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Transcription of One of Gurudeva's CyberTalks
Date: February_05_2001
Title: Odic, Actinodic and Actinic Forces, Caste System
Category: Meditation and Yoga
Duration: 2 min., 57 seconds
Date Given: February 04, 2001

A cyberspace devotee in Michigan asks, "Do you have any guidelines to establish the difference between the odic, actinodic and actinic forces within the body?"

In 'Merging with Siva', the book of 365 daily lessons, we go into this very thoroughly. If you have 'Merging with Siva', check out the glossary for actinic, actinodic and odic force.

In short, the physical body is an odic structure. The energy within the physical body is actinodic, with two vibrations coming together, the higher vibratory pranas and the lower vibratory pranas. The actinic is the spiritual mind. The existence of your soul is the actinic force within you.

A question coming in from a cyberspace devotee in Malaysia, on caste. "Everything is beautiful in the Universe but the caste system. Was that created by God or was that created by humans? Why is it so rigid in India?"

Well, the caste system in India is basically lopsided because the ruling caste, the kshatriya caste, is out of commission. Therefore, we have the brahmin caste, of priests, that used to be supported by the kshatriya caste languishing. Business is languishing and of course, more than often crops are failing. It takes the four castes in any society. Here in the United States, we have four castes but it is called a class system.

In Malaysia, I know it is a very big problem. Higher caste won't talk to lower caste. If the daughter marries a lower caste person, nobody will ever talk to her again. Her parents won't talk to her. This is so hurtful.

I would suggest in Malaysia, the caste system be thrown out entirely. It is an unwelcome hangover from an illustrious past, no longer functional. It is actually against the law in India too.
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At homa fire we have a close up of the famed "kumbha pots". They are two brass pots carefully decorated, on top is a coconut on the left is a small statue of Lord Hanuman who is invoked to assist with the building of the Iraivan temple. They all sit on a tray of rice. Note the red thread that is wrapped around the pots.

The red thread is also tied around the homa fire. During the worship, the power of the fire ceremony is transferred into the water in the pots.

On Gurudeva's seat we have a pair of sandals carved in granite representing his presence.

Sadhaka Tyaganatha performs the ceremonies. The 'sankalpa" is the beginning when the "declaration of intent" is made.

Invoking the inner beings within. The power of the priest's visualization is a key to the effectiveness of the ritual.

Paramacharya Bodhinathaswami presides. In the ancient Vedic tradition there were four priests, the hotri performed the ceremony, while another priest did chanting and a third simply sat in contemplation, the power of his concentration on the inner meaning of the rituals is another key to the success of the ceremony.

Making oblations, rice and clarified butter.

Gradually the fire is raised until it begins to dance and come alive like a being has come to join us in the temple. Agni, the great "messenger of the Gods" has arrived.

There is now a powerful focus in the temple as the "gateway between the three worlds" begins to open.

As the worship proceeds, the Fire itself becomes the representative of the Divine and a doorway into the next world.

All stand for the final rites.

Blessing the rice offering, which is then placed around the fire on the four sides of the altar.

Of all the forms of worship in Hinduism, the Agni Hotra is the oldest and a common denominator across all the various denominations within our religion. In fact the performance of the ceremony is finding ever new strength and proponents as the fire is invoked around the world with prayers to God and the devas to bring peace and prosperity. It has special relevance at this time of environmental "crisis" as the ancient ceremony has a deep power to reorient us to a natural order, to be in tune with the elemental forces of nature with a deep sense of respect and an inward prayer to bring the forces of dharma to bear in our modern day lives.

Then off to the open air parade at the Iraivan temple site as usual. Getting ready to sing the Arati song.

Om Jai Jagadish Hare
Swami Jai Jagadish Hare
Bagta jano ke sankata
Das jano ke sankata
v
Palame doorakare
Om Jai Jagadish Hare

Joy and peace and love
Shine them brightly in our hearts
Swami shine them brightly in our hearts
Shiva when we think of you
Shiva when we think of you
Shed karuna on us all
Om Jai Jagdisha Hare

Sweep away our barriers and failings
Grant us all bhakti and faith
Swami grant us all bhakti and faith
Guide us all to serve your servants
Guide us all to serve your servants
v
We offer Seva at your feet
Om Jai Jagdisha Hare

Om Jai Jagadish Hare
Swami Jai Jagadish Hare
Bagta jano ke sankata
Das jano ke sankata
Palame doorakare
Om Jai Jagadish Hare

Raising the fire at the temple site. More good news. . .six containers of carved stones in India are preparing to depart for Kauai. The port has been a bit "backed up" in Chennai, but they will be leaving soon.

Gurudeva's other monastery in the island country of Mauritius
in the Indian Ocean near South Africa

February 7th was Thai Pusam in Mauritius-- a national holiday. For the
people of Tamil origin (about ten percent of the Hindu population) it is an
especially important time for worship of Lord Muruga. Thai Poosam Kavadee,
as the festival is known, occurs at full moon time in the Tamil month of
Thai (January/February) when the moon is aligned in the sky with the star of Poosam (or Pushya in sanskrit). The festival involves carrying a kavadi with pots of milk while
walking barefoot in silence for long distances to one's favorite Muruga
temple. There the milk is offered to the Lord. It is a sacred family event
preceeded by nine days of various forms of fasting and austerity and daily
temple visits.

Today we will be going to the airport to welcome our brother monks who are
arriving from Hawaii. So even though we are not participating in the Kavadi
parade we have come to the staging area in Riviere du Rempart to show our
support to Gurudeva's devotees who are participating in the walk. Here is
Sadhaka Jothinatha shown with Moorghen Caremben (center) who has organized
the Kavadee here. One hundred and twenty kavadi carriers have assembled in
the field next to the elementary school to prepare for the pilgrimage to the
temple in Mon Loisir which is a couple of miles away. Paramaseevan
Canagasaby is on the right.

Here's a close up photo of a kavadi. This kavadi has a wooden base and arch
that's decorated with coconut fronds and antheriums. A picture of Muruga can
be seen under the arch. Pots of milk can be attached to the base which will
be carried over the shoulder of the pilgrim. The decoration of the arch is
done the night before. Devotional fervour and elaborate preparation means
that the carrier might get very little sleep.

This young boy will be carrying kavadi for the third year in a row. He's
waiting for the priests to come and prepare him for the pilgrimage.

Here's the Canagasaby extended family waiting to begin their pilgrimage.
Everyone participating in Kavadee wears this color. It is a blazing-sun
summer day. The asphalt road may be quite hot on the bottom of their feet as
they walk!

The priests prepare the pots of milk for the kavadi and insert the silver
vel into the carrier's flesh under a cloth canopy. The priests, assistants
and nearby family are chanting special mantrams. Incense fills the air. Loud
devotional music is playing. The kavadi carrier may have gone into trance.

Gayavatee Canagasaby's vow of silence is made easy by the presence of
Muruga's vel.

Colorful pennants line the street next to the little temple which is the
official starting point of this kavadi walk. This scene is repeated at
temples all over Mauritius. At the main temple in Port Louis, Kaylasson,
there will be 1,000 kavadi carriers assembled today.

Click here to view this day last year.

"How to Become A Hindu"! Gurudeva's latest book release is now available Hot Off the Press! Visit the Himalayan Academy Book Store Web Site get the book and read the incredible testimonies of the early pioneers from the west who chose to make a full and complete conversion to Hinduism, legally change both their first and last names to Hindu names, change their lifestyles, sever their formal connections to previous faiths and joyously face the challenges in joining the tribe of the Sanatana Dharma

Visiting Kauai's Hindu Monastery
If you are planning to visit Kauai, please go first to our our visitor's page. Thank you.

Click here for information about Gurudeva's travels. He is presently staying on Kauai and has not immediate travel plans.

And

2001 EUROPEAN INNERSEARCH

12 Glorious Days, 8 Enchanting Countries
and One Chance in a Lifetime!

Imagine spending 12 days with one of the greatest spiritual leaders of this century. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami will be leading this exotic educational and spiritual voyage himself combining the mystical path of Indian spirituality with a superlative retreat from it all.

Take advantage of this one chance to be in close proximity with a living master. Come with us on an inner and outer voyage to Northern Europe and Russia.

www.innersearch.org

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