Blog Archives
January 22, 2004
Gurudeva signs a copy of Loving Ganesha for a guest. This is the Montblanc pen given to Gurudeva by the European Innersearchers, in appreciation of his teachings during the trip.
Gurudeva once received a "letter" from Lord Ganesha, seen mystically in the inner mind. It read in part, "Keep track of your paces, for your walk makes marks. Each mark is a reward or a stumbling block. Learn to look at the step you have made and the step you have not made yet. This brings you close to me."
Meet Bodhinatha in Malaysia and India, Jan-Feb 2004
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami will be traveling through Malaysia and South India this January/February on his 2004 Indian Odyssey travel-study program. You are welcome to meet him at the below places:
- Mon, Jan 19, 2004 - Sri Kandaswamy Temple, Kuala Lumpur
- Fri, Jan 23, 2004 � Sri Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
- Sun, Jan 25th, 2004 � Sri Karpaka Vinayagar Temple, Pillaiyarpatti
- Mon, Feb 2nd, 2004 - Siva Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram
- Wed, Feb 4th, 2004- Binny Hall, Taj Connemara Hotel, Chennai
- Thur, Feb 5th, 2004 - Thaipusam celebrations at Arupadai Veedu Temple, Chennai
Click here to go to his Travel Page for details.
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami reports today that they have been to Kailash Ashram in Bangalore for an audience with Sri Trichyswami and received from him the gold yantra for the Iraivan Temple. It contains more than half a pound of gold!
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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Today is Sun One and the homa is being conducted by Yogi Mahadevan and Paramacharya Ceyonswami
Ghee offerings make the fire blaze high.
Many of the local families attend.
In his absence, Bodhinatha's wooden sandals sit upon the place he would normally be. This is the traditional representation of the guru, in honor of his holy feet.
The weather just won't let off. This morning we were treated to a rare thunderstorm, with one simultaneous flash of lightening and crack of thunder deafening our ears and quaking our knees at 7:20 am. A flash of lightening a half hour later coincided exactly with the electricity going out. It was shortly restored. It is common each year at this time, right around Thai Pusam, to get thunderstorms.
Guests today. The two couples on the right are from New Jersey. The lady on the left is Michele Kayal, a free-lance journalist assigned to cover the temple by the New York Times for their Saturday religion page. She is based in Honolulu and came over for the report.
Michele interviews Shanmugam Sthapati about the work. She asked him what he thought of it, and he said, "This is India's greatest gift to America."
A thorough reporter, Michele interviewed the guests from New Jersey and this gentleman from Carmel, California. He is an English professor, and recited for her a poem on the stone carver's art. It was quite charming, and as soon as Michele tracks down a written copy, we'll post it for you.
Michele taking pictures of the rain-soaked temple. The silpis, the stone carvers, are not all that comfortable during our rain-soaked days, and the thunder was an added excitement for the day.
A side view of the temple.
January 19 was the annual general meeting of the East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative, of which Saiva Siddhanta Church is a member. The meeting was to approve the year's budget and elect this year's board of directors, which included Arumugaswami to represent the Church.
The Cooperative is responsible for the irrigation system in our area which feeds the ponds and streams of San Marga. It is essential to the beauty of the temple grounds, and the Church has made great efforts to see that the Cooperative succeed. It now enters its third year of operation.
Our antique John Deere 30 combine finally got a workout on our sunn hemp crop. Amateurs we were with it, but started to get decent results by nightfall. Sunn hemp is a nitrogen-fixing legume used to improve soil fertility, and it is being developed by the monastery as a "cash crop" for financing other plantings on our Himalayan Acres land.
Our Innersearch travel study program's first full day in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 18 was the beginning of what is becoming an incredibly rich experience for everyone. Here in Malaysia, most overwhelming is the love and joyful heartfelt hospitality and energy of all our Malaysian members of Saiva Siddhanta Church.
Our first event of the day takes us to the very powerful Pudu Pillaiyar temple. Bodhinatha is covered with garlands during the ceremony.
and Nadeswaram...
Passing the arati
The priest comes out with the tray of fruits and flowers to pass to Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami with special chants.
Then Bodhinatha takes a seat to bless the devotees who have come to the temple this morning.
Many of our innersearchers have never seen such events in their whole lives. We have a great mix of born Hindus, sishya of our lineage and also students. Only Gurudeva could manifest such unity in diversity
After the temple visit, the innersearchers go shopping and Bodhinatha, Sivakatirswami and Sadhaka Tejadevanatha have a meeting at a coffee shop with the Kulapatis of Saiva Siddhanta Church Malaysia Mission.
One of our most senior members in Malaysia, Kulapati Murugesu goes of his agenda of questions concern the administration of our Church activities in Malaysia. These meetings are short, but in the face-to-face interaction with Bodhinatha, some key concerns are voiced and resolved on the spot. The Kulapatis really love Bodhinatha's insightful ability to go straight the heart of the matters and come up with cogent practical solutions.
Our next stop is a luncheon sponsored by our long time supporter in Malaysia, Mr. Arjunan Subramaniam. A prominent figure in the Malaysia Hindu community he was a professor and then became a successful lawyer.
Arjunan has been supporting Hinduism Today with a regular advertisement consisting of a poem that he has written with a simple graphic. Many of you will see this in your own copy at home. Check it out.
He officially greets all the Matavasi with garlands in a grand way with honor and great affection.
This small temple is in the middle of a street intersection. Very small, but very powerful and quite wealthy. The monks come forward and perform arati.
He sponsored the luncheon for the entire group.
Our innersearchers get a taste of authentic Malay Vegetarian cuisine.
In a separate room the swamis sit with some leading businessmen of the community. Friends of Arjunan here listen to Paramacharya Palaniswami as he shares with them some of the aspects of our work.
After lunch, Arjunan takes a bold, proactive approach to fund-raising for Iraivan, for which he himself is a generous supporter, but taking the microphone and calling on his friends to come forward to make a donation in person to Bodhinatha.
It's a joyous occasions with love and great respect as each one offers his envelope.
Arujanan is a very articulate spokesman and explains how donations like this are actually a connection with heaven.
Bodhinatha garlanded at the end...
Palaniswami then holds up a gift for Arjunan, a print of the artword by S. Rajam, the cover of Merging with Siva.
Then there are many, many photos taken with everyone coming forward to take a place with Bodhinatha and the monks.
Group with the monks and Arjunan's friends. It was a very successful, joyful occasion.
And, if Mr. Arjunan is looking in today. We are writing this from our hotel in Bangalore and we all want to express our appreciation and profound gratitude to your whole-hearted support and service. Thank you!
Taking darshan during the arati.
The innersearch logo, painted on the floor of the restaurant.... in just a few hours we already had a very full beginning to what is certainly an amazing journey.
Around the room are gorgeous images of the 32 forms of Lord Ganesha
The temple is small and packed with our 75 innersearchers, monks and devotees coming for morning worship.
This is the first puja of the trip, invoking Lord Ganesha for an auspicious journey with devotees from 16 different countries.
In front a well-qualified Oduvar sings songs to Ganapati.
The priest passes out the tirtham.
The well-trained musicians bring a powerful energy to the temple with Thavil drumming ...
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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. |
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