August Chitra Puja

Last night, the monastery celebrated the chitra nakshatra with our monthly padapuja to Gurudeva's granite tiruvadi in Kadavul temple. Natyam Rajanatha and Sadhaka Jayanatha performed the abhishekam for Bodhinatha, the monks and members to observe in silent contemplation. Gurudeva's loving energy permeated the temple and the hearts and minds of those present. Jai Gurudeva! Aum Namah Sivaya!



The following poem is from an Indian devotee who watches TAKA and loves the pada puja slideshows.



We gather at his feet

like the many different flowers

each one unique

each one true

so many colors, so many forms

some in full bloom

another just a bud

when will it unfold?


each has lived

for just that moment

instant and eternal

when all is surrendered

all is done

all is offered in gratitude


short or long, a mere illusion

a life fully lived

is all that has happened

each trial experienced

each lesson learned

each smile treasured

each word measured


we gather at his feet

we meet

in that hallowed space

filled with his grace

and then we return

to live, to serve

to claim his legacy

do we truly deserve!



Infinite love and eternal gratitude


Aum Namah Sivaya!

\"A life of discipline is not an easy life, but it is a joyous one, with many soul-satisfying rewards.\" Gurudeva

Love and dedication and the outpouring from the highest chakras of spiritual energies of the lay devotee are often greater than any professional priest could summon within himself

It takes much meditation to find God Siva in all things, through all things. In this striving--as in perfecting any art or science--regular daily disciplines must be faithfully adhered to

He is in you. He is in this temple. He is in the trees. He is in the sky, in the clouds, in the planets. He is the galaxies swirling in space and the space between galaxies, too. He is the universe. His cosmic dance of creation, preservation and dissolution is happening this very moment in every atom of the universe. God Siva is, and is in all things. 

That is the goal of life, to know Siva, to love Siva and to find union in Him, to dance with Siva, live with Siva and merge with Siva. This is what the oldest religion on the Earth teaches and believes. Siva is the God of love and nothing else but love. He fills this universe with love. He fills you with love.

The mystic whom we see poised on the peak of God Realization is the man who once faced each experience that you now do. He didn\

t skip them or go around them. He had to deal with the same doubts, the same fears and the same confusions. He had those same experiences where all seems against you, and you seem so alone and ask, \"Why am I the one who has these unsolvable problems, these totally confusing situations?\" He didn\'t give in to that abyss of doubt. He threw himself at the feet of God when all seemed beyond hope. And hope appeared. '

The irreversible spirit of the guru carries through all of the sishyas. It is basically the only gift a guru can give--that sustaining spirit. He doesn\

t have to give knowledge, because that has already been written down. He doesn\'t have to build temples, because there are more than enough temples for everyone. The rare and precious gift that he can convey is the inner spirit of his religious heritage. That is his unique gift to the world. '
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