Blog Archives
January 26, 2004
Gurudeva on the coral reef outside the condominium where he did much of his editing work in the afternoon.
In Merging with Siva, Gurudeva wrote, "Even when God Realization is attained, the soul body continues to evolve in this and other worlds until it merges with the Primal Soul, as a drop of water merges with its source, the ocean. This is the destiny of all souls without exception."
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.
Bodhinatha in a joyful mood at lunchtime. Behind him is the Balanese Gong used to announce the beginning and end of lunch time.
Bodhinatha writes from India:
Today is our fourth day in Madurai. Our morning program was a visit to Tiruparankundram Murugan Temple. This is not only Republic day, a national holiday, but also very auspicious for weddings. As a result, the temple was absolutely packed with devotees. Fortunately, our main activity was an abhishekam for the utsava murthi of Murugan in a separate mandapam where we were the only group. It was a long and beautiful abhishekam with many of the boys from the pathasala chanting the 1008 names of Muruga. Additionally, a skilled singing group sang Arunagirinathar's Tirupuhal during various portions of the puja. we then were taken to the main sanctum which is carved into the hillside like a cave for darshan of the main murthi of Murugan.
After that we went to the adjacent Skandaguruvidyalayam, priest training school, where we listened to a number of chants by the 150 or so boys in training. Also during the afternoon the head priest, Siva Sri Raja Battar, and his younger brother plus a few other priests came to the hotel and honored Bodhinatha and shared information on their pathasala which trains boys from the Adi Saiva community, that is, the Sivacharyas.
In the late afternoon, we journeyed to Madurai Aadheenam and met the Kartar there. He was, as always, animated and energetic in his talk which was given in easy to understand English, interspersed with Tamil quotes from the Tirukural and Tirumurai. He gave the history of association with Kauai Aadheenam which goes back to 1981. We presented him with a very large picture of him and Gurudeva taken a number of years ago for which he was quite grateful. The Kartar talked about the importance of promoting vegetarianism and our mutual propagation of Saiva Siddhanta, we in the West and he in South India.
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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In this corner of the temple slab are laid out the remaining stones of the vimana, the tower above the central sanctum. With the next course of stones, the shape changes from square to octagonal.
This row is one course of stones.
Notice the 45 degree corners on the stones, necessary for the octagonal shape.
Stones of course 25.
Up on the vimanam, the work is getting a bit crowded as the tower narrows down to the seven-foot wide capstone.
Work is still going on to touch up the sides and to make holes for additional ornamental stones. Note the end of the stone sticking out from the scaffold. It is about four feet long and shortly will have to be manhandled over to the inside course of this level.
Shanmugam Sthapati overseeing the work.
Men, tools and stones share an ever-shrinking workspace.
In an example of the Indian wireless, last night several of the silpis' families met with Bodhinatha at Pillaiyarpati outside of Madurai, for they live nearby. This information reached the silpis before the Aadheenam learned of it!
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2004 Indian OdysseyJanuary 19, 2004 - February 5, 2004 |
Day Six of Innersearch marked the "official" beginning of main innersearch with all the rest of the innersearchers having arrived in Bangalore. An orientation meeting was held at the La Meriden Hotel and then a happy, well-rested group of 90 boarded buses for the famed Kailas Ashram of His Holiness Trichyswami.
Swami Jeyendrapuri, who is Trichyswamji's designated successor and present acting head of the ashram greets everyone at the gate.
Jeyendrapuriswami is a dynamic young leader and widely respected for his purity, dedication and leadership.
Many years ago, Trichyswami started his Kailas Ashram outside of Bangalore in a forested area. Urbanization expansion has followed him and the area is now dubbed "Rajarajeshwari Nagar," an upscale township named after the main deity of the temple at Kailas Ashram.
We arrive and the devotees all come forward for darshan of one of India's great saintly sages, now frail, but shining with an aura of holiness.
His Rajarajesjwari temple is our next stop. The gopurams are fabulously painted.
With mighty drumming and nadaswaran, the innersearchers are all taken to the temple for arati and darshan of Goddess Rajarajeswari.
Worshipping at the various "stations" of the temple, a traditional practice, always, of course, beginning with the arati at the shrine of Lord Ganesha.
The temple has the typical powerful energy of the shakta tradition. Joy and wonderment fill the air.
Jeyendrapuriswami and Bodhinatha lead the way.
Over the main sanctum, an incredibly amazing gold plated vimanam.
The temple's majestic gopurams can be seen from miles away.
A close up of the fine work on the gopurams.
Next the group adjourns to the main audience hall and Trichyswami is brought over from his private quarters by his monks.
What followed we cannot possibly describe to you in words. A Guru puja to a great saint who was deeply absorbed within all the while.
Pada puja decorations.
Jeyendrapuri then spoke, proclaiming the greatness of Hinduism Today's influence and impact on Hinduism the world over with very high praises. He translated for Trichyswami who declared Gurudeva as the greatest jnani of this age.
Our innersearchers and monastic staff are all deeply moved by the praises and feel a strengthening of the deep connection between Kauai Aadheenam and Kailas Ashram.
Bodhinatha then speaks about the greatness of Trichyswami's work.
Bodhinatha explains to the group how the ashram has helped with Iraivan.
Trichyswami listens in silence.
But, he is hearing every word which is being translated by Jeyendraswami
Next we present Trichyswami with the 2003 Hindu Renaissance award making him the Hindu of the Year for 2003
Another gift.... a picture of Gurudeva and Trichyswami in Kadavul temple with the crystal Siva Lingam.
And, extra copies of the issue of Hinduism Today which features Trichyswami's award.
Jeyendraswami is a bright young leader and after the meeting met privately with the swamis from Kauai Aadheenam to discuss important matters of future collaboration.
Afterwards, the group is fed at Kailas ashram.
Our pilgrims enjoy their second sit-down-with-banana leaf meal.
Jayendrapuriswami and Bodhinatha eat together.
It was the close of another amazing increment of our journey in the holy land.
We continue with the account written in advance of the next stage of the journey:
Jan 27 (Sun 6): Today is a quiet day for Bodhinatha and the Innersearchers. The full morning is spent in classes in the gardens and in the afternoon they are taking buses into the forest, to visit another of Lord Murugan's important temples, Palamuthirsolai. The evening holds a special surprise for everyone: a Kathakali dance performance. Eighteen dancers of this dramatic dance style have come all the way from Kerala to perform for Bodhinatha, a program arranged with the help of G.K. Nair, our Hinduism Today correspondent for Kerala. We quote again from the 1982-83 Odyssey diary: "We stop the bus along the way and enter a large hall full of hundreds of young people. The energy is high. Gurudeva is garlanded and a loud, youthful cheer goes up, giving us the impression everyone here knows of Gurudeva and his work. We are told 75-100 of these people, who are somehow all working for a trucking firm, have decided to express their devotion to Lord Murugan by making a rather arduous pilgrimage together. They are all men and boys, with one women among them. They come forward, all smiling to be close to Gurudeva. They tell him they will walk about 12 hours each day for three days, and receive free food and lodging along the way. Six among them will carry kavadi all the way, a traditional yoke-like structure carried on the shoulders as a penance. These are here on the stage with us, looking large and too heavy to carry all that distance. Gurudeva blesses them, saying: 'Muruga will be with you every minute of the way. Hold clearly in your mind what it is that you want to lay at His Holy Feet. Take all of your jealousies, your greeds, your doubts and your fears, and He will absorb them and take them away from you. You will be free to fulfill dharma and come close to Siva. Siva is the Supreme god. He is within you, and you are within Him. Resolve your karma so you can fulfill your dharma.' There is a great cheering at these words and we make our way to the bus through the crushing crowd, all trying to touch Gurudeva, even if it is just his robe. Gurudeva gets on the bus and says, 'These people are truly participating in their religion. they are not just being spectators.' "
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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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