Blog Archives
January 27, 2004
Gurudeva is out by the Iraivan foundation, shortly after the concrete placement was completed.
In Living with Siva, Gurudeva writes, "Life as we normally live it, says Vedanta, is based on ignorance of our true nature. We are like pedigreed animals wallowing in the mud, believing we are swine, divine beings thinking ourselves to be mere humans. But once we recognize our true nature, we will rise up from the mud and leave behind, forever, our previous ignorant ways."
Please note that we are entering a two day retreat and Today at Kauai Aadheenam will next be updated on January 30.
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 upon the Guru Peedam, adjacent to Kadavul Hindu Temple. To his left is the conch shell which holds vibhuti.
Bodhinatha writes today from India, "This is our fifth day in Madurai. Our first activity for the day was going to the Murugan Temple at Palani Hills. It takes three hours each way on our buses so we left at 6:30 in the morning and had a breakfast on the bus prepared by the hotel. Today was selected as it is shashti tithi, the sixth lunar day after the new moon, and is the most auspicious day of the month to worship Lord Muruga. Along the highway we passed many small groups of pilgrims walking to Palani to worship there on shashti, a very impressive show of devotion. On arrival, we stopped at our host Hariharan's restaurant/hotel , Shanmugananda Bhavan where we freshen up and had some coffee. Then we went to the base of the hill on which the temple majestically sits. Eleven of our group of about ninety went up by a trolly car but the rest walked up the six hundred some stairs without availing themselves of the easier winding path that parallels many of the stairs. Our youngest pilgrim, Mathew Reese, age two years four months, insisted on walking up the stairs and managed to walk up one third of the way. He also stood the longest time with hands in namaskar in front of the Ganesha shrine at the top of the stairs. A born pilgrim! After a wait in a shady mandapam, the innersearchers joined the cue of devotees walking through the winding bars that take you in front of the sanctum. The smaller group of eight mathavasi were ushered in to the sanctum area and sat down for the short abhishekam to the main murthi. It was quite inspiring being so close. Afterwards we worshipped at the shrine of the founder Bogar Rishi and then sat for a half-hour meditation. Being shashti day, there were thousands of pilgrims in the temple and on the steps, many chanting loudly bhajans of Lord Muruga. Muruga's presence was quite tangible to all and his power stimulated the kundalini force of everyone leading to a deeper meditation than usual. Then down the hill and back to Hariharan's restaurant for a short music concert followed by an elaborate lunch which had been cooked to our comply with our health needs and therefore all of which was edible and enjoyed by the Innersearchers.
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 was a larger than usual guest day today. This group also got that special Hawaiian blessing -- a brief downpour when they were furthest from shelter...
We had two Hindu families visit today.
The Iyengars (kneeling and the lady on the right) are from Calcutta, India.
All the rest are the Sayuchchiyadevan family, originally from Sri Lanka, now living in Canada.
Dr. Sayuchchiyadevan is attending a conference on the island. He found Dancing with Siva in a Iowa bookstore while visiting his daughter in college. He was able to experience Bodhinatha's darshan session at the Saiva Manram in Toronto last year. His family lives in Sudbury, a four hour drive north of Toronto.
Here they stand at the statue of Lord Dakshinamurthi.
The doctor's son and daughter.
Sannyasin Saravananathaswami at his desk, looking reasonably organized and recovered from the launch of the Innersearch.
Our amla tree along the lookout path is trying to get its roots reestablished after being toppled in our wind storm two weeks ago. Currently it held in place by a winch and cable attached to a nearby palm tree.
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2004 Indian OdysseyJanuary 19, 2004 - February 5, 2004 |
The evening of day six of the Innersearch took us to the Iraivan Temple carving site for an evening of gala activities.
This is one of the biggest events of the Innersearch, and we have a long report for you today.
Bodhinatha received by our temple site manager, Kulapati Jiva Rajasankara and Kulamata Kanmani. It was a joyous moment for them to be with their Satguru and the monks with whom they are communicating daily by phone and email.
Bodhinatha is paraded with the Innersearchers through the work site.
There is an air of excitement as we have all been hearing and reading about the Bangalore worksite for many years and now we have a first hand opportunity to see the place where Gurudeva's vision is being made manifest.
Young children from the local village as well as the sons and daughters of the silpis get to enjoy a big event and meet people from USA.... always a novelty for them.
Here are two great sevaks. Mr. Venkatakrishnan Narayanan and his wife Sheela. They have been working for months with logistics here in India, preparing for the Innersearch. In recognition for their service they are coming along with us for the whole trip. But of their own accord, they are both going in advance to the next point of arrival a day early to make sure everything is set in the next port of call.... service beyond the call of duty. Thank you Sheela and Narayanan!
On the left, Nirmala Devi Satgunasingam, from Australia, sitting with Monica Sewpaul from Brooklyn, New York...
Paramacharya Palaniswami speaks with some media people who are on hand to film the event. A formal interview for a local station.
Many of our Innersearchers came prepared to record the events of this once in a lifetime journey. Here is Ruthanne Delph making her own video while at the worksite.
A big stage had been erected and programs ran continuously through the evening. Here Bodhinatha shows a CD of top nadeswaram and thavil music that will be available in Chennai. All proceeds from sales will go to the Iraivan Temple building fund.
The children of India are always full of bright happiness and many of our Innersearchers remark about how happy everyone in India is... everyone seems to be very content with whatever they have. And, of course, to get your photo taken with a digital camera and then to see yourself immediately in the camera monitor is always a very big cause for giggles and laughter.
Folk dancing was one of the items on the program. Performers here are standing by for their turn on the stage.
This is the first of many cultural events to come. Our Innersearchers are riveted and impressed with the show, which included folk dancing, Bharata Natyam dancing, Indian "break dancing" and a fire-breathing performer.
Yogi Japendranatha is the videographer on our journey. The footage should prove to be worth of an exciting DVD in the months ahead.
This is a massive stone archway that is destined for Kauai and will stand just to the right of the Nepali Ganesha at the beginning of the Tiruneri path up to Kadavul Hindu Temple, at 107 Kaholalele Road. We knew about this from drawings, but seeing it in real time space is incredible...
A group shot with the men that we all honor and appreciate for their work in carving the Iraivan Temple. They were at work here and there on stones, to demonstrate the process to the Innersearchers.
Part of the program was honoring Kulapati and Kulamata Jiva and Kanmani Rajasankara with a special CD player gift, in recognition of their many years of service to Gurudeva's mission to build the Iraivan Temple.
Their two sons, Senthilathiban and Thuraisingam for they too have been serving continuously alongside their mother and father through the years as they have been growing up and going to school. The gift was a pair of high end walkie-talkies that have a mile reception radius.
Here is Sadhaka Tejadevanatha posing for his Siddhidata Kulam brother monks back in Kauai. This is the Pancha Mukha Ganapati that has been carved for installation in the Anna Purna gardens that our team in Kauai has built up with several years of very hard work. Wow! It's a lot bigger than we expected!
A corner of the "Sun Shade" stones that go along the edge of the roof of Iraivan... waiting to be shipped. We were surprised to see that almost all of these had been carved.
These are the lion pillars of the side gopurams.
Stones for the Raja Gopuram, the main entrance tower.
A fabulous meal was served at 7 PM to over 100 people.
Bodhinatha seated for dinner.
Our serving team was amazing... they moved so fast! Putting out curry after curry, just exactly in the right place on the banana leaf.
Puvaneswary and her husband Clive Roberts from the Netherlands.
Rows and rows of diners in the Indian style.
After dinner as the sun started to wane, the Innersearchers and monks wandered around the site, enjoying the magnificent stone work destined for Kauai.
The stone chain impressed a lot of the group... carved from a single stone.
Tara pillars without their top piece.
Another shot of the Raja Gopuram.
Railings around the sanctum.
Bodhinatha stands beneath the future entrance to Kauai Aadheenam. This gives some sense of how big this is. Certainly it will change the impression that newcomers have on arrival here at the Aadheenam.
Lord Hanuman....
The top of the Rajagopuram entrance tower.
Acharya Kumarswami standing with the stones.
Our matavasi Innersearch staff.
Another shot of the Panchamukha Ganapati destined for the vegetable gardens of Kauai Aadheenam.
The sun began to set in the west... a beautiful sight....
It was a beautiful closing to a very full day... just the beginning of many more to come.
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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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