Bodhinatha departed for Australia yesterday with Sadhaka Haranandinatha and reported in earlier today that they had a successful 10 hour flight to Sydney, were met by devotees there and that he is having darshan meetings this afternoon and evening at the hotel.

We just completed an inspired 3-day full moon retreat that began with the powerful annual Thai Pusam abhishekam to Lord Murugan

In front of the Iraivan Temple sanctum, in orange, is Parankusah Hanumath Prasad who is one of the priests from the Baloji Temple in Aurora, a suburb of Chicago. Accompanying him from Chicago are Lingahneni Jagan Mohan Rao, Lingammenu Uma, and Akkineni Sudarsana Rao, all devotees of Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji of the Mysore Datta Peetham.

After enjoying a wonderful morning puja in the Kadavul Temple our guests then toured the grounds. Shaded under the canopy they pause beside the sacred swayambu lingam where Gurudeva experienced his threefold vision of God Siva.

Following the path around the lotus ponds which honor the sixty-three South Indian Nayanar Saints, Prasad stops to perform abishekam at the sacred Narmada Lingam.

Thondunatha brings news from Jaffna:

“I am enclosing few photos which were taken at our Pasupathiswarar Temple on January 1st, 2009, the first day of Thiruvembavai.

“Left to right is Mrs. Pathmanathan our new trustee of the Ashram, Amma Sivayogam Vinayagamurthy, temple priest, Rishi Thondunathan and Rishimata Sivalosani Kanagaratnam.”

Left to right is Amma Sivayogam Vinayagamurthy, temple priest and the caretaker of the temple Mr. Ganesh.

Devotees at the temple.

Puja at the temple.

From the big island Hitesvara Saravan observes a very tropical Thai Pusam. He writes:

“May the Holy Vel of Lord Murugan (Hawaiian God Ku-mara) in His Grace on this most auspicious day remove all bondages of ignorance.”

This is our Murugan Hill outdoor shrine in the Summa Iru Walking Meditation Gardens on the healing island of Hawaii, Ola’a Aina O Kane.

Beautifully decked with several garlands lovingly woven by devotees, Lord Pancha Mukha Ganapati welcomes all to the Spiritual Park of Mauritius for the first Sunday Homa of February 2009.

Offerings brought are being taken care of by our ladies.

Devotees coming over the Ganesha Bridge with their offerings…

Meanwhile other devotees are worshipping at the Narmada Lingum.

Some progress down the river where the steps are being built. This is actually a major project at the Spiritual Park.

One of the favorite viewpoints of the Spiritual Park overlooking the river merging into the ocean, reminding everyone of the soul merging into its creator, God Siva.

The small Pancha Mukha Ganapati is beautifully decorated too.

Hundreds of earthen lamps are offered to Lord Ganapati by ladies coming to the small Ganesha Pavilion.

A small poster of Satguru Bodhinatha's Seminar in Mauritius in April next displayed among Himalayan Academy publications in the HA outside Sales Both.

The Homa ceremony is at its peak. Every month hundreds of written prayers are burnt to the devas and the number of prayers brought by devotees keep increasing every month.

A lady from the north giving a testimony on Lord Ganesha.

Kulapati Manon Mardemootoo giving the usual monthly talk to the public on penance as explained in our Trilogy.

Some new participants for Satguru Bodhinatha's Sminar on April 11, signing up at the HA Booth.

Others are buying books and Hinduism Today magazines.

A group leading the bhajans …The ceremony is now almost over at the Spiritual Park.