 Satguru Siva Yogaswami Jaffna, Sri Lanka |
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 Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami Kauai's Hindu Monastery, USA |
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July 7, 2000
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Hasta Hindu Year 5102: Vikrama, the "Year of Fulfillment" |
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 News from Edmonton
Grand Maha Ganapati Temple Kumbhabhishekam a success. "We've had two long but wonderful days now, and a full morning in the bargain." Here is Gurudeva and Ceyonswami during the morning parade around the outside of the new temple. The yagasala that you will see lots more of today in the photos below can be seen (the white tents) behind them.
Cybertalk: Gurudeva talks in depth about the practice of the Maha Vasana Daha Tantra, that is the subconcious purification by fire. In this tantra one writes 10 pages of memories for every year of life so far lived. Gurudeva today discusses the many emotions that you will encounter and how to handle them.
Do you have questions for Gurudeva? A detailed index of past inspired talks is available here. Transcription of One of Gurudeva's CyberTalks June 21, 2000 Title: How Dare I Meditate? Category: Meditation & Yoga A cyberspace cadet asks: "Dear Gurudeva, very often we hear of accidents, atrocities and injustices committed in the world today. It is difficult to avoid hearing about such things. I find this to be very upsetting for anyone doing sadhana and get the feeling of indignation. 'Why do such things happen in the first place?' or 'Why am I meditating while such things are happening in the world?' How can one maintain inner peace and still not be concerned about things happening in the world?" A cyberspace question from Vijay, hotmail. Vijay is wondering about all the thins that you cannot avoid listening to and seeing on the TV and news and reading about: atrocities, crime, murders, unfairness, and it does interrupt the sadhana, he says. What do we do about it? To perform good sadhana we have to have a good philosophical foundation which is found in Dancing with Siva, Living with Siva, Merging with Siva, our three main doctrines of our organization. A good philosophical foundation allows us to understand why, here on planet Earth, we have the highest and we have the lowest. All the philosophers and mystics have for centuries said, "Only on planet Earth in a physical body can you realize the Self, because here in this world you have all twenty-one chakras functioning." You need the lowest in order to realize the highest. I'll explain that in just a minute. Some people are born, because of merits attained in past lives, they're born peaceful, they're born helpful, and they're the uplifters of mankind. And yet others are born angry, conniving, resentful, and they are the doubters for mankind. But all have an equal place here on planet Earth. All are going through a similar evolution up the spinal column to the top of the head, through it and out. From the Western religions' point of view, God is doing it all. He's punishing mankind. He's helping mankind. And many Hindus were raised in their schools and have the same idea. But from the perspective of Sanatana Dharma, the oldest religion in the world, we do the whole thing. Our karmas are creating our future this very moment. So, Vijay, as you proceed in your sadhana, disconnect from the lower and proceed into the higher. And do not try to fix, even have the desire to fix, that which you cannot fix, which is the karma, the action and reaction of the individuals who are going through the lower phases of life and must experience what they are experiencing which you read about and hear about almost daily, as you say.  "The ceremonies began at 6 am and we have been going all the way through until got back at 2:30pm."  "Enclosed are photos of the Kumbhabhishekam. All went so beautifully. The crescendo and Final Maha Kumbhabhishekam was held at exactly 9am."  "We were in the garbhagriham when Ganesha arrived. Everyone is really happy to see Gurudeva again here. Those who were small kids are all grown up now and hardly remember us from 14 years ago."  "Last night Gurudeva gave a great talk in the yagasala the community had built for this event. This morning's darshan was quite remarkable. One remembers how it feels to invite the Gods into the sanctum, and for them to accept the invitation. The elder gurukkal is Vishwanatha Gurukkal, the father in law of Subramanyam Gurukkal who is also shown the the darker hair."  A look at the Yagasale and all those gathered for this most sacred moment in Edmonton's history.
"This afternoon we will all return to the temple to honor the Minister of Justice who will attend and for some Indian cultural performances."
--Acharya Ceyonswami
 This series of photos is from the lovely Yagnasala "the Hall of the Fire Ceremonies."  When a temple is being consecrated, first the priests invoke the shakti through ceremonies in this hall which always lies outside the temple itself.  Several priests will each be performing the homa rites at individual fire altars.  The power is invoked and transferred into pots of water called the "sacred Kumbha pots."  This is Subramaniam Gurukkal, the main priest at the temple for many years.  Meanwhile, inside the temple will be empty as the power is building up outside. Empty. but so very bright and beautiful.  A side shrine.  The community joined hands to make all the preparations.  As the ceremonies reach a climax, the main image which may have been resting outside or which may have been placed earlier, is then "awakened" or "established" by pouring water from the kumbha pots in the first official abhishekam of the deity. here Gurudeva performs the rites himself.  It is a very auspicious occasion for many of the devotees who had envisioned this temple nearly 20 years ago and who have been guided by Gurudeva through all these year to its fruition today. Jai Gurudeva. Jai to all the Hindus of Edmonton.  Gurudeva blesses the other small images in the temple.  The Grand Finale! The Maha Kumbhabhishekam -- "The Great Water Bath Oblation" is the pouring of the water over the very top of the Garbha Griham. . .the roof of the sanctum in which the main Deity is held. New high altitude cranes make this a much easy task than in the days of yore.
 The priests carry the sacred pots, now filled with all the power to various points around the temple, blessing each spot with the water.  Going up!  During these ceremonies, our scriptures decree, it is mandatory to have cows on the temple land as their presence brings a special blessing to the temple during the rites. Here some local ranchers help out by bringing their cattle to the temple.  Gurudeva has been now lifted to the top of the temple, preparing to pour the water over the temple, and is seen here sprinkling it over the crowd below, a blessing all will remember when they recall this bright July 7, 2000 day.  Tad Astu, Sanscrit for "The Deed is Done"  Now, a look around the region from a rare vantage point.  Later, inside the temple priests conduct the very first pujas.  This is an historic event in the history of this continent. . .Lord Ganesha now is fully established in his new home in the north latitudes. One may think this somewhat "out of place," but some Russion Hindus point out to us one that deep inside the glaciers of the North even today we can find the remains of the Giant Mastodons from yugas gone by.   A few thousand miles West and South, today was visitors' day at the monastery. Here are the morning's bright guests to the Aadheenam, among them summer vacation travelers to our tropical Hawaiian islands.  Sadhaka Dandapani's family. . .from Perth...relax near the stream that their son made with his own hands on retreat days. He loves to come down there and landscape this jungle area. Note the water flowing on the left side of the photo?  The family of four paid a visit to our publication facility today. Our managing editor, Arumugaswami, interviews all Hinduism Today subscribers who come on the property, getting insights and news from around the world. The family had lunch with the monks, and in fact Amma (in the pink punjabi outfit) spent the morning cooking some special dishes that all the monks enjoyed immensely! Thank you, Amma!  And this sweet aum drawing was sent to us by Judikadevi. We also have this poem from Seattle, Washington in remembrance of Gurudeva's passage there:
"BEING AT A BOOKSIGNING" Gurudeva's Travel Itinerary/Visiting Kauai's Hindu Monastery Click here for information about Gurudeva's travels. Gurudeva is now enroute to Canada and will be in Calgary tomorrow. Detailed program times and contact phone numbers have been posted for those living in those areas, wishing to have darshan with Gurudeva and join the festivities. And if you are planning to visit Kauai, please go first to our our visitor's page.Thank you. Visit the Himalayan Academy Book Store Web Site to purchase books and to read our many wonderful not-in-print on-line publications. 12 Glorious Days, 8 Enchanting Countries and One Chance in a Lifetime! Join Gurudeva for Himalayan Academy's 17th travel-study program, the 2001 European Innersearch, themed the "Hinduism Today Adventure". Go to www.innersearch.org and for more detailed information, please contact Sadhaka Dandapani. Space is limited and filling up fast! Very Important: Please include your mailing address and telephone number in the body of your message. We will keep you posted as the program develops. Sign our guestbook and we will send you a free issue of our global full-color bi-monthly magazine, Hinduism Today. For those who have been touched spiritually by Gurudeva's work, his books, his guidance, his inspired life and example and even his website, the "Thank You, Gurudeva Fund" has been established within Hindu Heritage Endowment. Proceeds from this fund last forever; they're not a one-time gift. So gifts to this fund have eternal gratitude built into them. They live on in perpetuity. Each month Gurudeva receives the income from the fund to be used at his own discretion to promote his work and mission around the globe. He loves this, for he knows that it comes from all the good souls who have met him and studied with him, traveled with him or just talked with him over the years. A contribution to this fund is tax-deductible. |
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