Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Austin
Sri Venkateswara Temple of Austin
Aum Sai Ram
YEAR END GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
Matching Grant Available Through January 15, 2016
Dear Devotees,
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Rajagopuram Under Construction
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Namaste! Many loving persons are planning end of the year gifts to the Temple. Consult your tax advisor regarding charitable donations and your personal situation.
WHY DONATE TO THE TEMPLE?
The two Temples perform many charitable/social/community functions that we, as individuals, cannot accomplish alone. These include:
-Convenient and beautiful location for worship in North Austin area.
-Chance for devotees to serve each other, serving free prasad meals on Thursday and weekends to devotees.
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Proposed Dwajasthambam (flagpole) for the Sri Venkateswara Temple
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-Volunteer opportunities for youth.
-Feeding homeless in downtown Austin since 2010 (more than 60,000 meals served).
-Feeding hungry school age children in Leander ISD (1200 meals month).
-Annadanam, feeding thousands in India.
-Support of orphanages and various charitable institutions in India.
-Supporting Veda Patasala in A.P. which trains priests and pundits and preserve the Veda, giving career opportunities to youth. Free education, room and board provided to about 60 youth each year.
-Providing Bal Vikas - Vedic education for children of devotees since 2009.
-Providing priests for use in home ceremonies in the Austin area since 2008.
-Hosting Vedic Yagnas for the welfare of Austin and the World.
-Providing spiritual learning opportunities at the Temple for kids and youth.
-Hosting Vedic Yagnas for the welfare of the devotees, Austin, the World, and the Universe.
WHAT SETS THESE TEMPLES APART?
"Love" is the defining quality of these Temples. Many persons report a deep sense of peace descending on them as they enter either of the Temples. The Temples were built from donations given with love; the devotees come and serve each other at the Temple out of love; they make and/or sponsor thousands of free meals for the homeless and needy each year. All out of universal love, which is the defining quality of God.
WHY THE FUND RAISING EFFORT IN DECEMBER?
The fund raising effort is to finish the 54 foot tall Rajagopuram (grand entrance) and install the
Dwajasthambam (flagpole) at Sri Venkateswara Temple. In addition, arches will be put over the four entrances to the Temple compound. This effort will complete tens of thousands of hours of time spent ornamenting the Temple by our beloved shilpis, religious artists visiting from Chennai.
An estimated $150,000 is needed to complete the work.
Many people like to give year end donations in December, to help with their tax planning. Here are some ways you may contribute to the Temple and help complete this project:
HOW TO HELP:
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Founding Trustee Certificate
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1)
Become a trustee. The Board of Trustees are the guardians of the welfare of the Temple. Some are active on the Executive Committee, which assumes management roles at the Temple. There is a one-time donation of $10,000.
Those joining before January 15, 2016, are considered "FOUNDING TRUSTEES". They will have their names put on an engraved plaque at the entrance to the Temple, along with the names of the saints who blessed the Temple at Mahakumbhabhishekam in June 2014. With God's blessing, the Temple will survive for centuries (like Tirumala/Tirupati Devasthan). Even our distant descendants will recognize their forefathers' and foremothers' names on the plaque mounted in the Rajagopuram.
LINK
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Two of the Garuda statues that will be placed on the Rajagopuram
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2)
Sponsor weekly abhishekam over the deity of your choice. When you sponsor archana or abhishekam, your family names and Gotram are read at the beginning of each ceremony. This brings blessings from the God. During abhishekam, pancha amrita (five substances) are poured over the idol while sacred mantras are chanted. This sends powerful vibrations into the atmosphere. Cost to sponsor weekly abhishekam for one year is $351.
LINK
3)
Sponsor weekly Archana to Baba. During archana, the 108 names of Baba are chanted while flowers are offered at His lotus feet. It is a very moving ceremony. The names of sponsors are read at the beginning of the archana, informing Baba of your good will towards Him, the Temple, and the universe. This brings a fresh breeze of pure consciousness into our lives.
LINK
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Drawing of West Entrance to Temple
Compound
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4)
Sponsor 5 bricks for the Rajagopuram. Thousands of bricks go into the Rajagopuram! Sponsor five, so you, your children, grandchildren, and their children will know that you helped build it! Cost is $101.
LINK.
5)
Donate $1.00 a day. Contact us at (512) 528-0807 to set up a "dollar a day" program to help cover expenses.
6)
Look into employing matching. Dell, E.A., and many firms will match donations to the Temple's
non-religious charitable nonprofit, and also pay for volunteer hours spent at the Temple in charity work.
MATCHING GRANT!
An anonymous donor has agreed to match every dollar donated through one of the four programs above, dollar for dollar, from now until January 15, 2015. The Temple is not complete until the Rajagopuram and Dwajasthabam are installed. Open your heart to benefit not just yourself, but your children, grandchildren, and future generations.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Hari Om,
Craig Sastry, President, Board of Directors
E-MAIL, (512) 528-0807
Balaji Atyam, President, Board of Trustees
E-MAIL (512) 297-3746
Hari Om