Monday, October 10, 2011

Bay Area Ayyappasamaaj Events Update

San Francisco Bay Area Ayyappasamaaj (http:://www.ayyappasamaaj.org) is very active in the celebration of Lord Ayyappa's functions at the Shiva Vishnu Temple in Livermore, California.

2011 Events



2010 Events

2009 Events

2008 Events


Please join Ayyappasamaaj (http://www.ayyappasamaaj.org/) and our mailing list on Yahoo(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ayyappasamaaj/join) to get notified of Lord Ayyappa's pujas in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Swami Saranam!

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Ayyappa Mandala & Irumudi Puja and Makara Vilakkku Puja

Ayyappa Mandala & Irumudi Puja and Makara Vilakkku Puja


Ayyappasamaaj of San Francisco Bay Area (http://www.ayyappasamaaj.org/) will grandly celebrate its Annual Ayyappa Mandala & Irumudi Puja and Makara Vilakkku Puja at The Shiva Vishnu Temple, Livermore between Nov 16, 2011 and Jan 16, 2012.

With the grace of Lord Ayyappa we are ready to begin this year's Mandalam season on Nov 16th. We invite you, your family, and your friends to come participate in the planned devotional activities and receive the grace of Lord Ayyappa. If you are planning to wear mala this season to observe vratham and/ or take Irumudi, please let us know in advance.

The months of Kaartika / Vrishchika, Maargazhi / Dhanur are most auspicious for Lord Ayyappa, during which period Mandala Puja is celebrated. Devotees observe traditional austerities (vratham), which normally start from the first day of Kaartika/ Vrishchikam (November 16). Devotees initiate the vratham by wearing a Thulasi or a Rudraksha maala. After 41 days (on December 25th) the devotees end their vratham by carrying Irumudi and removing the maala. (Kids can observe short vratham days by wearing maala on December 17th and end it on December 25th). Irumudi is a cloth bag with two compartments containing offerings for the Lord.

Makara Vilakku Pooja is a seven-day festival conducted annually in the famous Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala. The festival begins on the auspicious day of Makara Sankranthi, the first day of the Malayalam month of Makaram. Makara Vilakku Pooja commemorates the day on which idol of Lord Ayyappa or Dharma Sastha was enshrined in the temple and is the most important event that is conducted at Sabarimala.

  • Nov 16, 2011 6:00 PM –Start of Mandalam Season 2011 (to coincide with the Mandalam season start in Sabarimala)
  • November 19, 2011 - 4:30 PM - Mandalam Celebrations Weekend Program begins with Sankalpam, Mala Dharana, Abhishekam, Archana, and Bhajans followed by Dinner Prasadam
  • Nov 26, Dec 3, 10 at 5:00 PM - Weekly Bhajan followed by Aarti
  • Dec 17 4:00 PM Ayyappa Lakshaarchana and Sastha Preethi, Mala Dharana for kids followed by Bhajans and Aarathi. Click here to sign up for the Lakshaarchana.
  • Dec 25 at 9 AM - Mandalam ends with Irumudi Puja, Abhishekam, Archana, and Bhajans followed by Lunch Prasadam
  • January 15, 2011: 4:30 PM: Ayyappa Makara Vilakku Puja with Sankalpam, Abhishekam, Archana, Bhajans followed by Dinner Prasadam

This is an excellent opportunity for children to learn Ayyappa bhajans and sing them during the Puja. We will be performing Irumudi Puja on December 25th. Last year we had over 40 Ayyappas do the Irumudi Puja (including over 10 children)

  • Please participate with your friends and family
  • Please bring your children to learn Ayyappa bhajans on Saturdays
  • Please sign up for the Lakshaarchana
  • Please forward this information to at least five of your friends and family. Ask them to sign for Ayyappasamaaj Yahoo Groups. (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ayyappasamaaj/join) and http://www.ayyappasamaaj.org/apps/auth/signup
  • If you are interested in taking vratham (deeksha) this year, please contact us immediately. We can provide you with Thulasi Mala to begin your vrutham. Several other activities are planned as well and we'll update you as we go along.

For information call: Vijay Gopal (925-321-0996), Arun Iyer (719-302-3291), Sudhakar Deevi (925) 518-4521, Manoj Empranthiri (408) 309-0695, Rajendran Nair (510-676-7402), Ravi Devaraj (650-888-6603)

http://www.ayyappasamaaj.org/

To join our mailing list, please sign up for our Yahoo Group (groups.yahoo.com/group/ayyappasamaaj/join)

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