Celebrating Thai Pusam!

Vel Muruga!!!

Happy Thai Pusam! Yesterday afternoon the monastery celebrated Lord Skanda with an abhishekam. Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami the monastics and local members and visiting devotees all gathered in Kadavul Temple in the afternoon for the puja, performed by Sannyasin Siddhanathaswami. Lord Muruga was bathed in pranic substances such as milk citrus and honey and was decorated lovingly with flowers and garlands. Aum Saravanabhavaya Namah.

From Dancing With Siva:
What Is the Nature of Lord Karttikeya?
SLOKA 24
Lord Karttikeya Murugan first guru and Pleiadean master of kundalini yoga was born of God Siva's mind. His dynamic power awakens spiritual cognition to propel souls onward in their evolution to Siva's feet. Aum.
BHaSHYA
Lord Karttikeya flies through the mind's vast substance from planet to planet. He could well be called the Emancipator ever available to the call of those in distress. Lord Karttikeya God of will direct cognition and the purest child-like divine love propels us onward on the righteous way through religion His Father's law. Majestically seated on the manipura chakra this scarlet-hued God blesses mankind and strengthens our will when we lift to the inner sky through sadhana and yoga. The yoga pada begins with the worship of Him. The yogi locked in meditation venerates Karttikeya Skanda as his mind becomes as calm as Saravana the lake of Divine Essence. The kunadalini force within everyone is held and controlled by this powerful God first among renunciates dear to all sannyasins. Revered as Murugan in the South He is commander in chief of the great devonic army a fine dynamic soldier of the within a fearless defender of righteousness. He is Divinity emulated in form. The Vedas say "To such a one who has his stains wiped away the venerable Sanatkumara shows the further shore of darkness. Him they call Skanda." Aum Namah Sivaya.

What Does Lord Karttikeya's Vel Signify?
SLOKA 25
The lance like vel wielded by Lord Karttikeya or Skanda embodies discrimination and spiritual insight. Its blade is wide long and keen just as our knowledge must be broad deep and penetrating. Aum Namah Sivaya.
BHaSHYA
The Sakti power of the vel the eminent intricate power of righteousness over wrongdoing conquers confusion within the realms below. The holy vel that when thrown always hits its mark and of itself returns to Karttikeya's mighty hand rewards us when righteousness prevails and becomes the kundalini serpent's unleashed power thwarting our every effort with punishing remorse when we transgress dharma's law. Thus the holy vel is our release from ignorance into knowledge our release from vanity into modesty our release from sinfulness into purity through tapas. When we perform penance and beseech His blessing this merciful God hurls His vel into the astral plane piercing discordant sounds colors and shapes removing the mind's darkness. He is the King of kings the power in their scepters. Standing behind the temporal majesty He advises and authorizes. His vel empowering the ruler justice prevails wisdom enriches the minds of citizens rain is abundant crops flourish and plenty fills the larders. The Tirumurai says "In the gloom of fear His six-fold face gleams. In perils unbounded His vel betokens Fear not.'" Aum Namah Sivaya.

\"The moon sun and fire are in unison radiating their resplendent effulgence. Radiating the luminous sparks is Murugan who lights up the world by His peerless light.\" Kathirgama Pura

The small group of devotees gather in the temple

Lord Muruga is freshly oiled

Nandi sits outside. He has also been oiled and decorated

His giant garland is truly a wonder to behold

The puja and abhishakam begin

Siddhanathaswami performs the abhishekam while Natyam Jayanatha assists

Monks chant Sri Rudram

Natyam Dayanatha and Nirvani Tejadevanatha help by passing kumbhas of abhishekam items into the shrine

Vibhuto is always a beautiful sight

a short arati is performed after each item

Many flowers and garlands were brought by pilgrims

Next is chandana (sandalwood)

Following the abhishekam while the curtains are closed devotees sing songs to Lord Muruga

Our Photographer ventures out for some more photos

A visit to Lord Shanmukha under the Banyan tree is in order

He was beautifully decorated for Thai Pusam

Vel Muruga!

A visit to Lord Ganesha at the entrance before heading back to the Temple

After offerigs of incense and fresh foods Lord Skanda\

s 108 names are chanted '

Then the Final Arati

It is at this point that all of the prana absorbed by the Deity is sent out into the auras of devotees present making adjustments and uplifting consciousness

Aum Saravanabhavaya Namah

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