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Our story of Gurudeva's passage continues today. On the right is Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, leading the funeral procession on the morning after Gurudeva's transition. As is the custom, the ground is covered with cloth for those in the parade. Here the group is leaving the temple passing under the banyan tree, on the way to the cremation site.

As we reflect, nearly every moment it seems, on Gurudeva's life, we are reminded of something said by a working colleague of one of Gurudeva's devotees, who said to the sishya: "You are Gurudeva's legacy." He replied to her, "Not me, that's the swamis and the monks..." She replied, "No, everyone who was touched and transformed by him... each one is his legacy." So, now we have that responsibility, to live as he lived and fulfill his words, as he fulfilled the words of his Guru, Siva Yogaswami who sang:

"The abode of Wisdom (JnanaVeedu) shall be our gain,
If the discipline of charity and austerity, we espouse.

"Remember the Lord who's like fragrance in the flower,
And thy tongue shall repeat the name of Namasivaya.

"Serve Him who is Purity and Life of life
And thou shalt realise Siva's grace.

"The ignorant know not the flowery Feet of God,
Invoke Him aloud, before the call of Death.

"If you surrender yourself entirely at His Feet,
He will shelter you like the sweet mother."
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During the days of Gurudeva's fast, people came from Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Edmonton and Montreal and from the mainland, California, Atlanta, Minneapolis. In some cases a "contingent" of devotees remained from that country as others returned and a new group came saying, "Someone from Singapore will be here throughout!" While Gurudeva lay sequestered as was his wish, we were all cradled in the love that he had ignited in the hearts of each one over the years. His passing in this way was a great blessing, to know, to be fully prepared.

As Paramacharya Palaniswami said during one of the morning satsangs: "All this time, Gurudeva has been our center, and we tended not to look left or right at each other. Now, we begin to look at each other and we are finding a new bond as we see Gurudeva in each one."

Here the pilgrims are gathered in the courtyard where preparations were made for a special homa that was to proceed the departure of Gurudeva's body to the mortuary.

An altar was prepared and the homa was begun... the fire from this homa was carried, according to tradition, to the cremation ground to be used to light the final fire. On the right a palanquin to carry Gurudeva's casket lies waiting

The palanquin is wonderfully decorated with flowers that had been lovingly put into garlands, day-after-day by the devotees.

More garlands are attached to the simple wooden casket that had been hand made by some of Gurudeva's devotees right here at the Aadheenam.

The ceremonies proceeded in the courtyard, while inside Gurudeva's room, the swamis performed an abhishekam and dressed Gurudeva, after which everyone present was given the opportunity to come in to sit with him for final darshan over a period of about five hours as each family came in a long line and then also to sit in meditation, some to cry, some to sing and some to go deep within in meditation to find Gurudeva in his new home.

At 3:00 PM after all the ceremonies were complete and every pilgrim had the opportunity to see Gurudeva, the monks put his beloved form into the casket. Made slender by his fast, the body clearly now nothing but an empty vessel, Gurudeva still looked radiantly peaceful, elegant and full of grace as he had throughout his life.

The swamis carried Gurudeva out to the courtyard and his body was put into the palanquin.

The procession to the road to be taken by van to the mortuary, was preceeded by young ladies throwing flowers on the path, while two of them danced in front.

It was a solemn occasion, yet joyful in the knowing that Gurudeva was moving on, free from this mortal plane.

We will now share with you this message from Kerala, which gives some insight into how, even far away, Gurudeva touched those who only met him briefly or read his works.

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Mr P. Parameswaran, in his late 70s, an eminent writer, thinker and philosopher of the present times and one of the architects of the Vivekananda Kendram at Kanyakumari, Kerala, in Tamil Nadu, and President, Bharatiya Vichara Kendram writes this upon hearing the news of Gurudeva's passage, including comments from others in South India:

A GREAT LOSS TO HINDUISM

It was a shocking news . With the passing away of His Holiness Satguru Sivaya Subramuniya Swami the Hindu religion has lost a Sage of the modern times and the void created by His Mahasamadhi cannot be filled. The contributions Swamiji has been making for over half-a-century for the renaissance of the Hindu religion world over are precious and rather unparalleled.

Though I haven't ever had the opportunity to meet Him, I have been reading the Hinduism Today for over a year and I was impressed by the editorials written by the Swamiji and the other rich and valuable contents it carried. The philanthropic and religious activities He has been doing world over are, in fact, unknown to the people in this part of the world. "I am sure His disciples in the Monk-order at the Kauai Aadheenam would carry over the work from the point where it has been left by the Swamiji. Of course, I am sure, the divine presence of His soul will definitely remain there as a guiding force.

Continued below...

The news shocked me, says Mr Kummanam Rajasekharan, Organizing Secretary, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Kerala state. I had the fortune to meet Satguru Sivaya Subramuniya Swami once. That was during his only visit to Kochi in the state of Kerala some five years ago. "That meeting I treasure in my memory as it was a unique experience". When we sought an audience, we were granted forthwith. His Holiness had spent about one hour with us listening to our programmes and projects. Even, Swamiji had instituted an endowment for the Palassi Balamandiram at Thonichal in the state's Wayanadu district.

Continued below...

The books He had authored are precious treasures for the Hindus and non-Hindus. Through the magazine Hinduism Today, Swamiji has created a global awareness about Hinduism among the people. Even in Kerala, albeit not many, there are Hindus who are proud of the Swamiji, an "American white Monk of Great order". His humility, simplicity and soft-spokenness while having a rich treasure of knowledge and spiritual power show the high level of divinity he has acquired. And that is the basis for his prediction that He is on the way for the "Great Re-union with the Supreme", Mr Rajasekharan says. His translation of the Tirukkural into simple American English and his works on Vedas and other scriptures are the clear manifestations of His great understanding and profound knowledge in the languages Tamil and Sanskrit, he points out.

Continued below...

In fact, we were planning to invite His Holiness early next year to inaugurate the first-ever world vedic conference and the 90th annual Hindu religious convention at Cherukolpula in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district. But the fate has deprived us of this wish by the Mahasamadhi. However, we are sure that His Holiness would guide us in our ventures. I happen to read his works, Dancing with Siva and Loving Ganesha. They have been written in so simplified manner and simple language that they help even a layman to understand the essence of Hinduism.

Continued below...

Why we are proud of Him and his Mission, is that perhaps He is one of the very few Hindu Monks/Sages who have shown the courage to proclaim that His Mission is for Hindus and for the renaissance of Hinduism in the world. Swamiji's comparison of the fate of Cigarette industry in the US with the future of the organized religions in the world still reverberates in my mind, he says.

Continued below...

According to Mr Aravind Gopal, a Postgraduate student of Biochemistry, a meeting with the Swamiji while His Holiness was in Kochi, has transformed him. He has become a pure vegetarian, and a religious young man. For him Swamiji's Dancing with Siva and Loving Ganesha are the catechism. Swamiji 's life and mission is a valuable example for many of the Hindu and quasi-Hindu organizations now operating in India, Aravid points out. When the news of the Swamiji's Mahasamadhi was told to him, tears were rolling down his cheeks. "

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All the devotees followed Gurudeva out to the road.

Shouts of "Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami ki! Jai!" and "Haro Hara!" "Haro, Hara!" resounded

The van that waited to carry Gurudeva to the crematorium was beautifully decorated... and then everyone left for Borthwick Mortuary and Crematorium in Koloa....

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