Three Special Birthday Invitations for August & September at the MA Center LA

Three Special Birthday Invitations

It's celebration time! Please join us for some very special events that are filled with a spiritual and festive atmosphere in the months of August and September at the MA Center LA.  
 

KRISHNA JAYANTHI - SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2016

“At the mere thought of Lord Krishna, we feel an overwhelming joy arise within us. Even though it has been 5,000 years since the Lord incarnated on earth, his presence continues to shine in the culture and everyday life of the people of our land. The magnetism of the Lord's leelas and the relevance of his teachings have not diminished with time. Through his life, Sri Krishna revealed the infinite power of the universe in all its completeness. This is the reason we hail him as a Purna Avatar, a full incarnation.” -From Amma's Sri Krishna Jayanthi message 2015.
Sri Krishna is today one of the most widely revered and most popular of all Hindu Deities, and he is worshipped as the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Krishna's birthday celebration, Krishna Jayanthi, is a fun event at MA Center LA. Festive decorations are put up to welcome Sri Krishna and Krishna’s cradle makes an appearance on the altar complete with a baby Krishna, waiting to be lovingly rocked by Satsang attendees.
 
The evening festivities include an Uriyadi (piñata) with colored water (everyone is welcome to play!), lively bhajans, an inspiring discourse from Swamiji, Krishna Puja and the annual dance in remembrance of Krishna's pastimes with the Gopis in Vrindavan.
 
While Amma was in Vrindavan, India in April 2016, “Amma sang two Krishna bhajans, and finally asked everyone to stand up and dance. As each of the several hundred devotees present closed their eyes and danced, each one imagining they were dancing with Amma, one couldn't help but feel that all these many years later, the Rasaleela was once again unfolding in the holy land of Vrindavan.”  - Excerpt from Dancing with Krishna Once Again by Kannadi, Amritapuri.org
 

Ganesh Birthday Celebration - Saturday, September 3, 2016

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesh. He is worshipped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Ganesh Chaturthi Day traditionally falls in the month of August or September. The festivity of Ganesh Chaturthi ends after 10 days of celebration on Ganesh Visarjan Day. For Ganesh Visarjan, devotees immerse the idol of Lord Ganesh in a body of water after a festive street procession.

This year Ganesh makes his auspicious presence known on September 3rd at the MA Center LA. We plan to celebrate this auspicious day in a similar manner, condensing 10 days of celebration into one exciting day! Satsang will begin with Ganesh murthi (statue) making. There will be bhajans to the beloved deity as well as a Ganesh Puja and finally, immersion of the Ganesh Murthis in water.
 
Ganesh Murthi making: The MA Center will provide clay for those who wish to create their own Ganesha Murthi.
 
It's a lot of fun and we will provide instructions!  These murthis are put on the altar to await the puja, where they are blessed, and then final immersion in the water.
 
Once the Ganesh Murthi has reunited with Mother Nature to make the cycle of Creation complete for another year, we return to the MA Center for a delicious vegetarian dinner.
 

Amma's 63rd Birthday Celebration - Saturday, September 17, 2016

"The only birthday gift Amma wishes for is a tear drop of compassion for the suffering, a consoling word and a helping hand offered to the poor and distressed." -Amma

"For more than four decades, Amma has continuously offered her life to showing mankind the path to peace, love and harmony. Amma's mission is one that takes into consideration the entire world community while giving importance to the individual." -Excerpt from Celebrations of Sri Mata Amritananda Mayi Devi, amritapuri.org
 
Please join us in celebrating our beloved Amma's birthday with special guest Br. Dayamrita Chaitanya. There will be a cultural program, Manasa Puja, spiritual talk, bhajans, Ammashop, silent auction and food. The annual 'Embracing the World' silent auction will be a live event. As is Amma's tradition on her birthday, a free delicious vegetarian dinner is offered to all Satsang attendees and guests.
 
August and September are busy months at MA Center in LA and we’d love you to come share the celebrations with us! Visit amma.org for more information on these special events as well as future celebrations.