Blog Archives
December 15, 2003 
Today was the first day of the Moksha Ritau, the Season of Liberation. Gurudeva divided the year into three periods, each covering two of the traditional six seasons of the Indian panchangam. He used this division of the year to give some structure and provide dynamic change in the spiritual and religious lives of his sishya. It was another one of his many great gifts to us. He was Master of many things including Master of Time. We share with you today excerpts from the Saiva Dharma Shastras on the Moksha Ritau.
Join Bodhinatha in Malaysia!
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami will be traveling through Malaysia on his pilgrimage to India in 2004. Please join him and his devotees for a gala event in KL.
Monday, Jan 19th, 2004
Kalamandapam, Sri Kandaswamy Temple
Scott Road, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.
7:30pm to 9pm
Bodhinatha will be giving vibhuthi blessings after the event. Those who attend will also receive a free copy of the new Island Temple magazine.
The change of seasons begins with the flag raising at noon. a simple but joyous moment when we took down the rust-orange colored flag of the Jivana Ritau and hoisted the pink-coral colored flag of the Moksha Ritau. Bodhinatha officiated and here steps back to watch the new flag flying.
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This is Sun Six, the end of this phase.
This edition of TAKA will remain posted
Over our Ashtami Retreat Until the evening of:
Dasama Tithi, Sun 1, Thursday Evening, December 18.
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From the Saiva Dharma Shastras:
"Beginning with Hindu New Year in mid-April, three seasons of the year divide our activities into three great needs of humankind�the learning of scripture in the first season, Nartana Ritau; the living of culture in the second season, Jivana Ritau; and the meditating on Siva in the third season, Moksha Ritau. Thus we are constantly reminded that our life is Siva's life and our path to Him is through study, sadhana and realization. In ritau one, we teach the philosophy; in ritau two, we teach the culture; and in ritau three, we teach meditation. "
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.
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It is not often that Gurudeva's swamis are in California, but this will happen briefly on January 15. Paramacharya Palaniswami is flying there with Sadhaka Dandapani to lead the main Innersearch Indian Odyssey group on the flight to Malaysia.
All TAKA cyber-cadets and family and friends are warmly invited to take part in a special function to welcome Paramacharya Palaniswami, one of Gurudeva's most senior monks and editor-in-chief of Hinduism Today magazine, on the occasion of his visit to the San Francisco area.
Palaniswami will present the fascinating story of the fully hand-carved, granite San Marga Iraivan Temple on Hawaii's island paradise - an icon of Hinduism's beauty and strength. It is also an
opportunity for all students and cyber-cadets who visit our daily "Today at
Kauai's Hindu Monastery" chronicle website to share your questions, thoughts
and inspirations with us. Your presence is indispensable, and we look
forward to seeing you there. If you are nearby, put this on your calendar. Aum Namasivaya!
Date: Thursday, January 15th, 2004
Time: between 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Venue: Solano Room
Embassy Suites Burlingame
150 Anza Blvd,
Burlingame, CA 94010
Our Sadhu Paksha ended last evening with a spectacular sunset light show over Mount Waialeale. It is easy to see why Hindus from time immemorial have made the sandhya hour, the hours at dawn and sunset, the times for spiritual activity.
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From the Saiva Dharma Shastras:
"The third period of the year, Moksha Ritau, the cool season, is from mid-December to mid-April. It is the season of dissolution. The key word is resolution. Merging with Siva: Hinduism's Contemporary Metaphysics is the focus of study and intense investigation. "
Then, this morning's opening day of the Moksha Ritau began with an another amazing light show.
Sadhaka Nilakantha assists Bodhinatha in taking down the flag of the Jivana Ritau.
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From the Saiva Dharma Shastras:
"The colors of this season are coral-pink, silver and all shades of blue and purple�coral for the Self within, silver and blue for illumination, and purple for enlightened wisdom."
Then, the new flag is raised.
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From the Saiva Dharma Shastras:
High above flies the coral flag, signaling Parashiva, Absolute Reality, beyond time, form and space. Moksha Ritau is a time of appreciation, of gratitude for all that life has given, and a time of honoring elders, those in the sannyasa stage of life. Moksha Ritau is excellent for philosophical discussions, voicing one's understanding of the path through an enlightened intellect. In finance, it is the time for yearly accounting and reconciliation. On a mundane level it is a time of clearing attics, basements, garages, sheds, warehouses, workshops and desks, getting rid of unneeded things, of pruning trees, of streamlining life on the physical plane�of reengineering.
The act of looking up at the Flag of Hindutva, reminds us to keep our eyes on the ideals, the goals, the spiritual aspirations and religious mission. Siva Yogaswami said that Sage Chellappaswami had the unusual trait of never looking down, but he never stumbled.
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From the Saiva Dharma Shastras:
From the Saiva Dharma Shastras:
"The major festival of Moksha Ritau is Mahashivaratri. It is at Kauai Aadheenam, as are all other gatherings, not a public event but a private one, due to the special sacredness of this sanctuary and its Iraivan moksha koyil. Church members, Academy students and special guests by invitation are all who attend. This and all other gatherings at the Aadheenam are restricted in size in keeping with a covenant with the county of Kauai in respect to the surrounding residential area. From December 21-25, the Pancha Ganapati festival is enjoyed in Church family homes worldwide, and the resulting joy and peace is felt even by strangers."
Tour day was open again after Sadhu Paksha and we had a big crowd.
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From the Saiva Dharma Shastras:
"The Aadheenam realms of this season are: 1) San Marga Iraivan Temple, a hand-carved, white-granite edifice seated upon a lava-rock plinth, golden tower shining in a rainbowed sky; 2) Path of the Saiva Saints the 1,300-foot-long path that winds around ponds, banyan trees, tropical plants in seven distinct botanical habitats, with seven shrines to the great Saiva saints of South India, and 3) Kauai Aadheenam central, with its offices, publications facilities, kitchen, library, workshops, monks' quarters, aviaries and cloistered gardens."
Among our guests was a fine young man from Honolulu, Mr. S. Balakrishnan (on the left) visiting us for the first time today. He has been living on Oahu island for over ten years. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. Subramanian who live in Chennai, India, are visiting him, so they came along too. They were all very impressed with Kauai Aadheenam. They love the fact that Iraivan Temple is all done by hand and Mr. Subramanian commented "It is very peaceful here, a perfect location. When we landed this morning there were lots of clouds and we thought the weather might not be good, but this was a perfectly beautiful, sunny morning!"
 The Remarkable Vision |
Iraivan Temple Progress Update |
Join this historic undertaking. Please contribute generously. Sponsor a stone today! |
| Order Rudraksha Malas from Siva's sacred Hawaiian groves; and also single rudraksha beads ready to put on a chain around your neck. Great for Gifts! All proceeds go to the building fund. | ||
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Current Overview  |
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After a period of quiet at the Aadheenam, things are really happening... another container rolled in today.
Our Siddhidata Kulam team had to get busy... later in the afternoon the crane was coming to hoist stones, so we had to unload this container pronto. Yoginathaswami on the forklift.
These are giant roof beams that span the space between two pillars. As one guest said when he look at this stone, "Wow, that's really big!"
A new set of chisel arrived with the shipment.
As you can see these are all long and sharp as they have not received a single blow yet. This simple tool will be the prime mover of granite in the months to come.
The upper reaches of the Vimanam have these cornice pieces at various corners.
These stones span the sides...
Progress! Please help, give generous to the Iraivan Temple building fund.
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2004 Indian Odyssey
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