Summer Camp Laxmi Registration open for 2020
The Voice of Vedas (VOV) is proud to offer another, exciting and enriching Summer Camp. This year’s camp theme is “Laxmi”. The children will be learning the significance of Laxmi in our culture and how to emulate and relate the attributes and values into their everyday lives.
The objective of this year’s camp is to “provide an enriching, learning and fun environment for children to discuss the significance of Laxmi through such activities as arts, crafts, games, sports, songs, poems, storytelling, dance, and yoga”. At the end of the camp, the children will have an in-depth knowledge and insight of our rich culture and the symbolism of Laxmi.
Click below to download various Camp Laxmi forms:
2020 Camp_Children_Campers_Registration_Package
2020 Camp Parents_Volunteers_Sponsors_Registration Form
Lakshmi
Lakshmi is the consort of the god Vishnu. She is one of the most popular goddesses of Hindu mythology and is known as the goddess of wealth and purity.
What does Lakshmi look like?
Lakshmi ©
Lakshmi is commonly portrayed as a beautiful woman with four arms, standing on a lotus flower. There is usually one, or sometimes two elephants behind her, anointing her with water. She is often depicted sitting beneath Vishnu, massaging his feet.
The rebirth of Lakshmi
One of the most compelling stories in Hindu mythology is that of the Churning of the Milky Ocean. It is the story of the gods versus the demons and their fight to gain immortality. It also tells of the rebirth of Lakshmi.
Indra, the warrior god, was given the responsibility of protecting the world against the demons. He had protected it successfully for many years, and the goddess Lakshmi’s presence had made him sure of success.
One day, a wise sage offered Indra a garland of sacred flowers. In his arrogance, Indra threw the flowers to the floor. According to Hindu belief, this display of arrogance upset Lakshmi, who left the world of the gods and entered into the Milky Ocean.
Without her, the gods were no longer blessed with success or fortune.
The world became darker, people became greedy, and no offerings were made to the gods. The gods began to lose their power and the asuras (demons) took control.
Indra asked Vishnu what should be done. He told Indra that the gods would need to churn the Milky Ocean to regain Lakshmi and her blessings. He then told them the Ocean held other treasures which would also help them. This included the elixir of life, a potion bestowing immortality, which would enable them to defeat the demons.
The story of the Churning of the Ocean tells of how the gods worked together to churn the ocean. They churned for many years, but it was 1,000 years before anything rose to the surface.
Finally, the treasures began to rise to the surface. Among them, a beautiful woman standing on a lotus flower. This was Lakshmi, who had returned to the world. With her presence, the gods eventually defeated the demons and chased them out of the world.
The sacred lotus flower representing Lakshmi ©
This story highlights the good fortune and success that Lakshmi bestows upon those who work hard and seek help sincerely. It also demonstrates that during times of success, one must never become complacent or arrogant, as success has a way of getting away from people.
Worshipping Lakshmi
Hindus believe that anybody who worships Lakshmi sincerely, and not in greed, will be blessed with fortune and success. It is said that Lakshmi resides in places of hard work, virtue and bravery, but leaves whenever these qualities are not apparent any more.
Lakshmi is particularly worshiped during the festival of Diwali. This festival commemorates the epic story, Ramayana. Ramayana is the legend of Lord Rama’s battle with the demon Ravana, in which Lakshmi features.
In the story of Ramayana, Sita is married to Lord Rama. Hindus believe Sita is an incarnation of Lakshmi. The story tells us that Rama had been cast out of his rightful kingdom, and had gone to live in a forest with his wife and brother.
The battle between Rama and the demon Ravana begins when Ravana abducts Sita from the forest. The epic follows the story of Rama defeating the demon, and his eventual return to his kingdom.
As the three heroes, Rama, his brother Lakshman and Sita, returned home, people lit candles to guide their way in the dark. In honour of this, on the second day of Diwali people light candles in their homes to guide Lakshmi, in the hope that she will bestow good fortune on their home for the coming year.
After worshiping Lakshmi on Diwali, many Hindus gamble and spend profusely, believing that Lakshmi has bestowed good fortune upon them.
In addition to this, two days before Diwali, a festival called Dhantares is celebrated to seek more blessings from her. During this time Hindus buy gold and silver and start new business ventures.
Hindus worship Lakshmi at home as well as in the temple. Friday is believed to be the most auspicious day for her worship.
summing up the modern meaning of Diwali:
Regardless of the mythological explanation one prefers, what the festival of lights really stands for today is a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a religiously sanctioned celebration of the simple – and some not so simple – joys of life.
DONATION TAX RECEIPTS AVAILABLE IN MANDIR LOBBY (SUNDAYS ONLY)
EVERY SUNDAY FROM 10 AM TO 1 PM (until end Feb 2020)
Mrs Dameshrani Misir (Dear Mother of Shri Krishna Misir) passed away on Wed Nov 20th. Funeral details are as below.
Message from the management of Voice of the Vedas:
Please accept our sincere condolence for the loss of your dear mother Dameshrani Ji. She will always stay in our memories and Prayer.
No one can replace your mom, but God can comfort your heart. He knows what you need during this time much better than anyone else.
Our sincere sympathies are with you and your family. We are always standing beside you for help and sharing your grief.
There’s a special place in all of our hearts for our mothers, just like there’s a special place in every mother’s heart for her children. You must continue to carry her memory in that special place in your heart.
We all pray for your serenity and comfort at this tough time of life. Just stay strong and may Mata Rani blessings be with you and your family.
Here is the picture memory from my file, where Mrs Dameshrani Misir is helping her son Krishna to cut the cake on Krishna’s 65th birthday and Uma ji watching over.
TRILLIUM FOUNDATION – THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVALUABLE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
THE VOICE OF THE VEDAS ACKNOWLEDGE THE INVALUABLE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO OUR ORGANIZATION.
Thanks to Ontario Trillium Foundation
Shri Thakur Persaud – dear father of Parbatie Gossai passed away on Thursday
Shri Thakur Persaud – Funeral details
We are deeply sorry to hear about Shri Thakur Persaud passing away. He was the father of Parbatie Gossai who with her family are very active and fully dedicated volunteers at Vishnu temple.
We pray that his soul rests in peace. Our sincere condolences to the family. May Mata Rani bless his family and give you strength to bear this big loss. Lots of ashivad to Dear Divya and Kushal.
Sincerely
Parbhat Sood
on behalf of Voice of the Vedas
Service Details
-
When
Saturday, July 13th, 2019 6:00pm – 9:00pm
LocationLotus Funeral and Cremation Centre Inc.Address121 Cityview DriveEtobicoke, ON M9W5A8 -
SERVICE & CREMATION:Sunday, July 14th, 2019 8:30amLocationLotus Funeral and Cremation Centre Inc.Address121 Cityview DriveEtobicoke, ON M9W 5A8Cremation Witnessing @ 10.30 am
INVITATION TO ATTEND:
SHANTI PAATH at VISHNU MANDIR
SUNDAY JULY 14 from 6 pm to 8 pm
(followed by dinner)
Open Letter to the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana
I am a 37-year-old mother of two boys. Nine years ago, I was diagnosed with lupus. Less than two years after this dreadful diagnosis, both of my kidneys collapsed.
Prior to the diagnosis and the subsequent kidney failure, I was employed in a supervisory position at one of the Natural Resources Agencies where I earned a decent salary where I was able to take care of my two boys and me. However, this all changed when I lost my job as a result of the illness even though I was never declared medically unfit by any doctor. As you might imagine, I was devastated, since I had a seven-year-old and a three-year-old who depended on me for everything.
Mr. President, this letter is not about the fact, that I lost a decent paying job and now earn a very meagre salary (gross salary of GY$70,704.00 as a Modern Language teacher in a public Secondary School); this letter is an appeal to you to be afforded an equal and/or similar opportunity to survive a little longer so that I can see my boys become productive citizens of this dear land of ours. You and I both know that ultimately, it is not medical science that dictates the longevity of our lives on this earth but the Almighty God who sustains us. I believe that we can both agree that medical science and doctors certainly help.
