Jai Gurudeva!

He taught me humility, infused in me the light of devotion, granted me the grace of His feet. After holy interrogation, testing me entirely, He revealed to me the Real, the unreal and real-unreal. Undoubtedly, the Siva-Guru is Iraivan, the worshipful Lord Himself.
Tirumantiram 1573

Gathering the strands of my fetters, he knotted them together and then wrenched them off. Thus freeing me from my fond body, straight to mukti he led me. Behold, of such holy potency is the presence of my guru divine!

Tirumantiram 1574

Yesterday the monks performed a pada puja for our beloved Gurudeva. His presence is always strong in our hearts. Thank you Gurudeva for the life-changing blessings which you bring to countless people everyday.

O Gurudeva!
How good it is to see you again
in this your new form
Magical are the chosen hands that crafted
holy, pure
how blessed to hold you close!
Patiently you allowed
all the twists and turns
flames and burns
beatings many too!
Now you call us loud and clear
It is your vibrant voice we hear -

"Rise, rise, rise!
Come on over
to where Heaven meets Earth!
O! What I would do
for you to glimpse
so beauteous a place
for you to taste
true love, joy and grace!

I can see, though,
from the smile on your face
the song in your heart
the wet eye, the warm flower
how ready you are
to journey on
explore, uncover, realign
to what is true, what is real!

Come, come ... I wait
I am here for you
always was, always will be
just do your one bit and
I will do mine
maybe, even nine score and nine!
Resolve, rise, reclaim your right
the time now is for action
and soon will come a time
when you too can stand
seemingly frozen in metal or stone
when all you came to do this time around
is complete, perfect and whole!

Rise, rise, rise!
Come on over
to where Heaven meets Earth
where I stand quietly in wait
at Iraivan's Glorious Feet!"

Infinite love and eternal gratitude

Aum Namah Sivaya!

A Siva Bhaktar

On the day of Mahasivaratri, Gurudeva's bronze was unveiled at the monastery. A short puja was performed by Natyam Nandinatha after an introduction by Sadasivanathaswami. Gurudeva was then uncovered with the help of Holly Young, the wax sculptor and the statue's creator. Three guests were then honored. Martin Mosko whom is helping with the Iriavan landscaping, Ava Waits who is a sister to one of the monks, visiting the Monastery for the first time, and then Holly.

On March 1st the Monastery celebrated Gurudeva with a chitra puja. It was a lovely way to start the day. Many memebers attended, feeling Gurudeva's rose-like energy permeate the temple. Jai Gurudeva!

"There are only two things you can really depend on: one is the changeableness of life, and the other is the unchanging Self within you."
-Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami