The Bharatiya Ekta Mandir of Arizona (BEMA) the first Hindu and Jain Temple will perform Murti Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav and Kumbhabhishekam on Friday, February 15, 2008, Saturday February 16, 2008, and Sunday February 17, 2008.

The festivities scheduled for this 3-day event will include a Ganesh Yagna, Navagrah Havan, Jain Snatra Puja, Vastu Havan, and Sudarshana Yagna on Friday; Pradhan Kalasha Puja, Pratishtha Havans, Jain Puja and Pratishtha of idols, Prathama Darshana after Stapana on Saturday; and the Maha Kumbha Abhishekam followed by Mahamangalaarathi at all shrines on Sunday February 17, 2008.

A team of eleven priests from all over USA headed by Sri Satyanarayan Sastry, the Temple Priest and religious leader, will perform all traditional rituals according to Hindu and Jain scriptures to complete the Pran Pratistha of Sri Radha Krishna, Srinathji, Sri Rama Parivara, Maha Veera, Adinatha, Parshwanatha Teerthankara, Sri Mahaganapathi, Shivaling, Parvathi, Kartikeya, Durga, Mahakaali, Padmavathi, Bhoodevi with Venkateswara Swami during Sarvajithu Nama Samvatsare Magha Shukla Dwadashi Mesha Lagna on Sunday Feb 17, 2008.

This three day historic event will feature several cultural programs including a GRAND Musical evening headed by Ms Bharati Vyas from India who has been specially invited to perform during the festivities. The event will also feature Dhoon/Kirtan, Dandiya Raas, Classical Dance, Classical Music, Bhajans and Suprabhatams before the PRATHAMA DARSHANA of Deities. The activities have been designed to appeal to a broad cross-section of our community, from children to seniors and to people from all parts of India. The Board of Directors have made every effort to ensure that the Temple Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav ceremony symbolizes the Ekta (Unity) concept, which is the foremost guiding principle.

The Board of Directors intends to make the Temple debt free soon and would like to appeal to the community to support the Temple. Community members and well-wishers can show their support by sponsoring some of the rituals being performed. The different sponsorship options are as follows: Pramukh Yajaman ($11,001) - Grand Sponsor of the 3 day Pratishtha Mahotsav, Pratishtha Yajaman ($5001)?Sponsor of the 3 day Pratishtha Mahotsav, Pratishtha Daily Yajaman ($2501) ?Sponsor for the whole Day of Pratishtha Mahotsav and Pratishtha Supporter ($501) and participate in several events with family as a sponsor. There are also opportunities to sponsor individual events such as a Havan for $101 or Archana performed for $11. One can also support the Temple by sponsoring a Pillar, Door, Murty, Shringar sets and the whole Murty parivar. By financial support you will be helping the temple become debt free soon.

It is said that “there is no greater good than doing Annadan Seva/Swamivatsalya? One can make use of this opportunity to do Annadan Seva by becoming a Grand Sponsor for $5001 and Sponsor for $501. You may also get together with your family and friends and serve Mahaprasad that is prepared by a well known caterer in USA. Thanks to Annadan Seva/ Swamivatsalya sponsors, Mahaprasad including breakfast, lunch and dinner, a total of 8 meals will be served on all 3 days at no charge starting with breakfast on Friday to Lunch on Sunday.

“The Temple is the result of 15 years of planning, hard work and generous donation from several members of the Indo-American community. The Temple which opened its doors on December 22, 2007 is getting lot of praise from community members for it’s magnificence, beauty and the inner peace it exudes amongst devotees. These sentiments are also shared by the youth in the valley, many of whom are planning to get married there.

Unity Temple, Ekta Mandir, is a project by the community for the community and run by the community. Located on Maryland Avenue in Phoenix, less than two miles from I-17, the Temple has easy access from any part of the Valley. Furthermore, it is situated across the street from the Indo-American Community Center, which makes it easy for the community to hold religious, social and cultural events. Built on 4.5 acres the Temple has a total area of 12,300 sq ft. The unique feature of the Temple is a large 3,100 sq ft Prayer Hall. Each shrine is 1,050 sq. ft. The total project cost is around $5.8 million.

“Our goal is raise another $500,000 by the time the temple pran pratishtha ceremonies are complete. This would leave us with about a loan of $1.2 million. Our goal is to make the temple ?God’s Abode ?debt free as soon as possible. BEMA board of directors requests the Indo-American community to continue making their generous donations?

All community members are invited to join the Murti Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav and Kumbhabhishekam celebrations and be a part of this once in a lifetime opportunity and receive God’s blessings.

For volunteering, sponsorship and participation please contact:

Gautam & Taru Shah 602-993-3625; Lalit & Shanti Patel 480-820-8700; Giridhari & Usha Bansal 480-839-3922; Munnu & Rajni Bajpai 602-938-4757; Subhash & Manisha Thathi 480-797-0625; Kalyan & Vidya Raman 623-537-4167; Achut & Urmila Kumar 480-961-9781; Mahesh Shah 480-922-8384; Vasu & Satya Atluri 480-563-0891; Jitendra & Neela Khandhar 623-935-4992; Satyapal & Manju Mittal 623-247-4149; Asit & Ila Patel 480-838-4246; Bipin & Bala Patel 602-942-8322; Kul Bhushan & Nirmal Chhibber 480-926-8835; Ram & Kalpana Batni 480-998-9325: Girija and Krish Krishnamurthy 480-940-7153; Ramesh & Panna Somaiya 480-540-3254; Jai and Chandra Seecharran 623-537-7050;
Mamta and R. Vijayasarathi 602-862-9956: K.N. & Uma Jagannath 602-867-0673;
Prakash and Pushpa Deshmukh 602-690-7301:Jagdish & Gita Sagar 480-768-1533;