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18<br />
Communitylink<br />
The electronic route to the Sanctum Sanctorum<br />
FEBRUARY <strong>15</strong>, <strong>2017</strong><br />
Venkat Raman<br />
venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
Notwithstanding the<br />
numerous Hindu Temples<br />
that serve the growing<br />
community throughout New<br />
Zealand, a majority of Hindus long to<br />
visit their ‘family-associated’ place of<br />
worship in their hometowns or villages.<br />
Such religious fervour is present<br />
among most all religions, including<br />
Sikhs, Muslims and Christians who<br />
consider it their sacred duty to worship<br />
at the ‘highest place of worship,’<br />
respectively the Golden Temple (Amritsar),<br />
the Holy Shrines in Makkah and<br />
Madinah and the Holy See, the Catholic<br />
Church in the Vatican.<br />
Extensive Network<br />
Auckland-based couple Anand<br />
Sampoornanand (better known as Sam<br />
Anand) and Devika Rani and their<br />
Avanti Group are offering ‘E-Puja’<br />
services ranging from simple Aarti<br />
Sam Anand and Devika Rani<br />
to deeply religious Homam (Havan)<br />
at more than 3600 Hindu Temples in<br />
India for residents in the Oceania region<br />
including New Zealand, Australia and<br />
Fiji.<br />
Mr Anand said that the all the Temples<br />
in the Network are at least 1000<br />
years old, except the Saibaba Temple at<br />
Shirdi (Maharashtra) and Raghavendra<br />
Swamy Temple in Mantralayam (Karnataka),<br />
which are of comparatively<br />
recent origin.<br />
New Temples and those located at<br />
street-corners all over India are not<br />
included in the E-Puja service.<br />
“Hindus believe that Archanas,<br />
Abhishekams, Homams and other<br />
religious ceremonies performed at<br />
ancient Temples acquire the Positive<br />
Energy and Divine Grace beneficial to<br />
devotees. Our E-Puja service facilitates<br />
‘Divine Interaction,’ and offers reliability<br />
and credibility with accountability<br />
and transparency,” Ms Rani said.<br />
“E-Puja is also offered for Sevas<br />
such as Kalyanotsavam, Tirumanjam,<br />
Arattus and 12-month pujas. All Pujas<br />
and Sevas are subject to availability in<br />
the Temples,” she added.<br />
Special Events<br />
As well as offering regular prayers,<br />
E-Puja would be ideal for people to<br />
seek the Darshan of their favourite<br />
Deities, perform various religious<br />
ceremonies on special occasions<br />
such as birthdays, Sastiapthapoorthi,<br />
Sadabhishekam and festivals without<br />
undertaking physical travel.<br />
“Some temples offer remedy<br />
Meditation course for youngsters<br />
Staff Reporter<br />
info@indiannewslink.co.nz<br />
Younger members of the<br />
community aged between<br />
eight and 17 years would<br />
have a unique opportunity<br />
to understand and undergo a Meditation<br />
course next month.<br />
Vipassana Meditation Centre is<br />
organising an introductory meditation<br />
course at a location in Onehunga, details<br />
of which are yet to be announced.<br />
Organiser Falgun Shah said that<br />
the course would be held on Saturday,<br />
March 11, <strong>2017</strong> from 845 am to 345<br />
pm.<br />
There is no entry fee but voluntary<br />
donations would be accepted with<br />
gratitude.<br />
“Participants can learn ‘Anapana,’<br />
a technique observing natural respiration.<br />
This is a simple and scientific<br />
technique which is based on morality<br />
pujas for relief from health problems,<br />
Navagraha Puja or other prayers.<br />
“Kumkum (Sindoor) and Vibhuthi<br />
(Sacred Ash) are usually sent to<br />
the devotees while food and other<br />
perishable items are distributed to<br />
visitors at the concerned Temples,” Mr<br />
Anand said.<br />
Bookings should be done online at<br />
least seven days in advance.<br />
The Pujas can be conducted in the<br />
name and birth star of the devotee. Four<br />
names can be included for each puja,<br />
and is offered as promotional incentive<br />
File Photo of young people at an earlier Meditation Course<br />
and not religion. It uses a natural object capacity to study. It also enables<br />
as the centre of focus and is non-commercial.<br />
This course will benefit our anxiety and pressures and increases the<br />
practitioners to deal with agitation, fear,<br />
young people,” he said.<br />
spirit of goodwill for others, he said.<br />
Mr Shah said that regular practice “Meditation sessions are combined<br />
of Anapana has proven benefit of with discussion, creative activities, and<br />
improving concentration and memory, games in groups. These courses are run<br />
enhanced self-confidence and greater on voluntary donations,” Mr Shah said.<br />
Enrolment can be done online at www.medini.dhamma.org<br />
For further details visit www.children.dhamma.org<br />
For assistance, please call Falgun Shah on 021-02719979.<br />
Email: info@medini.dhamma.org<br />
for the launch of E-Puja overseas.<br />
“We offer a full refund if the Prasad<br />
sent from the Temple/s is not delivered<br />
within 90 days from the date of the<br />
completion of the Puja,” Mr Anand said.<br />
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