Ardra Darshana

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/01-MahaArdra_DSC_6330.jpg',

The full moon setting right before the start of our 6:30am Homa

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/02-MahaArdra_DSC_6341.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/03-MahaArdra_DSC_6338.jpg',

Satya Palani and Savitri Palani are our Homa sponsors today

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/04-MahaArdra_DSC_6344.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/05-MahaArdra_DSC_6346.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/06-MahaArdra_DSC_6364.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/07-MahaArdra_DSC_6368.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/08-MahaArdra_DSC_6365.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/09-MahaArdra_DSC_6357.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/10-MahaArdra_DSC_6370.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/11-MahaArdra_DSC_6371.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/12-MahaArdra_DSC_6378.jpg',

Siddhanathaswami is our pujari

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/13-MahaArdra_DSC_6379.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/14-MahaArdra_DSC_6381.jpg',

Chanting "Aum Ham Haum Sivaya Svaha" 108 times as a group

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/15-MahaArdra_DSC_6376.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/16-MahaArdra_DSC_6397.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/17-MahaArdra_DSC_6401.jpg',

It is also Satya Palani

s 60th Birthday, an auspicious moment for him. '

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/18-MahaArdra_DSC_6403.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/19-MahaArdra_DSC_6413.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/20-MahaArdra_DSC_6414.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/21-MahaArdra_DSC_6420.jpg',

The Parade of the Kumbha

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/22-MahaArdra_DSC_6421.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/23-MahaArdra_DSC_6423.jpg',

Sadasivanathaswami performing the coconut arati signifying the shattering of the ego

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/24-MahaArdra_DSC_6438.jpg',

108 Fresh Young Coconuts ready for the Abhishekham

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/25-MahaArdra_DSC_6429.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/26-MahaArdra_DSC_6434.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/27-MahaArdra_DSC_6452.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/28-MahaArdra_DSC_6447.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/29-MahaArdra_DSC_6435.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/30-MahaArdra_DSC_6454.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/31-MahaArdra_DSC_6437.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/32-MahaArdra_DSC_6455.jpg',

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/33-MahaArdra_DSC_6428.jpg',

Our temple host Kulapati Vel Alahan looking bright

big: '/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2012/January/January_09_2012/maha-ardra-darshanam/large/35-MahaArdra_DSC_6457.jpg',

Lunch in the Banyan Mandapam after the puja

}
];

width: 700,
imageCrop:true,

transitionSpeed:150});

On January 8, Ardra Darshana, also known as Tiruvembavai, a festival honoring Lord Siva, was celebrated in grand style at Kadavul Hindu Temple. This holy day falls every year during this month on Ardra nakshatra, when the moon, earth and sun line up and together point towards the center of our galaxy. So when the full moon rose on this day, we turned our back on it and looked to the setting sun to be looking directly toward the center of the galaxy. Simlarly, when the sun rose the next morning, we could meditate on it and know the center was now in this direction. According to the deva teachings Gurudeva brought us in Lemurian Scrolls, when "galactic weather" is favorable, Lord Siva's blessings pour toward us as rays from our galactic center. This is what we prayed for, invoked and enjoyed today. It was on this sacred astronomical day centuries ago that Lord Nataraja granted His vision to Saints Patanjali and Vyagrapada at Chidambaram Temple in South India, and thereafter became known as Ardra Darshana.