Kadavul at Midnight

Aum Namah Sivaya

As many of us know, our monks hold a 24/7/365 vigil in Kadavul Temple. During a monk's three hour stay in the temple he performs the Agamically prescribed puja (12am, 3 am, 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm or 6pm) for that vigil and performs japa, meditation, reads scripture, cleans, etc. Seeing as how one of our TAKAgraphers is currently on the midnight to 3am vigil, we thought we'd give you a look into Kadavul Temple during rarely seen hours of the night.

Sutra 316 of the Nandinatha Sutras
Monastic Life's Fourfold Purpose
Siva's monastics lead a joyous, contented, steadfast, humble life. Their purpose is contemplation upon and love of Siva, to maintain Siva consciousness, realize the Self and uplift others while serving their satguru. Aum.

During the midnight vigil all but a few of the temple lights are off, with deepam lamps and small oil lamps providing a warm and sacred atmosphere

12:11am on the temple clock. Lord Surya is directly below the Earth and makes for a mystical time of night.

We gather our flowers for the puja. Right now these marigolds are growing in abundance in our vegetable garden

They are quite a colorful sight

Kadavul\

s crystal Siva Lingam is ready for worship'

The puja tray is ready, with offerings of fruit, rice, sandalwood, kumkum and vibhuti.

During puja, powerful mantras along with the energies from the offerings are used to construct a second world form for the Deity.

Their refined energies can then pass from the third world, through that form in the second, and out through the first world\

s physical murti to bless the worshiper. '

Blessed water is used to purify the puja items and the surroundings, as well as being an offering in and of itself

The Siva Lingam is actually quite a profound structure as it represents the unfoldment of the Universe as it expands from the singularity that is Parasiva, out into Parashakti--or all pervasive light--and then further into physical matter.

This is a diagram of the big bang. Look familiar?

Such are the ponderings of the midnight vigil.

Lord Siva\

s perspective'

The mandala lights on the ceiling leading up to the sanctum. \"Yam\"

\"Ham\"

Ok, that was a great puja and meditation. Time for cleaning! The Tandava shelves need some dusting

Gurudeva\

s shrine is looking pretty good'

His tiruvadi could use a few more flowers though

Much better! Jai!

Time to pick up all the old flowers around the temple. Here is one at the feet of Ardinarishvara.

Lord Ganesha\

s 3am abhishekam is fast approaching. Better get Him ready.'

That\

s better. Aum Gam Ganapataye Namah'

We conclude our vigil with some light reading. The day\

s Lesson included the Song of the Sannyasin by Swami Vivekananda. A wonderful read.'

\"Om Tat Sat, Om!!!\"

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