Yoginathaswami and Yogi Dayanatha in India, Part Four

One of the priests who performed the Iraivan Temple pranapratishtha in March is Vivek Sivam, who then stayed on to perform the 41 days of Mandala Pujas afterwards. Now our monks have visited him at his family temple in Coimbatore, called Kurunthamalai Kulandhai Velaayuthaswami. It's on top of a small hill. Yogi Dayanatha reported:

"It has a similar feeling to Iraivan Temple, green all around and very quiet (when there is no construction). Lots of monkeys running around that temple. They were very playful but didn't bother us much. Coimbatore was cooler than other areas and it was very windy. They just had their kumbhabhishekam and are doing their mandala puja. We sat for the puja and chanted Sri Rudram with Vivek. Muruga had a beautiful Alankaram. After the puja Vivek took us to his house. We met his parents and his wife. They fed us breakfast. First home cooked meal since we started our India trip. They were so happy that we came. They made lunch for us as well to take on the road."

Then, on the seven-hour ride to Bengaluru, our travelers passed through the very scenic region of Ooty including a tiger reserve. Yogi Dayanatha reported: "You can see wild elephants, deers, peacocks and other animals except for tigers, as they only come out during the night most of the time. It was quite a drive through the reserve and the forests. Tons of pines, teak, blue gum and other trees. Ooty was very cool. You open the window, its like someone forgot to turn the A/C off."

Arriving in Bengaluru, the first stop was to visit the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Art of Living Foundation) Veda-Agama Pathashala where Sundaramoorthy Sivacharya is the principal. He was one of the head priests at our Iraivan Temple pranapratishtha. Yogi Dayanatha reported:

"It was quite a welcoming party. We had small group of padashala boys chanting, short puja for Ganesha and then we entered the padashala. There, the boys were sitting chanting the "vyoma vyapine..." abhishekam mantra beautifully. We met Shanmuga Sivachariya's son. After that Sudaramoorthy Sivachariya give a short speech and honored Swami. Then different classes of boys were chanting different mantras. From the seniors to juniors.

"After that they took us on a tour around the property, their gaushala, research rooms, class rooms and farms—which had tons of okra and pumpkins. They have lots of people walking around, and many of seminars taking place."

Vivek Sivam and family

View from the hilltop temple

Arriving at Kurunthamalai Kulandhai Velaayuthaswami temple

At the Ganesha shrine

Scaffolding for the recent kumbhabhishekam

More view from the hill temple

Passing through Ooty forests

Tea estates in Ooty region

Welcomed at the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar pathashala

Sundaramoorthy Sivacharya, principal of the pathashala

One of many breeds at the gaushala

Walking through the gardens from one pavilion to another

A letter of recommendation provide for our new Sadhaka Vatshalanatha\

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Puja items class pavilion

The many styles of tying kumbhas

Some of the current Bengaluru skyline

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