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Sadhu Paksha Notice

From December 1st through the 14th the Aadheenam will be on retreat, which means, no guest tours. The temple will remain open as usual, daily from 9 am to 12 noon.

Bodhinatha watches contemplatively after the Chitra puja today, as all the monks and members come forward to receive the arati and prasadam from the puja.

No Audio Today

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Chitra puja began at 6:00 am this morning. Yogi Mahadevan on the left is pujari and Sadhaka Jivanandanatha on the right assisting.

Gurudeva's new shrine is complete now. The granite peedam for his Tiruvadi, the panchaloka murthi from India and the illuminated transparency all combine to invoke a powerful presence of our Gurudeva.

A complete round of Sri Rudram is first chanted by the monks before the abhishekam begins.

The monks arrayed in front of the Muruga shrine facing Gurudeva's shrine.

Bodhinatha and our Sri Rudram chanters in front.

Devotees arrive. this is Shanmuga Sthapati prostrating to Bodhinatha.

Sundaram Achari....

Rudram is over and a profound silence filled with Gurudeva presence takes over the room as the abhishekam begins.

The milk we have now is coming from our own cows.

Yogurt offering.... Arati is done after each of the offerings.

A small fire is kept burning in front.

Vibhuti

Jai Gurudeva!

Chandanam

Sadhaka Jivanandanatha offer flowers as all the devotees chant the names of Gurudeva.

The 108 names of Gurudeva.

All stand for the yopam pushpam chant of the final flower offering.

By this time in the puja we can really feel Gurudeva' presence in a powerful way.

The great Tamil scripture called the Tirumantiram says this about the Guru:

In Siva was he rooted: Sivam did he see everywhere.
In the will of Siva did he discern all things,
Transcending consciousness of past present and future,
And duality ceasing did he realise sweet serenity.

He who's beyond the visible universe, came down on earth
As a Guru to abide in the hearts of the virtuous,
And illumined them by His grace and made them His own.
The peerless Siva is the priceless NatGuru.

1581. The Guru indeed is Siva,
He is the kingly splendor too;
He is beyond the wisdom of the Vedas.
He is beyond all finite consciousness.

1584. If not for the grace of Siva who came as the Guru,
The import of the scripture,
The way leading to liberation,
The reality of Truth cannot be understood by man.

1527. Endowing me with equanimity, the power of Grace
Descended as the Guru and purged my dross,
And enlightened me from the sway of my ego.
Thus freed did I commingle with Siva.

2959. When you meditate on the form of thy Guru
Then all the bonds that bind you
To this prison house of the body
Shall give way and make you free in Siva.

2971. SivaPeruman did I invoke and adore whence,
He came down as my Guru in the form of a sage.
The majestic Lord did overpower me as my Guru,
And I pay my homage to this Lord of the universe.

1590. Sternly did my Guru chastise my ignorance;
He placed his holy hands on my head,
And his beauteous Feet lit up
The secret chambers of my heart."

Our new Aspirant, Thambynathan Shailesh Trivedi hold the Kumkum for the devotees.

The Alahan sisters, Nisha and Sitara their mother Isani lead bhajans and sing beautiful carnatic songs to the Guru. The young ladies training in Kalashetra at Chennai is an uplifting cultural gift to the whole community.

This is Pearl who served Gurudeva for many years at a local restaurant. She came to honor him today with her fiancee. All who knew Gurudeva came to love him deeply.

Gurudeva watches as the devotees pass.

Yogaswami sang:

"I want to sing and dance
And serve Him who is manifest in all.
There is then no night nor day
And duality yields to Oneness infinite."
"

"Aum Sivayanama! we invoke......
Enlightened are we with that single word
That came from our majestic kingly Guru."

This is Mr. Kumar a lifetime subscriber of Hinduism Today from Southern California who met Gurudeva three times when Gurudeva was in the Los Angeles, San Diego area. He had wanted to come for the annual Mahasamadhi observances, but was unable to make it but vowed to come soon and the Thanksgiving holiday brought and opportunity. He felt blessed that he was able to attend the Chitra puja this morning.

This is a Sindhi man, Jai Singhani and wife, from Switzerland who have been coming to Kauai every year for years but never know about the temple and monastery. Only after reading about Gurudeva's Mahasamadhi in a newspaper in Switzerland did they learn about the Aadheenam.

Mr. Ranganathan and his Parimalam from Philadelphia. The met Gurudeva at the Bethesda Murugan temple Maha Kumbhabhishekam

Later in the morning Mr. Kumar visited our publications facility and chats with the staff. He has some insightful thoughts about Hinduism in America. We hope to receive a "My Turn" from him one day.

Mr. Mathao and his wife Pramila, Maharastrians now living in Idaho. Mr. Mathao has Gurudeva's books and they came to Kauai on a cruise ship and stopped to see the temple. When they come back in the future they will only come to Kauai on a pilgrimage.

This is Sanjay and his wife. They dropped by near the end of the morning.

MORE UPLIFTING THINGS		Innersearch 2003-4 in India! We just completed the July 17-23 Kauai Innersearch, 2002. Bodhinatha will lead the next Innersearch to India, between Dec 2003 and Jan 2004. We will visit Bangalore and the Iraivan Carving Village, and settle in the South in Tamil Nadu, Click on the above for details on what will be an inspiring journey to our holy land of Bharat!
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