Mahasamadhi Celebrations - Day 3

Om Namah Sivaya

On our third day of the celebration of Gurudeva's gargantuan greatness, we began by enjoying another 6am padapuja. Later that morning the day's class was held with Paramacharya Sadasivanathaswami. Pilgrims gathered in the Media Studio to greet him--a nice setting, it seems, in which to hold such events. He read some of his Gurudeva-inspired poetry and gifted everyone a copy of his poems. He then showed a short movie of James George, who had met Yogaswami long ago, and who articulately explained the presence and spirit behind the sage's words. Following that, Paramacharya told some wonderfully entertaining stories about Gurudeva.

That afternoon, everyone gathered for a parade out to Iraivan, Dakshinamurti and to the Path of the Saiva Satgurus. At each place a short worship was performed.

"The understanding is that within every man the germ or cell of his total affinity with God exists as the perennial inspiration of his spiritual quest and wellspring of all revelation. This enduring sense of an ever-present Truth that is God within man is the essence of the Sanatana Dharma. Such an inherent reality wells up lifetime after lifetime after lifetime, unfolding the innate perfection of the soul as man comes more fully into the awakened state of seeing his total and complete oneness with God." Gurudeva

The guru\

s silver danda shines in the setting sunlight during our evening parade'

Earlier that day Paramacharya gives his class.

Each pilgrim offers him a flower as they arrive

Paramacharya tell some wonderful stories about Gurudeva

That afternoon, monks and pilgrims parade out into the sacred gardens

With them is carried Gurudeva\

s paduka on a palanquin'

First, a stop by the Rishi Valley stream to see the new landscaping being done

Sivanathaswami joins our Quadcopter pilot by the flagpole for a good view

Satguru takes a seat while Sadasivanathaswami explains all the work going on

hundreds of new little plant are being planted on the hill next to the stream

This waterfall got an upgrade

This umbrella follows the guru to protect him from astral entities known as asuras

Next the group walks up the hill to the front of Iraivan Temple

After circumambulating the temple, we step inside for an arati

Into the inner sanctum

Gurukkal does a powerful chant and arati before we take our leave

a wonderful image of Satguru

Everyone is then invited to place a flower in the inner sanctum, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some

Next the parade makes its way to Dakshinamurti

A short arati to this great, silent teacher

Next everyone enters the Path of the Saiva Satgurus.

We begin with worship of Rishi Nandinatha.

Paramacharya explains a little about each guru we come across

Rishi Nandinatha is then offered flowers by everyone

Next to Tirumular

Then to the Rishi from the Himalayas.

Kadaitswami is next. Satguru takes a moment to enjoy his black-granite umbrella

Pilgrims are then invited to plant a tree together.

This tree will grow quite large and be here for a long time

Chellappa guru is next. He is currently sitting beneath a banyan by the stream.

An onward down the lineage to Sage Yogaswami.

He sits facing towards his guru, Chellappa

Gurudeva is next to the Narmada stream\

s Siva Lingam'

following the arati to Gurudeva, the Lingam is decorated and everyone in invited to perform an abhishekam

Satguru is first, of course

On into the early evening, water is continuously poured over the Lingam

On last stop at Satguru\

s own murti. He gives himself a quick namaskar before moving on'

A beautiful end to a beautiful day. Aum Namah Sivaya.

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