Blog Archives

We are pleased to announce the web release of Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami's monumental work on Hindu culture and lifestyle:
Living with Siva.
Click here for the entire text and artwork, now on-line!

We are planning to show the occasional large photo when the subject calls for it. We see here a bright future with our new Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami and also the new generation of Saivites who will grow up under his spiritual care. Today Jeyendra Param took his Karna Veda and had his ears pierced in the Guru Peedam. After seeing his brother have this done on Sun One he worked up the courage to do it also.

Bodhinatha's Sun One Video. Most Recent update: September 12, 2003. Bodhinatha speaks on Ahimsa, noninjury, yama #1, which is noninjury in thought, word and deed. The law of karma decrees that it is wise not to harm or hurt others, for we will then receive harm and hurt in exchange in the future. 12 minutes, 29 seconds.

We held the annual Skanda Shasti homa and abhishekam today.... Here is Lord Muruga in Kadavul Temple with all his decorations removed and freshly oiled early in the morning waiting for His bath.

This image of Lord Subramaniya is considered one of the most perfectly carved by everyone who see the murthi. When it was being carved in Mahabalipuram there were big offers from others to take it off their hands, but the Sthapati remained true to his contract saying "Sorry, this has been ordered for a temple in Hawaii."

The morning homa... Lord Muruga's tall silver Vel has been brought out to be energized.

"Lord Muruga is the God of the kundalini, of the advanced yogic practices. Unfoldment all happens within the kundalini and the chakras within our subtle bodies. Once a profound relationship is developed with Lord Muruga, then with the guru's permission and guidance, true yoga may commence. Otherwise, no matter how long one sits in meditation, no matter how hard one tries, it is just sitting, it is just trying. There is no fire there, no shakti, no power, no change. It is the Gods who control the fire and at this stage help the devotee immensely, bringing him closer and closer to the supreme God, Siva. " --Gurudeva

Aum Skandaya Namaha!

"Lord Muruga is the controller of the manipura chakra, the chakra of willpower, and the two chakras above it, direct cognition and universal love. Now we can begin to see that the aspirant has to proceed in consciousness through the three chakras that Lord Muruga controls and meet all the tests before this God will introduce him to Lord Siva. Lord Siva's realm is chakras number six, seven and beyond. The aspirant still must go completely through the chakras of Lord Siva's realm to become Sivaness--to experience His all-pervasiveness, and on into the essence of all essences, Parasiva. " -- Gurudeva

The final offering to the homa.

"Siva's followers all believe in the Mahadeva Karttikeya, Son of Siva-Shakti, whose vel of grace dissolves the bondages of ignorance. The yogi, locked in lotus, venerates Murugan. Thus restrained, his mind becomes calm." -- Gurudeva

Gurudeva watches over us during the puja.

Arati after the homa.

While the monastic priests prepare for the Muruga abhishekam, Bodhinatha adjourns for a few minutes to the Guru Peedam where Jeyendra Param gets his ears pierced.

He was quite brave and didn't make a peep.

Bodhinatha signs his Karna Veda Samskara certificate.

Paramacharya Palaniswami tells a story about how they use a rather large needle to pierce ears in India and will throw a coconut down just at the moment the ear is pierced to distract the recipient from the pain.

But with our modern "ear gun" it is a really fast operation and Jeyendra is happy.

We begged him to smile, but he is reluctant to show us any teeth.

Back in the temple, the puja is underway. It is always a powerful ceremony.

Sadhaka Dandapani assists with passing the sacraments after the puja.

"Lord Karttikeya flies through the mind's vast substance from planet to planet. He could well be called the Emancipator, ever available to the call of those in distress. Lord Karttikeya, God of will, direct cognition and the purest, child-like divine love, propels us onward on the righteous way through religion, His Father's law. "

--Gurudeva

"Majestically seated on the manipura chakra, this scarlet-hued God blesses mankind and strengthens our will when we lift to the inner sky through sadhana and yoga. The yoga pada begins with the worship of Him. The yogi, locked in meditation, venerates Karttikeya, Skanda, as his mind becomes as calm as Saravana, the lake of Divine Essence. "

--Gurudeva

Everyone sits in bliss for a few moments after the puja is over to absorb the shakti.....

"The kundalini force within everyone is held and controlled by this powerful God, first among renunciates, dear to all sannyasins. Revered as Murugan in the South, He is commander in chief of the great devonic army, a fine, dynamic soldier of the within, a fearless defender of righteousness. He is Divinity emulated in form. The Vedas say, "To such a one who has his stains wiped away, the venerable Sanatkumara shows the further shore of darkness. Him they call Skanda." Aum Namah Sivaya."

--Gurudeva

Talk about bliss.... Simha is one cat that always seems to be in a perfect mood.

One of our pilgrims, Ariel Lewin went to town and bought a huge supply of goodies and snacks for our silpis. Thanks for taking care of our stone carvers!

We also had a visit today from another spiritual "Ma" from Bangalore.. pictures tomorrow.

Gurudeva's spiritual center in the island country of Mauritius
in the Indian Ocean near South Africa

In Mauritius it was the 25th October, Divali day being observed as a national public holiday in the country. This festival of light is widely celebrated in the island. Can there be a greater light than the Light of the Guru that lightens the sishyas's path in his/her spiritual quest? A group of sishyas from all parts of the island turned up to celebrate Gurudeva's Mahasamadhi observance at the Spiritual Park on that day. After bhajans led by Parmeswaran Ramsamy and Adi Sankara a silent pada puja was being conducted.

Brahmachari Vel Mahalingum is being helped by a nice team of youth. The small team consists of Issen Valaytan, Kavinien Mooneesawmy, Sivarathna Manick and Mahadeven Sanjeevee.

Everyone had their eyes fixed on the Tiruvadi (Holy sandals of the Guru) while the pada puja is going on...

A cool sea breeze is blowing over the place. Inside the Mandapam one could hear birds chirping happily on the trees. The mind and body are relaxed... a wonderful creation of nature to allow sishyas really enjoy the darshan of the Guru.

Milk is being poured on the Tiruvadi.

Flowers, fruits and sweets brought by devotees are offered to the Tiruvadi.

Everyone stood up at the peak moment of the arathi.

A strong spiritual vibration could be felt in the atmosphere....

Our youth humbly offering the sacraments from the pada puja to the sishyas.

It is always a moment of joy to be with the Guru...

After the arathi the message of Bodhinatha was read and translated for everyone's understanding. Here are two essential points of the Bodhinatha's message:

" Inner Plane Influence Continues Clearly Gurudeva's ability to work with us
from the inner planes continues.

This naturally raises the question: did Gurudeva give any suggestions on how
to strengthen this process of working with the inner worlds. Fortunately he
did in suggesting the repetition of mantras, japa yoga, just before sleep,
after relaxing the body through hatha yoga and diaphragmatic breathing."

Here are four sishyas happily enjoying a conversation. From left to right: Mukya Somandiren Peruman, Kulapati Siven Koothan, Kulapati SK Moorghen and Kulapati Parmesh Pallanee.

A second way in which Gurudeva's influence continues to live is in the lives of all who continue to put into practice his teachings. This means of course actually putting them into practice in our lives.

Human nature has an interesting tendency. Rather than continue to practice and perfect what we have been taught, it practices for awhile, gets bored and seeks a new teaching, which of course it practices for a short while, gets bored of and then again seeks a new teaching, and so forth.

Therefore, it is important to control this constant desire for new spiritual teachings by regularly utilizing the teachings we have already been given. Gurudeva spoke of this on the European Innersearch in terms of tools. He said that he had given us all the tools we need. These of course are spiritual tools, not physical ones. Now it was up to us. We could either utilize these tools or simply hang them on the wall. The choice is ours."

No Audio Today

MORE UPLIFTING THINGS		2004 Indian Odyssey Join Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami on an 18 day Innersearch to South India, from Jan 19 to Feb 5, as we pilgrimage to ancient monasteries, magnificent 1,000 plus year old sacred temples and meet with India's holy men in a life-transforming adventure. Click on the above link for more details.
	Check our children and youth section for new items for the young and young at heart!
1. SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK and receive a FREE GIFT
2. Newest Book: LIVING WITH SIVA
3. Visiting KAUAI'S HINDU MONASTERY
4. Contribute to THANK YOU, GURUDEVA FUND