This week's email

Forthcoming Programs in April

Samoohika Satyanarayana Pooja will be held at 7PM this Wednesday (April 24).

Regularly scheduled Krishna Sahasranama will precede at 6PM

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Temple's 8th Brahmotsava

Several changes have been made to this year's Brahmotsava to facilitate better devotee participation. The event is expected to be as spectacular as in the past.

Holy Showers for Lord Srinivasa with 108 Kalashas, Pallakki parade with Garuda for Lord Sreenivasa and His consorts, and Srinivasa Kalyanotsava are scheduled Saturday afternoon.

Pallakki parade of Goddess Girija and Lord Shiva and Pallakki parade with peacock for Lord Murugan are scheduled ahead of Chariot Pulling (Brahmotsava) on Sunday.

Sponsorships are designed to meet the desires of Devotees on an annual basis: Satyanarayana Pooja for one year (Bronze) and in addition, Abhishekas for one (silver) or all (Gold) Abhisheka Murthis (Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva and Lord Balaji) 

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Temple's 8th Brahmotsava Program 

Three Day Ceremonies include Dwajarohana, Pallakki & Ratha Utsavas
It is also a three day religious retreat to seek wellbeing for self, family, community, nation and the world we live in.

May 31, June 1 & 2, 2013

Register on line;: http://www.hinduheritage.org/Default.aspx?pageId=44002&eventId=481865&EventViewMode=EventRegistration

Friday, May 31, 2013

10 AM to 12:30 PM: Wake up prayers; Well wishes and prayers for program success; Self/family resolve/request for wellbeing; Holy showers for Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva and Lord Venkateshwara; Assign priestly duties and present dhotis to the Priests; Daily Poojas and Aarati

5 PM to 8:30 PM: Self/family resolve/request for well-being; Purification of Pooja paraphernalia and Fire pit area; Adorning of sacred thread; Installation of 108 Kalashas and invocation of Gods; Collection of soil and planting the nine grains; Hoisting of the Temple flag; Daily Homa and Baliharana; Ganapathi Homa and Aarati

8: 30 PM: Prasadam

Saturday, June 1, 2013

8:30 AM to 11:00 AM: Wake up Prayers; Daily Pooja; ; Fire ceremonies (Homas); Purusha Sookta, Shree Sookta, Durga Sookta, Nitya Homa and Baliharana and Aarati. 

11: 30 AM: to 4 PM: Extended Special Lunch 

12:30 PM to 4:00 PM: Holy Showers for Lord Srinivasa with 108 Kalashas; Pallakki parade with Garuda for Lord Sreenivasa and His consorts; Srinivasa Kalyanotsava and Aarati

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM: Children’s Cultural Program and General Body Meeting

7: 30 PM: Light Dinner

Sunday, June 2, 2013

8: 30 AM: to 2 PM: Wake up prayers; Daily Poojas; Holy showers for 108 Shiva lingas; Three major Homas (Rudra Trishati, Lalita Trishati and Nitya); Pallakki parade of Goddess Girija and Lord Shiva; Pallakki parade with peacock for Lord Murugan; Rathanga Homa for Chariot, Purnahuti and Chariot Pulling (Brahmotsava) & Mahamangalarati

12: 00 PM to 4 PM: Extended Special Lunch

3 PM: to 4 PM: Daily Pooja, Nitya Homa, Mahapoornahuthi; Baliharana; Lowering of the Temple Flag; Removal of wrist thread; Prayer for wellbeing of self/family, community, nation and world; Mangalarati and Peace prayers, Honoring the attending Priests.

You can Sponsor in one of the following categories:

Patron Sponsor: $250

Sponsorship includes 2013 Brahmotsava. You also become Temple's Patron member for one year.

Bronze Sponsor: $500

Sponsorship includes 2013 Brahmotsava, and Monthly Samoohika Satyanarayana Poojas for one year. You also become Temple's Patron member for one year.

Silver Sponsor: $1000

Sponsorship includes 2013 Brahmotsava, Monthly Samoohika Satyanarayana Poojas, Moola Vigraha Abhisheka for one of the three Abhisheka Murthis (Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Lord Balaji). You also become Temple's Patron member for one year

Gold Sponsor: $2000

Sponsorship includes 2013 Brahmotsava,  Monthly Samoohika Satyanarayana Poojas, all Moola Vigraha Abhishekas (Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva and Lord Balaji) for one year. You also become Temple's Patron member for one year

Register on line; http://www.hinduheritage.org/Default.aspx?pageId=44002&eventId=481865&EventViewMode=EventRegistration

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Hindu Temple of Central Illinois has been inculcating Hindu heritage in young minds through a Balavihar program since its facility inauguration in the year 2000. We had followed Arsha Vidya (Saylorsburg, PA) curriculum early on. In 2010, we decided to seek a nearby organization to partner with, well reputed Chinmaya Mission in Chicago. A year and half into this joint activity, the two entities HTCI and Chinmaya Mission are pleased with the 100 plus children program in six age groups. The curriculum, the guidance and the inspiration that Chinmaya Mission brings to the table has made the program very successful; the dedication of volunteering teachers and the supportive parents and eager minded children have a lot to do as well.

While Chinmaya Mission provides value based learning from Hindu epics, the Temple provides the devotional platform to practice Hinduism. The two entities have agreed to further integrate to seamlessly conduct the program in conjunction with Temple’s religious programs within the confines of the Temple. The Temple also provides a platform for volunteering and doing Seva (selfless service) which is a key tenet of Balavihar learning.

Chinmaya Mission, Chicago has organized a Peoria Chapter to help run this joint activity with the Temple. The Temple and the Chapter will work together to ensure that the Balavihar program serves the best interests of the community and its children.  

Sincerely,

Prakash Babu

HTCI Temple Board of Volunteers

The following is what we shared with you on April 9, 2011

We were hoping that we would be launching the Temple Hill Road project soon after April 15, which ends the freeze thaw period so heavy equipment can be moved through Hill Top and Prairie Lane. We are likely to be delayed at least two months because of the myriad agencies that are reviewing our drawings to provide permits. There is a saying locally: “God ordered Noah to build an Ark in six months. He could not; he could not get the permits”.

Besides, we are working on a signed TIF agreement between the City of West Peoria and the Temple. We will launch the project only after this agreement is signed, as we want to be eligible for infrastructure cost reimbursement, when it happens.

June 9, 2011 Update:

We now have approvals from the Peoria County Highway Department, the Greater Peoria Sanitary District, the Pleasant Valley Public Water District, the IEPA Erosion Control, Illinois Department of Transportation Permit Section, Illinois Historical Preservation Agency, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and Ameren Gas Department.

We are waiting on final approvals in the near future for the IEPA Sewer Permit, IEPA Water Permit, and the two railroad companies and the City of West Peoria. We are still working out the details of a TIF agreement with the City. Also, we are working with IDOT and the City on zoning restrictions of the land  adjacent to and south of the Temple.

This is a very complex tough terrain project with many agencies scrutinizing because of its proximity to a sand canyon and a waterfall (called Rocky Glen, a smaller version of Starved Rock Park).

With the construction season so short and the project yet to be launched, we may be forced to do a part of the road this year or move the entire project to next year.

Temple Hill Road is 3200 feet (0.6 mile) long (1000 feet of it is 12% grade). It embanks and creates two lakes. It is accompanied by a mile long sewer from underneath Creek Road and two Rail Roads (BNSF and Union Pacific) and 4000 feet water main from underneath Creek Road and the Creek itself. An IDOT engineer called this "a monumental private entity project".

IDOT itself is working on a major safety upgrade to Farmington Road and Kickapoo Creek Road intersection. The $8 million project is in their five year (2012-2017) plan. The project calls for elevating (by 5 feet), moving and broadening (with turn lanes) the intersection several 100 feet away from the creek and the bridge.

As we work towards Temple's Vision 2020, we recognize that these two projects, one private and one public, will alter the landscape dramatically.

We need to be patient as we pursue these infrastructure projects that will ensure the wellbeing of our Temple for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Prakash Babu

Temple Hill Road - Path to Vision 2020.pptx

We launched Temple’s vision 2020 journey two years ago with the Temple Hill Road construction as the key enabler (please visit: Temple Hill Road - Path to Vision 2020.pptx). Without the Temple having its own road, its growth is likely to be stifled and its survival highly vulnerable. As we designed the road, we had to address the best and highest use of land and the type of village we would create. The senior condo project made a lot of sense to meet the growing demand of retiring baby boomers. With the City of West Peoria’s annexation and rezoning, the bigger picture of a high end residential area around the Temple is now secure, but is unlikely to happen in the near future as we wait for the resurgence of real estate economy. However, Ratna and I, as the owners of the adjacent land deliberately accepted a serious conflict of interest perception in light of the many benefits to the Temple community. With the last week's approval of TIF district formation by the City of West Peoria, we are decoupling the Temple Hill Road project from the creation of the senior condo subdivision.

The Temple Hill Road and the associated sewer and water infrastructure will be built by the Temple in its entirety at its expense. The road will be owned by the Temple until the first condo building is built and the City sees a tax revenue stream and decides to take over the ownership and maintenance of the road. The recent formation of the City of West Peoria’s TIF district includes the Temple and the adjacent lands. The Temple’s investment in the Temple Hill Road infrastructure will be reimbursed from the tax increment revenue during the course of TIF’s 25 year life.

How will the Temple pay for $1.5 Million project? Ratna and I have donated $1.15 million to the Temple and the balance will come from Temple’s reserve fund. It is likely that the Temple remains debt free or will carry a small amount of debt for a very short period. If the condo project were to be successful, the entire $1.5 million will be reimbursed to the Temple through the TIF program.

Hope this puts to bed any perception of conflict of interest. This has been an evolving process that will benefit the Temple initially and the community at large eventually.

Sincerely,

Prakash Babu

We announced recently that "Chinmaya Mission Bala Vihar comes to our Temple" and promised that we would share further info.

The Bala Vihar mission and Syllabus are posted in the following documents: 

ChinmayaMission_BalaVihar.doc

ChinmayaMission_BalaVihar_Syllabus-2010-2011.doc

Online registration is now available:

http://www.hinduheritage.org/Default.aspx?pageId=44002

You can also print and fill out the following Registration Form:

ChinmayaMission-BalaVihar-RegistrationForm.doc

Informational meeting and open house are scheduled as follows:

September 11 at 6:30 PM (Temple's Banquet Hall)

September 12 immediately following Ratha Yatra and Visarjan

Now the debt is paid off, does the Temple need funds and if so how much is a question that needs discussion. Paying off the $500K debt has reduced our operating expense by 30%; a very significant accomplishment. Based on a recent analysis of 12 month income and expense (shown below), our annual expenses are $165K, down $50K (what we paid to service $500K debt). What is impressive is that we can generate nearly $200K cash flow after meeting expenses; this we can allocate to materialize Temple’s Vision 2020. This assumes of course that we maintain the momentum we have had in the recent times.  

This time of the year, we make a pitch for yearend donations; this time for you to sponsor Temple’s vision 2020 with tax deductible giving. Please donate generously (make checks payable to HTCI and mail to PO Box 3601 Peoria IL 61612-3601 or drop it off at the Temple). Any amount will be welcome; let us do our share. We can break ground late next year to begin the ten year journey to create a more robust infrastructure (larger parking lot, Temple’s own road off Creek Road, better fire protection and sewer) and to construct Pushakarinis,  a large Yagashala, a Mahadwara, a recreational park and a Yoga/meditation community hall. Together, we will have created a very special Temple campus that we, our children and their children can be proud of. Together, we can build a momentum for Temple’s Vision 2020 just as we did to create a debt free Temple.

Sincerely,

Prakash Babu

Temple Board of Volunteers

Analysis period: September 2008 through August 2009