The Satgurus are Uncrated at the Iraivan Temple Site
Yesterday the Monks all joined together to uncrate and move the 5 satgurus and the 3 pithams which have recently arrived at the Iraivan Temple site. They will eventually be placed along the Path of the satgurus as it is landscaped within the next few years. For now the gurus are being temporarily placed in the Swayabhu Lingam square. The monks also uncrated the elephants which will ultimately be placed upon the main stairs leading up to the temple entrance. After years of carving and dedicated work, the satgurus are truly a site to behold as they sit in silence around the lingam.
About seven years ago we set out to have our main satgurus carved in India in Black granite. Our Selvanathansthapati advised that the murthis be 120% of human size, which is done traditionally to achieve a sense of divinity. He also designed eight Chola-style peedams on which the gurus will all sit, each a different style, and also each with a special symbol of Siva. Nataraja for Gurudeva, Tiruvadi for Yogaswami, Trimurthi for Bodhinatha, etc. See the map in the slideshow for the others.
Work began thanks to generous patrons who intuited the importance of the Satgurus in our sacred gardens. It was slow, and a couple of years back they statues were delivered to our worksite in Bangalore, from the site in Mahabalipuram where they were carved.
But our team there immediately saw there was room for refinement and perfection, and they went to work for more than a year to make the important changes. It was a long process.
We now have five of the statues and three of the pidam bases on the monastery grounds. The senior swamis decided to place them temporarily out near the Source of Envisionment, where Siva sat in Gurudeva's 1975 all-important vision.
Eventually, they will be placed around the Path of the Satgurus, a series of seven ponds, each representing a chakra, and pilgrims will walk that delightful 1400-foot path and meet each Guru in turn, starting with Maharishi Nandinatha and ending with Satguru Bodhiantha Veylanswami. See the map for the positions they will finally take.
Gurudeva has given a succinct introduction to the Nandinatha Satgurus in Dancing with Siva:
What Is the Lofty Kailasa Parampara?
Sloka 152
The Kailasa Parampara is a millennia-old guru lineage
of the Nandin.tha Sampradaya. In this century it was
embodied by Sage Yogaswami, who ordained me in Sri
Lanka in 1949 to carry on the venerable tradition. Aum.
bhashya
The authenticity of Hindu teachings is perpetuated by lineages,
parampara, passed from gurus to their successors through
ordination. The Kailasa Parampara extends back to, and far
beyond, Maharishi Nandinatha. Our branch
of this parampara is the line of Rishi Tirumular (ca 200 bce),
of which the first known satguru in recent history was the
Rishi from the Himalayas (ca 1770–1840). From him the power
was passed to Siddha Kadaitswami of Bangalore (1804–1891),
then to Satguru Chellappaswami (1840–1915), then to Sage Yogaswami (1872–1964) of Sri Lanka, and finally to myself, Sivaya
Subramuniya swami (1927–). The Tirumantiram states,
“Thus expounding, I bore His word down Kailasa’s unchanging
path—the word of Him, the eternal, the truth effulgent,
the limitless great, Nandinatha, the joyous one, He of the
blissful dance that all impurity dispels.” Aum Namasivaya
37 Responses to “The Satgurus are Uncrated at the Iraivan Temple Site”
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August 17th, 2013 at 8:22 pm
We were really lucky to see this temple being built while on a holiday to Hawaii . I thing it is the most amazing temple I have seen outside of India
August 17th, 2013 at 8:41 pm
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August 17th, 2013 at 8:52 pm
OM Jai Ganesha! I am so looking forward to seeing these amazing pieces! Such beautiful workmanship!
August 17th, 2013 at 8:55 pm
I subscribe to all your publications and would like to thank all of you for the knowledge that has been imparted. I did not know that there is so much to learn about Hinduism. I am slowly savoring them. Your contribution about the Gurus were an eye-opener. I will visit the Iraivan temple and hope to get the blessings of all the Gurus.
August 17th, 2013 at 9:26 pm
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August 18th, 2013 at 1:26 am
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August 18th, 2013 at 1:26 am
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August 18th, 2013 at 5:06 am
With the grace and blessings of the great sage of Lanka Satguru Siva Yogaswami, Gurudeva and Bodhinatha Veylanswami
both of us Visited the carving site in Bangalore, had a Dharshanam of Yogaswami, Gurudeva and Bodhinathaswami and the Hanuman statute.
This was in May 2011, TAKA of May29 2011
Sivathondan
Thirunadarajah
August 18th, 2013 at 5:40 am
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August 18th, 2013 at 7:37 am
Jai Bodhinatha, Hope to visit the temple and experience the blessings of Guru Parampara.
August 18th, 2013 at 9:18 am
Amassing spiritual retreat… gift from Guru Parampara
August 18th, 2013 at 1:40 pm
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August 18th, 2013 at 2:39 pm
Aum! Wonderful Project! Our Parama Guru Yogaswami’s Great Blessings are reflecting with lots of Vibration Globally!!!
Aum Shanthi!
August 19th, 2013 at 1:55 am
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August 19th, 2013 at 4:05 pm
How wonderful to have the extraordinary Guru statues there. And the elephants are absolutely thrilling…Jai!
August 20th, 2013 at 2:10 am
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