Gilding Iraivan Began Today
We begin a new phase today and all attention is centered on the gold-leaf work at Iraivan. This morning at exactly 8 am, Bodhinatha applied the first piece of gold leaf to the end of the Rajagopuram.
Deva Rajan is on hand to help watch over the project. Here he talks to Yoginathaswami about some details of the work in progress.
The primer is has been put on
The work begins with the Rajagopuram. Sizing… a kind of special varnish, is applied.
Tandu Sivanathan and a young member of his family are present to watch.
Bodhinatha arrives.
Breaking the coconut.
He applies the first piece of gold.
A joyful moment and the culmination of several years of planning and fund raising for which we thank all the donors!
Click here for a hi-resolution photo of this excellent photo of Bodhinatha or click on the photo itself.
This gold will be tapped down more firmly after the sizing dries a bit more.
Sun One Homa
Earlier in the morning we began our phase as usual with a Homa. Arriving task forcer, Aran Veylan from Edmonton, Canada sponsored today’s rites.
The Sacred fire is conveying prayers to the devaloka.
Visitor darshan with Bodhinatha
The Sutaria family visited yesterday and today from St. Louis area, Missouri. They attended the 6am Siva homa this morning and also had the opportunity to witness Bodhinatha placing the first gold leaf on the Iraivan Temple rajagopuram capstone. They were very happy to have found our place and remarked that it must be a great place for doing sadhana.
Becoming Arulsishya
Potriyan Sivanathan, age 20 and staying at Kauai Aaadheenam for three months from Malaysia, took his Arulsishya vows this morning. He is preparing to become a formal sishya of Bodhinatha as a member of Saiva Siddhanta Church. We are proud of Potriyan for his commitment.
Witnesses signing his vow book
Polihale Monks Retreat
Over the retreat, eight monks went and camped out on the beach at Polihale state park for 3 days and two nights. No phones, no computers. We cooked over the fire. Aside from the camaraderie and swimming, the precious times are in the morning and evening, the sandhya hours.
Meditating on the beach at sunset, we are blessed by the wonders of nature and feel like Vedic sages watching the majestic and awesome turning of the worlds:
Aum Bhur Bhuvah Svaha!
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dimahi
Dyoyo Nah Prachodayat!
From Our Gurus' Teachings
- Gurudeva's Master Course Lesson of the Day
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Bodhinatha's Latest Upadesha: "Detachment from Experiences; Importance of Daily Vigil" (May 5, 2013)
All experiences are good experiences, necessary to get us here. Awareness of aspects of ourselves that are constantly changing is a liberating perception, breaking our chains to mundane areas, detaching from instinctive and intellectual to go into superconscious. The greatest challenge facing youth today is the lack of relating to the devotional side of Hinduism. Daily practice, daily vigil, moves us forward spiritually. Commentary on Merging with Siva, The Master Course, Lesson 21.
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