« Return to Archives

A Religious Visit to Midland

Following Trinidad, Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami and Sannyasin Senthilnathaswami flew back to Texas, this time to Midland, far out west. Arriving in the evening, the first stop was a dinner at the home of Drs. Nalin and Kamal Tolia, some of the monastery's strongest supporters in West Texas.

The next morning, Drs. Mrunal and Padmaja Patel invited Bodhinatha to their home for pada puja satsang. Mrunal performed an excellent puja, Bodhinatha gave a marvelous upadesha and all present were blessed with vibhuti.

One of the days we were in Midland happened to be chitra nakshatra, so the Patel family invited Senthilnathaswami to perform pada puja to Gurudeva's tiruvadi in their shrine room. He did so in the same style it is performed at Kauai Aadheenam. In fact, at the very same time the puja was being performed at Gurudeva's shrine in Kadavul Temple on Kauai. The energy was very high.

Image

Arriving a bit late in Midland after a long day of flights

Image

Dr. Nalin Tolia greets the visiting satguru in the traditional style

Image

Many folks have gathered

Image

Aum was the theme of the evening, with decorations adorning the entire home

Image

Nalin, Bodhinatha and Kamal

Image

Dr. Mrunal Patel performs pada puja to Bodhinatha

Image

Image

Sheela Visswanathan came from California

Image

Ashish Chitnis came from the Carolinas, and the Param family drove in as well, continuing their tour of Texas with Bodhinatha

Image

Image

Image

Image

Chanting Bodhinatha\

s 108 names'

Image

The satguru\

s feet are an ocean of grace'

Image

Image

Image

Image

Everyone listens so attentively when Bodhinatha speaks

Image

Kamal Tolia receives blessings

Image

Jeyendra Param receives blessings

Image

Hansaben Patel, Mrunal\

s mother, receives blessings'

Image

Sheela Visswanathan presents offerings

Image

Aran Malhotra, who came from Chicago with his parents Gaurav and Ripla, asks Senthilnathaswami a philosophical question while everyone is receiving vibhuti blessings from Bodhinatha

Image

Bodhi and Bela Param, 9-year-old twins, offer their devotions

Image

Sahanadevi Param receives Bodhinatha\

s blessings'

Image

Mrunal, Padmaja and Pooja Patel present offerings

Image

Our hostess, Dr. Padmaja Patel, receives Bodhinatha\

s blessings'

Image

Gurudeva pada puja on chitra nakshatra

Image

Pada puja for Gurudeva on chitra nakshatra at the Patel home in Midland

}
];

transitionSpeed:150});

Scroll to Top