Indian Newslink Digital Edition Mar 15, 2016

16 COMMUNITYLINK
March 15, 2016
Hamilton Hindus celebrate a year of Lord Balaji
Venkat Raman
venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz
Devotees of Lord
Venkateswara in Hamilton
celebrated the first
Anniversary of the Lord’s
Temple bringing the Blessings
of the Lord of the Seven Hills to
the people of the Waikato region
in particular and to that of New
Zealand in general.
The four-day event, held at the
Temple Complex (located at 2
Kent Street, Frankton, Hamilton)
from March 10 to March 13, 2016,
gratified those involved with
the Temple Project. They were a
handful of devotees who stood
the test of patience, perseverance
and determination posed by
human and not divine forces.
That they were able to overcome
the challenges is a tribute to their
competence.
As Malathi Vasudevan, a
Chartered Accountant by
profession and a Trustee and
Treasurer of the Sri Balaji Temple
Trust Hamilton said, “Patronage
and support of organisations and
individuals helped us to overcome
a series of issues. We are grateful
to them and we are also confident
that the Temple will continue
to be the ideal destination for
community gatherings to pray
and celebrate festivals and social
occasions.”
The Presiding Deities at the
Temple are Lord Venkateswara,
Goddess Sri Devi, Goddess Bhu
Devi, Lord Ganesha, Lord Murugan,
Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvathi,
Lord Hanuman, Sri Garuda and
the Navagrahas.
The Grand Anniversary
The First Anniversary
Programme began at 1130 am on
Lord Venkateswara with His Consorts in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh
Thursday, March 10, 2016 with
Abhishekam and Alankarana
(Decoration) of the Deities of Lord
Ganapathi and Lord Murugan.
The evening’s programme (which
began at 630 pm) comprised
Sri Ganapathi Homam, Shanthi
Homam and Arathi.
The second day of the celebrations
on Friday, March 11, 2016
began at 1130 am with Abhishekam
of the Deities of Lord Shiva
and Goddess Parvathi, followed
in the evening (630 pm) with
Rudra Homam, Lakshmi Homan,
Shanthi Homam and Arathi.
Saturday, March 12, 2016
formed the core of the Anniversary
with Abhishekam for the
Main Deity Lord Venkateswara
(Balaji) at 10 am, with a similar
honour to Lord Hanuman,
Navagrahas Archana and
Visheha (Special) Alankarana.
The programme in the evening (6
pm) witnessed devotees reciting
Vishnu Sahasranamam, Lalitha
Sahasranamam, Balaji Sahasra
Namarchana and Special Arathi.
The Lord’s Wedding
The four-day festivities
concluded on Sunday, March 13,
2016 with ‘Srinivasa Kalyanam,’
one of the most important and
significant events in the worship
of Lord Venkateswara. His
marriage with Padmavathi of
Goddess Lakshmi is the prime
reason for the appearance of
Lord Vishnu in this Divine form.
The event began at 530 pm and
about three hours later to Maha
Prasadam, the culmination of all
events at a Temple.
The Prayer to the Lord began at
11 am with Sri Balaji Abhishekam,
Sri Sudarshana Abhishekam
(Obeisance to Sun God) and
Special Arathi.
The prime days
The origin of the Balaji Temple
in Hamilton dates back a few
years when a group of devotees
expressed a desire to construct an
abode for the Lord of the Seven
Lord Venkateswara with His Consorts in Hamilton
Hills to serve the growing number
of devotees in the Waikato and
Auckland regions and in due
course all New Zealanders and
visitors.
The Trustees were able to meet
a number of challenges successfully
with the financial, material
and other support of commercial
organisations and individuals.
These included finding a
location suitable to promote
activities related to the Temple
and the community with facilities
for cultural events, music concerts
and other events of public interest
and participation; raising a bank
loan of about $450,000; festivities
relating to the installation of the
Deities and inauguration of the
Temple (a five-day festival held
from March 5 to March 9, 2015, as
reported in a number of Indian
Newslink editions).
A detailed report of the First
Anniversary celebrations with
pictures will appear in our
next issue.
Sri Balaji Temple Trust Hamilton Facts Sheet
Location: 2 Kent Street, Frankton, Hamilton 3204
Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday: 11 am to 1 pm; 6 pm to 8 pm
Friday: 11 am to 1 pm; 6 pm to 9 pm
Saturday: 10 am to 1 pm; 6 pm to 9 pm
Sunday: 10 am to 1 pm; 6 pm to 8 pm
Closed on Wednesdays except on pre-announced special occasions
Total Land Area: 417 Square Metres
Total Built Area: About 300 Sq Mts
Facilities: Prayer Hall, Office, Kitchen,Dining and Wash Rooms
Total Cost: $450,000 (Estimated)
Bank Loan: $110,000
Ways to help: Life Membership $2000; Annual Membership: $50
Donations: No limit; all donations are tax deductible
Direct Credit: Westpac 03-1568-0478167-00 (Loan Repayment and Pooja).
ASB Bank Account 12-3171-0169613-000 (Building Development &
Maintenance)
Credit Card Payment: www.sribalaji.co.nz
Facebook: Hamilton Balaji
Contact: Malathi Vasudevan, Treasurer on (07) 8562652 or 021-942699
Email: mvat2000@gmail.com
Donations to repay loans of God and His people
Malathi Vasudevan
mvat2000@gmail.com
Hamilton has truly
been blessed by the
Divine presence of Lord
Venkateswara (Balaji)
since March 9, 2015. Since then
the Sri Balaji Temple (located at 2
Kent Street, Frankton, Hamilton)
has become a hub for many
devotional activities.
Several local groups have
shifted their weekly and monthly
prayer evenings to the Temple.
They include the Ramayan
Mandali and the Tamil Society
Waikato.
Among the lunchtime devotees
are office-goers, while the
Community Centre has become
the venue for Hindus and many
other ethnic and religious groups,
transcending man made barriers
of race, language and culture.
The Sri Balaji Temple Trust
(which owns and manages
the Temple) is happy that this
landmark place of worship has
been accessed by devotees from
all over New Zealand.
Priestly function
Our Part-time priest has facilitated
many religious activities.
The Temple is closed to
public on Wednesdays mainly for
financial reasons.
However, the Priest, in his
free time, visits home to conduct
ceremonies and functions almost
every Wednesday.
Our resident priest Gopalacha-
Lord Venkateswara at Hamilton Temple
ryulu has returned to India
following the conclusion of the
currency of his visa.
He has been succeeded by
Pandurangan from Sri Rangam
Temple in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil
Nadu.
Strong Witness
Over the past year, Lord
Balaji has been a Witness to five
weddings, countless birthdays
and anniversaries. Six ‘Kalyana
Utsavams’ have been sponsored
by devotees, notable among
of which was by an Auckland
based couple in November 2015,
complete with the religious
rituals and ‘Seer’ and a wedding
feast for about 200 guests.
Another devotee recently
donated ‘Sri Sudarshanam,’
which was installed at the Lord’s
feet after a special Pooja and
Homam.
There have also been a few
Satyanarayana Kathas, about
12 Utsava Murthy Abhishekams
and Navagraha Homams.A
grand Shiva Abhishekam is
held every Monday morning,
devoutly followed by a band of
worshippers. There are regular
chanting of Vishnu Sahasranamam,
Lalitha Sahasranamam,
Hanuman Chalisa, Thiruppavai
and Prabhandams.
Hindu religious festivals
such as Thai Poosam, Ganesh
Chaturthi, Navaratri, Deepavali
and Karthigai are all conducted
at the Temple with piety and
enthusiasm.
In view of the size of the Main
Deity (Moolavar) ‘Full Abhishekam’
is performed only on two
days, namely the Anniversary of
the Temple in March and during
the Navaratri Festival in October.
Money matters
The Lord, His Consorts and all
Deities are undoubtedly pleased
that devotees have donated
‘Pattu Vastrams’ (Silk Garments),
Ornaments worth $6000
procured in India and $20,000
for the main entrance currently
being installed.
The ‘Simha Dwaram’ (Lion
Entrance) was donated in India,
while three donors have given
$12000 for the covered entry. The
entry to the Community Centre
has been replaced by a garage
roller-door costing $4000.
The Trust purchased the
property for $220,000, and
spent an additional $200,000 to
upgrade it. Grants from Trust
Waikato and WEL Energy have
helped in the installation of heat
pumps and an alarm system.
The deities have been housed
The Main Deities after a ‘Kalyana Utsavam (Photos from Hamilton Balaji Temple Facebook Page)
individually to conform to
tradition and a full curtain has
been tailored and donated to
have formal Alankarams (Decorations
to the Deities).
Ways to Pay
Apart from repaying the loan,
we have a number of other
expenses that are immediate and
important. These include the cost
of installation of the main doors,
visa and travel of priest/s.
The Temple offers ‘Nithya
Archanai’ (Daily Pooja) for
devotees remitting $501 with the
following information: Name,
Gothram, Star and Rasi. Other
functions that can be sponsored
include ‘Kalyanotsavam’ ($251)
and Abhishekams to any Deity
$51.
Donations can be made by credit
card through our website www.
sribalaji.co.nz or direct deposit to
ASB 12-3171-0169613-00 (Building
Development and Maintenance)
and Westpac 03-1568-0478167-00
(Loan Repayment and Pooja).
Please visit and Like our
Facebook Page (Hamilton Balaji),
which also has updates.
Apart from donations, the Trust
utilises every opportunity to raise
funds. One such would be the
Carnatic Music Vocal Concert by
Rithvik Raja on Sunday, April 24,
2016 (ANZAC Weekend) at 4 pm at
the Temple.
Editor’s Note: Details of the
music concert appear under
Artlink in this issue.
Malathi Vasudevan is a
Trustee and Treasurer of the
Sri Balaji Temple Trust (Hamilton)
which owns and manages
the Balaji Temple in Hamilton.
She is a Chartered Accountant
by qualification and profession
based in Hamilton.