Yoginathaswami and Yogi Dayanatha in India, Part Three
June 15, 2023On this India pilgrimage the monks are being guided through the locations by our sishyas Thuraisingam and his wife Swapna.
After Tiruvanaikovil Jambukeswarar, our monks visited the Uchi Pillaiyar temple, a great walk up steep stairs. Beforehand, at the base, they visited Thayumanavar Temple which has a massive Sivalingam. The bottom part of the Sivalingam is enclosed by four walls which you can walk around.
Afterwards they drove to Pillaiyarpatti Ganesha Temple which is also home to Pitchai Gurukkal and his priest training school. Our current Iraivan Temple priest, Pravin Kumar, was trained there. It was a happy meeting with Pitchai Gurukkal just before he was leaving for Chennai and then to Canada (he travels often to officiate at temple kumbhabhishekams). He gave them a room to rest and also see other visitors.
Later on the way to Madurai, they visited Thirumarainathar Temple which is in the birthplace town of Manickavasagar. It is a very quiet place.
At the Madurai Meenakshi/Sundareswara temple, no phones, electronics, smart watches etc were allowed inside the temple due to bomb threat. They were shown around by Chellappa Baktar who was one of the priests at our Iraivan Temple crystal Sivalinga installation. They visited his home and presented a certificate for having officiated at our Iraivan Temple ceremonies.
After Madurai they drove to Maruthamalai Murugan Temple on a hilltop. It was crowded and they could only see Murugan from a distance. Yogi Dayanatha said He was covered with vibhuti and looked like a king. Afterwards they visited the beautiful Perur Pateeswarar Temple.
Uchi Pillaiyar Temple
Thayumanavar Temple
Pitchai Gurukkal
Presenting a rudraksha mala from our tree grove
Rooftop of Pillaiyarpatti Temple
Pravin Kumar\
s family'
Families of two Iraivan Temple silpis-Murugesan and Manikandan
Coconut husking station
Thirumarainathar Temple which is in the birthplace town of Manickavasagar
Another Thanjavur Brihadeeswara Temple photo
Another Thanjavur Brihadeeswara Temple photo
The back of the rock from which Pillaiyarpatti Ganesha is carved
On the way to Madurai
Entrance doorway to Chellappa Baktar\
s home.'
Chellappa Baktar
Chellappa Baktar\
s brother'
This priest is the brother of one of the priests who came for our Iraivan Temple Mandala Puja in May.
Maruthamalai Murugan Temple
Perur Pateeswarar Temple entrance
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