Anticipation of Lord Nataraja
January 8, 2009It is Sun Three and there is anticipation in the air as monks are working hard to get ready for tomorrow's big Ardra Abhishekam puja for Lord Nataraja. Bodhiinatha finally has some time at home between trips and he has been working on research projects: shum and Saiva Agamas, among...
Tour Day
January 8, 2009Yesterday's tour day guide, Kulamata Isani Alahan writes: "It was a wonderful day for a tour. There was partial sun, cool breezes and even a few showers. There was a beautiful double rainbow over Nani Kaua Pond as we arrived there. I wish I had gotten a photo. The rainbow...
Images from Iraivan
January 8, 2009Our silpis now have a cool shade and a roof over their heads to work on the floor of Iraivan. Of course the joints of the roof are not yet sealed so our rains have come through. But, a little water is not a problem. Crated pieces awaiting their time...
Mauritius Members Visit Malaysia
January 8, 2009Kulapati Manon Mardemootoo and Kulamata Sornumbal, made a visit to Malayasia. Manon writes: "We attended Satsanga held at Sivaneswaren Sockanathan on Saturday 3rd." The two daughters of member Gunalen showed their singing talents. “ It is good to see our sishya going back and forth between nations!
We Are Ever-Ready Servants of Siva
January 7, 2009In a busy day at the Aadheenam--aren't them all?--we bring you a short but soulful TAKA. Some TAKA editors had to work on other duties today, and ever flexible as a Saiva monastic should be, we responded with our best. In Shum we would say dibanif! Gurudeva taught us the...
One More Course of the Rajagopuram Is Lifted
January 6, 2009Sun Two at the Aadheenam. A stone lift happened today. Iraivan is becoming more of a reality with each passing day. In record-breaking few minutes, the Iraivan Team lifted eight more stones for the Rajagopuram. This is Larry Conklin, "Island Crane and Rigging" owner and operator. This time we started...
Guests of the Last Few Days
January 6, 2009In a beautiful sunny day and approximately seventy-one souls arrived for a tour of the Iraivan Temple. Kannan and Manikandan, two of the stone carvers from India, gave an excellent demonstration on how to correctly carve granite the world's hardest stone. Our guests were all very impressed and some later...
Pancha Ganapati Celebration at Puchong, Malaysia
January 6, 2009We had a wonderful and blessed Pancha Ganapati in the home of Aravindraj and Renu Chandrasekaran on December 25. Here, fellow devotees arrive bright and early in anticipation. We decorated the altar in the living room and tried to make it look a bit like a jungle with banana trees,...