Vedic Dharma Samaj :Vedic Dharma Samaj Sunday, July 4, 2009 7:00 – 8:05 PM Delaware Drive Fremont, CA 94538 (510) 659 – 0655 http://www.fremonttemple.org/ By Karen G. Talla


History of the Fremont Hindu Temple :History of the Fremont Hindu Temple Shortly after the 1970s, families from India started to settle in the Bay area, where they continued to practice their Hindu religion. During the mid-1970s, more of the Hindu population from India immigrated to the Bay area. A few members of the Hindu community from the Bay area started to notice that their community was growing rapidly, and decided to establish a central place for Hindu worship. In 1982, the building where worship is still continued today was purchased. Pranapratishta was performed on October 4th, 1984, which officially named the building the Fremont Hindu Temple. Money was raised to properly construct the traditional Hindu Temple, and was completed in April 2006. The rituals agrand Kumbhaabhishekam and Prana Pratishta were performed for over four days to honor the newly placed deities and construction. Lastly, mandalabhishekam was performed 40 days later as an honoring ceremony.


History of the Fremont Hindu Temple :History of the Fremont Hindu Temple Founders Mr. Dev Bhatia Mr. Birendra K Choudhary Dr. Harish Puri Dr. Romesh Japra Dr. S. N. Shukla Mr. Gajendra Mishra Mr. Harsh Nagia Mr. Kamlapati Yadav Mr. Lalit K. Mathur Mr. Madan Arora Mr. Mahesh Gupta Mr. Ramanand Prasad Mr. Shyam Lahotia Mr. Tej Singh Mr. Vijay K Malhotra


Services Provided in the Temple :Services Provided in the Temple Seva project Mommy & me group Bhajan classes Geeta chanting classes Computer skills ESL classes Saturday afternoon cooking Volunteering services Sunday worship of Bhajans, Pravachan, & Preeti Bhoj Yoga classes Bharat Natyam Sanksrit Legal services Health check-ups Meditation Math classes


Hindu Rituals :Hindu Rituals There are a series of Hindu rites that range from daily puja at home to routine pujas in temples. At home, deities are treated as though they were normal human beings, being awakened from sleep, cleansed, clothed in new attire, served three meals, and then placed to bed. Puja may also be performed in a sanctified corner of a religious room in the individual's house, where the worshiper gives the deity offerings, such as flowers and foods. The worshiper may also reclaim the food offered to the god, which was then blessed, and consume it. In fact, this ritual is "thought to bring the deity down to earth and brings the person closer to them.“ Chanting is also a common ritual to perform, whether praising a deity, or combining it with meditation. As a matter of fact, many Hindus do not honor deities at all; instead, they perform meditation to seek the Self. Jatakarma is performed at the birth of the child, as in to welcome the newborn child into the family. Ceremonially, ghee and honey is placed on the baby’s head by the father, while the name of God is whispered in the baby’s ear. Mantras, or verse prayers, are recited to give the newborn a healthy, long life. A naming ceremony, or namakarna, is also done according to the position of the moon in the birth chart, located in scriptures. Additionally, a family astrologer declares the child’s horoscope.


Hindu Rituals Cont. :Hindu Rituals Cont. Jatakarma Meditation Puja


Hindu Rituals Cont. :Hindu Rituals Cont. Meditation Room


Hindu Rituals Cont. :Hindu Rituals Cont. Vivaha, or marriage, consists of rituals performed to demonstrate the significance of a strong relationship between wedded couples. Without the blessings from the divine, it is thought that the vivaha is incomplete. First and foremost, the families perform the Agni puja. Angi is the Hindu god of fire. Fire is stimulated in the center of the mandap, or the canopy in which the couple is wed. Next, the Mangal Sutra, or holy necklace, is given to the bride from the groom after placing kumkum on her forehead. The couple then circles, clock-wise, around a fire, while reciting their vows to one another, which is the ritual that finalizes the marriage. Mandap Mangal Sutra


Architectural Structure Of Vedic Dharma Samaj :Architectural Structure Of Vedic Dharma Samaj The exterior of the Fremont Hindu Temple institution is divided into two main halves. The right half contains the traditional Hindu temple, where puja and other rituals are performed, as well as the kitchen, which is used for community meals or catering (and is open to the public). The left half contains a library and a social hall, where social rituals, such as Bharat Natyam and Bhajan are performed. Outdoors, about midway between the two halfs of the institution holds a medium-sized monument of the god of destruction and rebirth, Shiva (shown on the right).


Architectural Structure of Vedic Dharma Samaj Cont. :Architectural Structure of Vedic Dharma Samaj Cont.


Architectural Structure of Vedic Dharma Samaj Cont. :Architectural Structure of Vedic Dharma Samaj Cont. This photograph, also located outside the institution to the right of the Shiva monument, represents the Hindu horoscope, or Navgrah. When my father parked the car, the first thing I noticed was that this man was repeatedly circling around this monument. Later, I learned from my tour guide, John, that it represents the nine planets, and the man's circling clockwise around this monument was actually puja, requesting for good health.


Architectural Structure of Vedic Dharma Samaj Cont. :Architectural Structure of Vedic Dharma Samaj Cont. The interior portion of the institution, on the other hand, contained much more monuments, as well as an altar and images of deities and important gurus. Ganesha Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji


Architectural Structure of Vedic Dharma Samaj Cont. :Architectural Structure of Vedic Dharma Samaj Cont. The Vedic Dharma Samaj temple.


Architectural Structure of Vedic Dharma Samaj Cont. :Architectural Structure of Vedic Dharma Samaj Cont. The altar, in closer view, located in the temple of the Dharma Samaj institution. As seen in the photo, worships of fruits, flowers, and even donuts are offered. Candles, colorful blankets, and flower necklaces are also located in the temple.


Demographics of the Vedic Dharma Samaj Congregation :Demographics of the Vedic Dharma Samaj Congregation Size: Approximately six-hundred individuals from the Hindu community visit the Vedic Dharma Samaj institution every day, with the most numbers on Sunday. Ethnic group: The nationality of the congregation for this institution is of 100% Indian descent, though the temple very much welcomes the public. Age: Children and adults of all ages are welcomed in the institution. Income levels: A large number of the congregation are employed in engineering, medicine, computer, and software industries.


Demographics of the Vedic Dharma Samaj Congregation Cont. :Demographics of the Vedic Dharma Samaj Congregation Cont.


Sacred Stories & Myths :Sacred Stories & Myths Many sacred stories are passed down generations and generations, mainly to provide the Hindu community a means of transmitting values and beliefs. Mrigari was defined as a very beastly hunter that enjoyed killing animals and watching them suffer. Therefore, when Narada, a divine sage, instructed Mrigari to chant the word “mara,” meaning “death,” he had no trouble speaking or chanting the word. But when Narada instructed Mrigari to chant the name of Rama, he was not able to, because of his unappreciation of the god Sri Rama. But after Mrigari started to chant the word “mara” over and over again, he started to chant “rama” without meaning to. It is said that the name of Rama is so powerful that it purified the evil heart of Mrigari, who then transformed into Valmiki, a saint. The story of Mrigari emphasizes the ethical treatment of animals, non-violence, and compassion. Valmiki


Sacred Stories & Myths Cont. :Sacred Stories & Myths Cont. Indra, the king of the gods in Hindu mythology, is believed to possess the power of producing rain with the thunderbolt, his main weapon. Indra is also known as the god of battle, who defeated Vritra, a serpent who swallowed every droplet of water in the world, in which he split into two with his thunderbolt; therefore, releasing all the water. In killing Vritra, Indra was able to separate the sea from the land. Indra is said to be analogous to the Greek god Zeus. Indra


Attire (Women) :Attire (Women) Another unique characteristic I noticed when I visited the Vedic Dharma Samaj institution is the attire of the community, especially the women. A salwar kameez is a type of dress that is worn in all regions of India. Loose pants are worn with these dresses. Lehanga is a type of pleated skirt., and is also known as a ghagra. A choli is a type of blouse that is usually only used to cover the front, while it shows the back as bare. A saree is a type of garment that is worn around the worn around the waist and draped above the shoulders or arm.


Attire (Women) Cont. :Attire (Women) Cont. Salwar Kameez Lehanga Saree Choli


Attire (Men) :Attire (Men) The kurta – pyjama is a type of knee-length skirt that mostly elder people wear. The sherwani is a type of coat that is tight around the body; it can be knee-length or longer, and has buttons so as to open in the front. A dhoti is a type of baggy pant. A lungi is a longer type of dhoti, which is pulled up to the thighs.


Attire (Men) Cont. :Attire (Men) Cont. Sherwani Kurta pyjama Lungi Dhoti


Personal Reactions :Personal Reactions When I was absorbed, distracted, fascinated, nervous, and yet comfortable all at the same time. Everyone was so welcoming, offering me to stay a little longer for food and stories. Unfortunately, I was there for only an hour, for it closed at around 8:30 PM and my father and I had to be home for dinner. I would randomly walk up to individuals in the institution and ask them questions for my presentation. Of course, I would first introduce myself and inform them of my presentation, then they would answer diligently and very extensively. Communicating with them was not as complicated as I thought it would be - many of the individuals knew how to speak English with no trouble at all, while some needed help with translation. When talking with Priest Damodar Shastriji, we had to have a translator present, whose name was John, who translated many of the interesting information in my presentation. Overall, I believe I learned so much about the Indian culture and the Hinduism religion, and I had a fantastic time in doing so.


References :References http://www.religiousworlds.com/mandalam/yantra.htm http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Seva/id/61994 http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/practices.htm http://165.29.91.7/classes/humanities/worldstud/97-98/religion/hinduism/Rituals.htm http://www.beau-coup.com/hindu-marriage-ceremony.htm http://hinduism.iskcon.com/index.htm http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/mythology/indra_sky.html http://hinduism.ygoy.com/hindu-culture/clothes.php


References (Images) :References (Images) Vedic Dharma Samaj: http://www.fremonttemple.org/ Mandap: http://www.weddingmandap.co.uk/img/mandap5.jpg Mangal Sutra: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/14/18206307_f2bdeb0905.jpg Jatakarma: http://hinduism.iskcon.com/img/practice/birth2.jpg Meditation: http://www.indiaphoto.org/india/gokarna/pray_sun_rise.jpg Puja: http://www.dattapeetham.com/india/tours/2003/cochin/puja2.jpg Indra:http://www.westminster.edu/staff/brennie/images/indra.gif Valmiki: www.hinduwisdom.info/Hindu_Scriptures.htm Choli: http://indiwo.in.com/india/features/trousseau-bridal/25-tips-for-your-bridal-outfit/9672/0 Saree: www.architimpex.com/chiniya-choli.html Lehanga: www.srot.in/bridal_lehangas Salwar Kameez: www.shergillcreation.com/maindresses.html Kurta pyjama: http://www.indiangiftsportal.com/myshop/images/products-big/inv-34200002.jpg Sherwani: www.utsavsarees.com/pages/item.asp?icode=AKS28 Dhoti: www.punediary.com/html/mens-avenue/index.html Lungi: http://visionsandperceptions.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-art-of-lungi-draping-origami-with-clothes/ I would also like to give credit to my father for taking the photos and driving me to the Vedic Dharma Samaj institution.