It is the last day of the phase and our Ganapati Kulam was happy to announce that they had pretty much completed the work on renovating the floor in the publication building.

~~~~~~~~~~~
END OF PHASE
Today is the last day of our phase.
This edition of TAKA will remain posted
over our coming two-day retreat,
until Dasami Tithi, Sun One, Wednesday, February 18th.

This past phase the kulam spent time each morning getting things back in order.

We even removed the cabinets on the west wall leaving only the windows making for an incredible panoramic view of Iraivan (off in the distance in the left window in this picture…) and Mount Waialeale.

Bodhinatha's second day in Sydney saw time for a few meetings with local devotees. Here's Ainkaran from Australia and Chelvi from New Zealand celebrating their first anniversary.

Mrs. Nadarajah is one of the first two ladies to (really) actively promote the Iraivan Temple building project among the Sri Lankan community that now calls Sydney home. Here she is (seated next to Bodhinatha) with her family.

Vasaant Krishnan caught up with Bodhinatha at the Helensburg Siva Vishnu Temple south of Sydney. He's flown in from Tasmania where he's attending university to attend all of Bodhinatha's events. Here he says "Vanakkam" and "Good Day" to his family in Singapore.

Bodhinatha writes that he has been meeting with devotees and supporters of Iraivan today.

The summer heat of Australia was also tempered with cooling clouds and light rain.

Today was Chitra Nakshatra, and we held our pada puja for Gurudeva.

Sadhaka Tejadevanatha is the pujari with Sadhaka Satyanatha assisting.

The many liquid oblations for the abhishekam.

Jai Gurudeva!

Hi-Resolution Images of Gurudeva Now Available!

And today we are happy to announce that a special web site has been prepared with 16 officially approved portraits of Gurudeva for public printing and distribution. Click here and you can choose from among them. Download the large hi-resolution version and give it to your local printer. Or you can just go to the printer, help him log in and download the file for printing. Please send any issues you have with this new site to studyhall@hindu.org

Sadhaka Satyanatha after the puja.

The Ganapati Kulam has nearly completed their re-flooring renovations and this lovely image of Nataraja was dusted off and moved back into place, greeting visitors on arrival at the publications offices.

And, speaking of Lord Nataraja. We have posted two sound files from the Tiruvembavai Festival held here at the Aadheenam. If you would like to listen to the monks chanting in the chamber of the Dancing Lord, download these two MP3 files… The first one is 39 MB… If you want to save them to your computer first, right click on these links:

Tiruvembai Puja, Part I
Tiruvembai Puja, Part II

Bodhinatha writes from Sydney: "Our 10 plus hour flight from Honolulu to Sydney was pleasant. Welcoming party of some ten devotees met us at the airport, a drive to the suburb of Parramatta which is the second largest business district in the Sydney area and quite near the Murugan temple. They are setting up darshan meetings at the hotel starting Thursday afternoon.

Chandran and Mathini Wigneswaran greetings

We pick up the story of Bodhinatha’ travels with a few photos from his departure two days ago.

All the monks come to greet him.

Have a great trip!

Despite the rain and wind that was the morning blessing, over seventy interested guests joined the tour today. The weather soon cleared and guests enjoyed Beautiful Kauai Aadheenam with tour guide Kulamata Amala Seyon.

Guests looking at and photographing the rudrakshas seeds on the ground near Iraivan.

All eyes on the stone carving demonstration

Manikandan passing different chisels to the guests for the guest to inspect, chisels and charcoal.

A group photo of those visiting Iraivan Temple today.

This lady is inspired to try her hand at the chisel.

Bodhinatha departed for Australia yesterday with Sadhaka Haranandinatha and reported in earlier today that they had a successful 10 hour flight to Sydney, were met by devotees there and that he is having darshan meetings this afternoon and evening at the hotel.

We just completed an inspired 3-day full moon retreat that began with the powerful annual Thai Pusam abhishekam to Lord Murugan