Siva's Big Temple

Off we go through the Indian traffic to Tanjavur, arriving at a different place. At our last hotel the yogis learned that even the best hotel in town does not necessarily have little amenities like towels, hot water, soap or elevators that work. The little garden hotel in Tanjurvur has all those things, and we were welcomed by at least 8 staff!

Off to a brief darshan in the night, holding our real visit for the following morning. Dinesh did his magic (if you think something in Dinesh's presence, it happens). He arranged a milk abhishekam for 8am and we were there to witness the amazing 10-foot-wide Sivalingam, so large they had to install the lingam and build the vimanam above it. No photos are allowed here, but the awe factor is high and you can imagine gallons of milk flooding over this massive black stone (the priest stands on a 12-foot-tall scaffold to pour offerings.

The temple itself is also magical, with thousands of feet of hallways holding who knows how many lingams, all different sizes and shapes. The carvings are intricate, and the dwajapalakas (the guardians at the doors) as tall as our Dakshinamurthi.

Here is what Wikinatha has to say regarding the name:

Brihadishvara(IAST: Bihdvara) is a Sanskrit composite word composed ofBrihatwhich means "big, great, lofty, vast",[11]andIshvarameans "lord, Shiva, supreme being, supremeatman(soul)".[12][13]The name means the "great lord, big Shiva" temple. Locally, the temple is called the big temple, while in historic inscriptions it is also referred to as RajaRajeswara,RajarajeswaramandPeruvudayartemple.[14]

The amount of human effort seen in the sculpture here is humbling. Humbling, too, that with all our modern means the human race cannot replicate this treasure.

We are on the road now (yes, still connected to the Internet), heading to Madurai where Sundara Meenakshi is waiting for us...

With the massive vimanam behind. That single stone atop the tower weighs 80 tons!

The blue path shows our pilgrimage so far...

India must have invented hospitality

Aerial photo of the temple

we greeted Nandi on the way in. Similar to our Kadavul Nandi, but eight times the mass.

It\

s Saturday and some 500 school kids are here on an outing.'

Nandi is decorated in fresh fruits on festival days.

That\

s Nandi\'s stable on the far right.'

This is among India\

s tallest vimanams, more like the size of giant Rajagopurams.'

Behind each lingam was painted a mural tellng that story.

We enter the corridor on these creative steps.

A pundit is teaching the kids how to hold their hands for meditation. \"Thumb is God, first finger is soul, other fingers are anava, maya and karma. Set the three aside, and touch God with your index finger. That is the meaning in Saiva Siddhanta,\" he says.

Now and again we are asked for photos with the youth who are brave enough to ask.

Exploring.

After the abhishekam. White towel is to preserve (OK, try to preserve) the integrity of our robes.

Smile...

Yogi Mayuranathan invites you to explore the hall of Sivalingams.

It goes on and on and on.

Imagine what the art looked like 1,000 years ago (the temple recently had a 1000th birthday).

The granite is so red it looks like sandstone.

Now that is a serious gomukai, with blessed water coming from the lingam inside.

OOPS!

Granite does endure the power of time.

We end with Gurudeva\

s words on love: \"We have to adjust our thinking when we say, \"I Love You,\" to an all encompassing beautiful love that radiates out throughout the universe. '

The perfect universe where everything is in harmony and order and if it is seemingly out of harmony you know it is in harmony because you are in the state of consciousness where harmony is, where peace is, where bliss is.

Therefore, your Saiva Siddhanta religion can work in your daily life. Your Saiva Siddhanta religion can be lived every minute of the day and all through the night.

All you have to do is decide whether you are going to expect anything back from anyone.

All you have to decide is what part of the person you love.

If you love the soul, you love the whole person, no matter who the person is, what they do, what they say, whether you know them or whether you don\

t know '

them because they are the light of Siva, the energy is Siva, the love of Siva walking around in human form.\"

}
];