Organization background
The Sri Ranganatha Temple in Pomona, NY is a Vaishnavaite temple (presiding deity is Lord Vishnu (Sriman Narayana)), located in Pomona, NY. It follows the Visishtadvaita Philosophy as given by Bhagavad Sri Ramanujacharya, as elaborated by Sri NigamAntha Maha Desika and as currently followed by the Jeers of Sri Ahobila Mutt, India. Its construction was insprired by the 44th Jeeyar of Sri Ahobila Mutt (His Holiness, Sri Mukkur Azhagiyasingar), with the objective of having an exclusive place of worship in the USA for Sriman Narayana. The Trust that runs the temple was registered in NY in Oct 1987, and the temple has been operating since 2001. In addition to carrying out regular religious functions, the temple also conducts classes relating to Hindu religious scriptures for adults and children, cultural programs relating to Indian dance, and music, and summer camps for children to educate them about Hindu culture and values. For further details, see here.

Project background
Religion and Culture are an important component of the sense of identity of an individual, and preserving that sense of group identity is an important facet of human life. Of the religions practised today, Hinduism is one of the most ancient. The Hindu religion places a great deal of emphasis on spiritual development. The basic idea is that a human being is more than just an individual, who is born, lives according to the whims of fate, and then dies, but is part of something much more grander and ever lasting. The Hindu religion encapsulates this concept of something grander and ever lasting in its various deities. Ancient Hindu mythology postulates a triumvirate of deities and their consorts: Lord Vishnu (the Preserver), Lord Brahma (the Creator) and Lord Shiva (the Destroyer). In addition to these three main deities, there are also many other deities in the Hindu religion. The worshippers of Lord Vishnu are called Vaishnavaites, and there are several temples all over the world dedicated to this Lord and his various incarnations. The rituals of worship and code of living for Vaishnavaites are specified in several books - however, slightly different interpretations of these books, have led to slightly different sub-groups of Vaishnavaites, one of which are Srivaishnavaites.

As per Hindu scriptures, the omniscient, omnipresent Lord, on various occassions comes forth in human form in response to the pleas of His devotees. As stated in the Bhagavad Gita "Yada Yada Hi Dharmashy Glanir Bhavti Bharat, Abhyuththanam Adhrmsya Tadatmanam Srjamyaham", i.e. when there is a rise of unrighteousness in the world, I come forth in embodied form on earth. These various forms of the Lord in His "incarnations" are worshipped in the Vaishnavite temples. The ten principal Avatars (incarnations) of Lord Vishnu are Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parasurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha and Kalki. The first four are supposed to have happened in the first Yuga (Satya), the next three in the second Yuga (Treta), the eighth in the third Yuga (Dwapara) and the last two in the last Yuga (Kali). In addition to these Avatars, Lord Vishnu is also worshipped in other forms. One of these forms is Sri Ranganatha. The deity is a resting form of Lord Vishnu. His consort is Goddess Lakshmi, also known as Ranganayaki Thayar (mother in Tamil). Most of the deities portray a 'smiling' lord in a reclining position over the celestial serpent Adisesha. This is the form in which he is open to listening to all of his devotee's woes, and blesses them.

Traditionally, one day in a year is assigned as the "janma nakshatra" (birth star) of each incarnation. Although it is odd to consider a particular nakshatram as the one associated with the Lord, who is never "born", traditionally, Archa Murthys have been associated with a day in the year that is particularly important to them. Revathi nakshatram in the month of Panguna is associated with the Janma Nakshatram of Sri Ranganatha, and Punarvasu nakshatram (Shukla Paksa Navami) in the month of Chitrai is associated with the Janma Nakshatra of Sri Rama.

Project description
Vamsa-Paramparya Ubhayakara Program ( VPUP ) Seva
There are several important days in a year that are celebrated as festival days. Several of these days are celebrated as festival days, and the temple incurs more expenses than normal for conducting functions on those days. Consequently, the temple required sponsors to pay for expenses on these days. The donations from these sponsors would be put in a trust, and interest from it used to pay for the expenses on that day. These donations would hence last in perpetuity. GKF contributed towards this Seva on two days: Sri Ranganatha Jayanthi and Sri Rama Navami.

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