations were
truly memorable.
Mahadev Desai
Issue # 18
NASSTA NEWSLETTER OM SAI RAM
71
Parking Lot Expansion - Thursday Evening Parking - Special Instructions
As you all are aware, expansion of the temple parking lot is underway. We apologize for the inconvenience caused during
this period while we work on expanding the parking lot. Please note additional parking for temple is at Settles Bridge
Elementary school which is about half a mile up the street (going towards Hwy 20). Volunteers are running shuttles from
the parking lot to the temple and back. Kindly avail the Settles Bridge parking lot and avoid parking on the side of the road
for your safety and safety of those around you. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
https://plus.google.com/photos/104271913878809142113/albums/6037974797363284321?authkey=CMDcsIXcju7d9AE
NASSTA ADDRESS
700 James Burgess Road
SUGGESTIONS
http://www.atlantasaitemple.org/suggest/FeedBack.aspx
Suwanee GA 30024
(678)455-7200
NEWSLETTER COMMUNICATION
http://www.atlantasaitemple.org
Kindly email us your newsletter communications to
TEMPLE HOURS
[email protected]
Mon, Tue, Wed 5:45 AM to 8:00 AM, 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM,
4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Thu 5.45 AM to 9:30 PM
Fri, Sat, Sun 5:45 AM to 9:00 PM