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A New Phase And a New Beginning

Senthilnathaswami performs the homa today to being a new phase.

Sadhaka Nandinatha is the helper today.

Our new young monks are learning to chant Sanskrit. Sadhaka Rajanatha joins the others to chant Sri Rudram.

Kadavul temple is always scintillating with the light of the tandava images in the early morning.

Bodhinatha gave a talk this morning on inner light based on the Mamsane (Shum Monthly Meditation) for January.

For those who are wondering what happened to the audio files of Bodhinatha’s talks, we are a bit behind. We have five talks he has given over the past three months, during which he was often traveling and we also had Sadhu Paksha. But, we will be catching up the posts of his upadeshas soon. We promise! (smile)

Hinduism Today January 2009 Issue Review

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2DML2TUhok

Thai Pongal 2009 at Kauai Aadheenam

Today is the day when the moon moves into the constellation of Capricorn in the month of Thai. Known as Thai Pongal in South India and Makara Sankranti in North India. The day is celebrated variously as a day to commune with the devas about the coming harvest and as the beginning of a new year by many in North India. The Thai Moon always shows up large and bright on the horizon in the early morning hours as we all go out to Iraivan for the morning worship and rites.

Sadhaka Tandavanatha enjoys the morning sunrise after the homa.

Sadhaka Rajanatha actually took most of today’s photos but we have to get his photo too!

Iraivan looks and feels like an old Indian temple.

This year the silpis have prepared the fireplace for cooking the pongal pot on the foundation of Iraivan out in front on the south end in front of the rajagopuram.

The altar…

Bodhinatha is asked to light the fire.

The pongal pot is carefully placed.

Everyone takes time to relax and enjoy the moments as we all wait patiently for the milk and water to boil.

Rice has been soaked and the silpis pour out the water into the pot first… along with some milk…

A group photo while we wait.

The pot begins to steam up.

The sun is rising over the Aadheenam behind us. It is a magnificent morning at Iraivan.

Happy Pongal! The pot boils over toward the east, an auspicious sign.

Next the rice is added and we all wait as it cooks.

About twenty minute later the rice is place on a banana leaf and puja is performed and the arati and other offerings are offered to the sun.

The silpis give the prasadam tray to Bodhinatha

Bodhinatha in turn give a gift to each one starting with Sthapati. It is a new veshti.

Meanwhile a look at the ceiling of Iraivan which is picking up morning light reflected in from outside.

It was an auspicious day. Thai Pongal always seems to bring a sense of sweet restoration of harmony with nature, some thing we all need!

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