Bodhinatha in Kerala - February 12 - The Yogeeswara Sabha

Meeting with leaders of the Yogeeswara Sabha. This modest hotel had the best food!

They were anxious to record every moment of the historic visit

This is the eldest of the elderly.

A Yogeeshwar priest, one from the 50 families of priests, talks with GK

After lunch, Bodhinatha spoke on spiritual striving which was translated for the group

Paddy field outside the facility

India

s famed Ambassador car was common here--we did not spot a single one in Bangalore!'

Huge truckloads of bananas (at rear) were a common sight on the roads

Note, left of center -- a Hindu style kodimaram, used here in front of a Christian Church

Surprise! Communist banners! They don

t seem to know communism died in most of the world'
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On February 12th morning, we drove into the countryside to visit a home for the elderly run by the Yogeeswara Sabha. They are one organization representing the Yogeeswara community of Kerala, perhaps 100,000 people who trace their ancestry back to Chola times and to Nandinatha, guru of Tirumular, author of Tirumantiram. There are, therefore, in same lineage as Kauai Aadheenam. Having come to know this, their elders have approached Bodhinatha for spiritual advice. It is, to them, something of a miracle that a guru sharing their lineage exists, as they have not had religious leadership in the community for some 200 years.

They have their own temples and brahmin families, and are mostly in agricultural and business. As many as 200 people showed up over the 3 hours Bodhinatha was there, despite the apparently remote location reached by road little wider than our car.

We will get better photos of this event from a professional photographer.