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Monastery Twitter Updates for 2010-12-06

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    Looking back to the inspection of the elephants at our worksite. A world map will be carved on the ball. #
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    The team examines the mother & calf, making small corrections to the stone work to be done before shipping. #
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    45 black pots will sit atop Iraivan's perimeter wall. Bodhinatha proposes some be unpolished for contrast #
  • Read our editors' appeal: "Why We Need Funds for Our Online Resources" http://bit.ly/hQazd2 #

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Hinduism Today in India

Some news from our 18-day trip that might inspire everyone. So many doors opened, and so many engaging connections with our members and students. First time Bodhinatha and I spoke to an audience of 23 million (live Ashta TV), so that's a new benchmark. My strongest impression came from the team in Delhi which is seeking to publish an Indian Edition of Hinduism Today. This is not your ordinary publishing group. They are five top national leaders in their fields, and each is a mature, informed and devout Hindu. Together they make a most impressive force and if anyone can make the magazine succeed in India, they can. They have known and read Hinduism Today since 1993 and their love of the magazine was only exceeded by their appeals to allow them to print an edition in Bharat, which would have some Indian news not now found in our International Edition.

Why? They described at some length how Hinduism has become divided and fragmented in India, sects vying for followers, groups fighting and competing with one another. They deplore the lack of unity and cooperation, and they are convinced that Hinduism Today can create a new model, bring the many Hindu fellowships together, inspire a higher conversation, communion, cooperation and instill a shared purpose. In short, they told us that Hinduism Today, in their opinion, offers the best hope for a powerful and positive future of Hinduism in their nation. They firmly believe that a strong Hinduism means a strong India. And, they stressed, it would be the only English language religious publication in the entire country! How happy our Gurudeva would be to see this appreciation for his little magazine. He created something unique, something remarkable which he called "the prow of our ship,", and it is now, after 32 years, being embraced as Hinduism's "best hope." Let us see where it all goes and if they can sustain and fulfill their eagerness. Yes, Hinduism Today is free online. One of our digital gifts to the world.

Sadhu Paksha Day Six

Yogaswami sang:

“The single Word hath purified my dross,
The soulful incantation of Siva Siva
No more do I succumb to good and ill,
Nor to the distinction of one and the many.
No more aching sorrows, as I awaken
To the knowledge of my real Self.”

“Sing ye the hallowed name of Siva, Siva
I’ve attained the goal of this life.
And am in command of everything around.
I roam at will in sweet leisure,
With the whole world as my kin.”

“Sing ye in joyful strains Siva, Siva.
The felicity that generates from the Word,
I cannot recount, except be immersed in it.
The end of knowledge is mine without learning.
I hold the key of existence in my hand.”

“Oh magnify the praise of Siva, Siva.
The macrocosm, the whole of the cosmos
I see with veneration deep within me
Therein I behold His fragrant Feet,
Where arise the devas and the triune.”

“Enraptured in an ecstasy, Siva, Siva.
By constancy of love do I apprehend;
Yet in trepidation, I gaze at nothing,
Magnificent indeed is the mystery
Baffling the understanding of even the realized seers.”

Bodhinatha Satsang with Sishya in Malaysia


A belated series of photos has been recovered from Bodhinatha recent mission from Malaysia.

Our members in Mauritius when made some major preparations to meet Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami and Paramacharya Palaniswami who has not been to that country in over a decade.

At out new center in Klang called Iraivan Illam, the members have set up a huge tent to accomodate everyone. Here are the children ready greet Satguru on arrival.

 

The red carpet treatment… with such love and joy. One of the young boys, with a Ganesha mask throwing flowers in front as Bodhinatha walks in.

Arati to Bodhinatha…

Arati at the home shrine.

Padapuja performed by Sivajnani Nagappan.

Kailasam Sinnathamy and his wife are taking their Vrata Sishya vows becoming full sishya of Bodhinatha and members of Saiva Siddhanta Church

Mogan Ramasamy also declared his Vrata Sishya vows.

signed by Bodhinatha

and Paramacharya Palaniswami

Later the members all see Bodhinatha off at the airport to India.

December 2010 Ganesha Homa Spiritual Park Mauritius

This is our last Ganesha Homa for 2010 at the Spiritual Park of Mauritius which was as usual attended by thousands of devotees from all parts of the island. This ceremony has become a serious reference for Ganesha worship in Mauritius.

This Sunday, bhajans are led by sishya Nanda Thungavelloo assisted by Ananda.

A pious group of ladies inside the Ganesha Mandapam.

Intense worship at the Sivalingam.

On this Sunday the devotees could not go down the river to collect water for Siva Abhishekam as works are in progress on the extension of the waterfront. A safety filter protected visitors.

Our dedicated team taking care of offerings at the small Ganapati shrine….

Devotees lined up to worship at the Dakshina murthi. Plans are in motion to cover this area with a beautiful concrete Pavilion soon.

Another team of ladies taking care of offerings at the main Ganesha Mandapam…

Youth sishyas, Sivarathna Manick(right) and his sister Jambalini on the Mandapam steps…

Two guests from Malaysia, Venilla originally from Mauritius and her daughter ….

Lord Pancha Mukha Ganapati always mystically overseeing all the activities going on at the Park….

The four Kulapatis officiating the ceremony…

This Sunday thousands of written prayers were sent into the sacred fire.

Kulapati Manon thanking the devotees for continuously supporting the many projects at the Spiritual Park, before going into one of Satguru Bodhinatha's Veylanswami's Talks.

Sishya Logadassen selling copies of Hinduism Today at the HA Booth.

This team is taking care of filling blessed fruits and sweets in small plastic bags to be later distributed to devotees at the end of the ceremony.

Healers Visit From Japan

Though we hold no tours the temple is open daily from 9-12 and we are getting a steady stream of visitors and the monks may find themselves bumping into guests on the path.

This is group of students of the oriental energy healing areas under the teacher Kazue Otsu. They are graduates from different prefectures of Japan come here under the guidance of Haru Natsume and Masaka Uematsu from Japan and Louise Mita from Oahu. If you know Japanese you can go to find out more at www.superlifegallery.com and see www.taoenergy.com

Meditating in the temple

Swamis Visit Priest Training School in Bangalore

December 6, Yoginathaswami and Arumugaswami were at Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation in Bangalore to visit their priest training school, or padasala. Every Monday morning they perform Rudra Abhishekam to a crystal Siva Lingam with all the padasala boys chanting. As Sri Sri was himself in residence, he personally performed the puja before some 800 ashram residents and guests.

 

From the top of the lotus-shaped meditation hall. We noted the natural amphitheater, a design which could be used on San Marga for the rainbow amphitheater.

A view toward the residence halls, and at left the free feeding all with a roof full of solar water heaters used for the cooking. At right is a long line off to the horizon where they are installed a 12-foot diameter pipe to bring water from the Cauvery River 80 miles into Bangalore City. The pipeline passes right through the ashram grounds.

The ashram’s elephants move by. We have some movie footage of them we’ll post later.

Sundaramurthy Sivam introduces our monks, telling about his visit to Kauai Aadheenam.

We explained to the boys our program for preserving and translating the Saiva Agamas. The padasala may work with the project.

Posing for group photo.

The swamis meet with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. He joked while the photo was being taken than he should be standing on a stool next to Yoginathaswami, who’s head barely cleared the ceiling.

Sundaramurthy Sivam and the padasala boys who hosted us during our brief stay.

Arumugaswami and Yoginathaswami Transit to India

We line up with the runway in Singapore.

A rare sight, the Andaman Islands from the air. These islands lay in the Bay of Bengal between India and the Malay peninsular. They are part of India and home to one of the most primitive tribes on earth, a group who did not even know how to make fire. On the other hand, they did know what the signs of a coming tsunami were and escaped the disaster of 2005 by running into the hills. Contact with them is highly restricted.

Yoginathaswami looking at the elephant destined for the steps of Iraivan temple, at the top of the hill from the river. A map of the Earth will be carved into the ball.

Sitting on this makeshift stool, the silpi carves the intricate designs upon the stone.

Archives are now available through 2001. Light colored days have no posts. 1998-2001 coming later.

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