Celebrating Mahasivaratri

Last night, Satguru, the Monastics, local members and visiting pilgrims gathered together to celebrate Mahasivaratri in Kadavul Temple. The night began at 7:00pm with some bhajans followed a half an hour later by a Siva Homa. All the monks were present and chanted an energetic Sri Rudram while Natyam Nandinatha performed the Homa and Satguru gave offerings into the flames. The buttery smell of ghee being offered to the fire and the smell of incense filled the air. Following the homa everyone listened to a recording from 1990 of a talk that Gurudeva had given on Sivaratri night. After Gurudeva's words had finished, the temple fell into silence as the group of staunch devotees closed their eyes in meditation on Siva's formless perfection. Their innermost Self. Next, the Siva Kumbha from the homa was paraded outside and around the flagpole by Satguru before being placed in the inner sanctum with an arati. By now it was 10:15pm. Time for a short break.

Upon reconvening in the temple, Satguru gave a wonderful talk about the original subtleties of Yoga as found in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and in Gurudeva's writings. Upon concluding his talk, the final Rurdabhishekam began. Beginning with milk, six different pairs of monks were responsible for pouring each abhisheka item over the small crystal Sivalingam that resides just in front of Nataraja. In a grand finale, Satguru poured the Siva Kumbha over the Lingam. After the Nataraja and the lingam were decorated and the final arati was performed. The Final Puja ended at exactly 12:00am. A perfect end to a perfect night in a perfect Universe. Om Namah Sivaya. Sivaya Namah Om.

The Sunset over Kauai Aadheenam as we begin Siva\

s Great Night'

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami arrives in the Temple

The Homa begins

The Temple is colorfully decorated with flowers, flags and festoons.

The Siva Kumbha is paraded out and around the temple flagpole

This coconut is an offering which also represents our ego

it is a hard shell which must be broken to reveal the sweet fruit inside

After cracking the Coconut against the ground, the parade makes its way back into the temple

The kumbha is brought to the inner sanctum

Satguru then performs a short arati

After a short break, everyone gathers to here Satguru\

s Upadesha'

It was a wonderful talk, and very fit for an evening of deep introspection

The final Rudrabhishekam begins. Here one pair of monks offers panchamritam

These two offer chandana

After all the offerings are complete, Satguru pours the Siva Kumbha over the Lingam.

Later to be decorated with flowers and a final arati performed. Om Namah Sivaya

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