Blog Archives
February 17, 2004
"Changing to a purer life can be so simple. You don't have to give up anything. Just learn to like things that are better. That is the spirit of purity. When you give up something because you think you should give it up, that creates strain. Instead, search for a better life; search for shaucha. From tamasic eating we go to rajasic eating, and because sattvic food tastes better and makes us feel better, we also leave much of the rajasic food behind. Are not all persons on this planet driven by desire? Yes, indeed. Then let's redirect desire and let our desires perfect us. Let us learn to desire the more tasty, sattvic foods, the more sublime sounds the most perfect things we can see, more than the gross, exciting and reprehensible, the desires for which will fade away when we attach ourselves to something better. Let our desires perfect us. The ultra-democratic dream of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness we can use as a New-Age goal and pursue the happiness of something better than what we are doing now that is bad for us. Let's go forward with the spirit of moving onward." -- Gurudeva
Here is Bodhinatha giving his last class on Innersearch. The picture of Gurudeva behind him is a perfect symbol of a spiritual reality: the lineage of our spiritual masters all working through the current living Satguru...
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More blissfully quiet days at home at the Aadheenam. here is Jothi Sendan and his wife Vasuki with their little daughter Shaila Pushpa. Pushpa means "flower" and it is interesting that Jothi is in the flower business. Here they are collecting flowers on the Aadheenam land for decorations for Sivaratri night.
Oh!
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2004 Indian OdysseyJanuary 19, 2004 - February 5, 2004 |
The saga continues as we come to a close of our period in Tanjavur and make our move back up the coast to Chennai. Day 17 was "at home" day. We stayed in Tanjavur all day. Here we are with hatha yoga and guided meditation class in the early morning at the hotel.
Our monks let the men's side and Jutikadevi led the ladies side. To be very honest, the ladies were a lot better at hatha yoga than the men!
OK, streeeetch, but, be very careful with forward bends: keep the curve in your lower spine on that forward bend. Don't bend the lower back over -- that will contribute to future back troubles: instead, keep your back straight and stretch out deep through the back of your leg and ham string. Ahhhh! for some Arghhh! for others.
There were more classes and free time during the day and then a cultural event at night at Brihadiswarar. What a magical atmosphere it was too. Evening pujas and archanas in progress, devotees walking around the grounds, people sitting in small groups in the sannidhya of Lord Siva... peace pervading...
Then we were treated to one of the most extraordinary live musical performances we had ever witnessed, the young flute virtuoso performed live right there on the platform by Nandi in the temple compound under the stars.
We had made a special request tonight, which was that the group not include a violin, so that only traditional instruments were played. Though Shashank's father was not sure how it would go without a second melodic instrument as back up for the ragas, as it turned out everyone we very pleased and the flute work of Shashank was uneclipsed. One must listen to his music to believe it.
It seemed too perfect a setting, like the ancient days, fulfilling Gurudeva's often stated vision that the temple should be the true cultural center of the community... that the highest culture flows forth from the temples.
Many of the innersearcher took a few moments to wander off in solitude and go inside and meditate in the temple.
As we drove away back to the hotel, one Innersearcher tearfully exclaimed "I don't want to go... this is my home!"
The next day, February 2nd was a day of rigorous travel. An early morning class with Bodhinatha, then a drive up the coast with a stop at Gangaikondacholapuram temple, then evening puja and ceremonies at Chidambaram with a final leg to arrive late at night in Pondicherry. All in one day!
Here Bodhinatha gives his final class to the group. Everyone is sad to have this last time of teaching with him and claps in appreciation for the wonderful, practical teachings he has given us.
OK, then the business of travel takes over... all hands on deck at the hotel entrance, luggage, down, in the buses, check out, pay your side bills....
Here is the reception sign in the lobby of the hotel in Tanjavur... we say good bye to the good people who took care of us in Tanjavur and roll on.....
The south was dry... but this was a really interesting drive for us, as the rice harvest was in progress and all along the roads we had first hand witness of the piles and piles of rice being threshed and winnowed.
After a 3-hour drive we arrive at Gangaikondacholapuram. Here is Sadhaka Tejadevanatha, he was Bodhinatha's assistant throughout the trip.
Everyone has something to offer....
Vel Alahan from Colorado...
Karen Reese from North Carolina with her son.
Going into Gangaikondacholapuram we find ourselves at the third famous Chola Siva temple, this one build by the son of Rajaraja Chola. Like the others, it has been neglected for centuries and has only recently been taken into hand by the Archeological Survey of India.
While not as big as the temple in Tanjavur, an outstanding feature of this temple is the size and beauty of the sculptures on the outside of the temple.
These pieces are truly exquisite.
Matthew Reese. Such a happy little boy who will be two years old on the 25th of this month. I think we only heard him cry just a few minutes throughout the whole trip.
He asks us that question that fills the mind here: "What happened? How could such great temples have been abandoned, worshipped stopped... such incredible art and architecture neglected, left to crumble? Can you tell me the story?"
Our pilgrims rest in the shade side of the temple as we prepare for a group photo and take a break from the long bus ride.
Most of the temple is covered over in plaster which fills in all the crevices and locks in the stones.
Our group is gathering.
In the distance you can see the ancient walls...
These statues on the side of the temple are in some cases, ten or twelve feet tall... larger than life.
A yalli on the side of the temple... this is actually huge.
Here is a section that has not been covered over. It is easy to see why the plaster work is needed. All the original mortar between the stones has long ago washed away and the stones sit loosely in place, many of them chipped. Of course, after 900 years, some changes are to be expected.
We really have to hand it to the ASI... they are keeping the place up beautifully.
We are inside the main outer wall of the temple. Notice the grass lawns. The vast courtyard of this outer prakaram was once all stone, like in Tanjavur, but now it is a lawn... because all the floor stones were taken years ago for a dam somewhere.
Jason Tropf from Florida
Rajan Khurana from United Kingdom.
We finally got everyone together. And what a great photo this turned out to be. We look forward to a day when this temple is alive with pujas and cultural events and grows again to be a great center for Saivism as it was in days of yore.
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2004 Indian Odyssey
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