Aum Namah Sivaya
Last night we celebrated Mahasivaratri. The night began with Bajans then a potent Homa. The Kumbha was then paraded around Nandi and brought into the inner sanctum to be poured over the Lingam by Bodhinatha at the end of the abhishekam. Following the Homa everyone was led through a guided meditation towards Siva consciousness. After listening to a beautiful recorded talk by Gurudeva, Bodhintha give insight into the devotee's role in the intensity of their experience of divinity, through worship and darshana.

Today the monks held a early morning puja at the Swayambhu Lingam in honor of Gurudeva's Vision of Siva 38 years ago.

The Monks performed a powerful Abisheka, bathing Kartikkeya in milk, yogart, honey and more, from which He absorbs the prana and uses it to bless all present. Taipusam is a celebration of Muruga's truimph over the darkness of ignorance, commemorating His receiving the Vel, His spear of Spiritual illumination. Dancing with Siva states of Muruga: Lord Kārttikeya flies through the mind’s vast substance from planet to planet. He could well be called the Emancipator, ever available to the call of those in distress. Lord Kārttikeya, God of will, direct cognition and the purest, child-like divine love, propels us onward on the righteous way through religion, His Father’s law. Majestically seated on the maṇipūra chakra, this scarlet-hued God blesses mankind and strengthens our will when we lift to the inner sky through sādhana and yoga. The yoga pāda begins with the worship of Him. The yogī, locked in meditation, venerates Kārttikeya, Skanda, as his mind becomes as calm as Śaravaṇa, the lake of Divine Essence. The kuṇḍalinī force within everyone is held and controlled by this powerful God, first among renunciates, dear to all sannyāsins. Revered as Murugan in the South, He is commander in chief of the great devonic army, a fine, dynamic soldier of the within, a fearless defender of righteousness. He is Divinity emulated in form. The Vedas say, “To such a one who has his stains wiped away, the venerable Sanatkumāra shows the further shore of darkness. Him they call Skanda.” Aum Namaḥ Śivāya.

Photos from the Pongal celebration at the Bangalore carving site

Part of Thai Pongal festivities includes what is called Maattu Pongal. (Maattu meaning Cow in Tamil) This is where Cows are teated with special reverence, provided treats, decorated and honored for the year's service to mankind. In the monastery we observe this in a simple and sweet way by decorating our cows and performing a short go puja (cow puja).