Yogaswami sang:

“After wanderings far in an earnest quest, I came to Kasi and lo, I saw the Lord of Kasi–Viswanathan within my heart. Let not your hearts be troubled by wearisome pursuits. There is a fine saying that the herb that you have been searching assiduously lies at your feet within easy reach. In this place too, men live very much in the same manner as our people. There is nothing wonderful, nothing mysterious in this world. In this holy city of Benares, I have performed the rites and obsequies most solemnly for my countrymen who have lived in bygone yesterdays, and to those of today and even of the morrow. From henceforth, live in obedience to your inner spirit imbued with love for one another; and live in harmony with the world under the protecting shelter of His Feet.”

–Nathchintanai. 373

Silpi helper Kumar

The worship of Pancha Mukha Ganapati at the Spiritual Park is now a major event on the first Sunday of every month. Devotees from all over the island of Mauritius pilgrimage to this sacred place with their offerings of fruits and flowers.

The Ganesha Homa is the main religious ceremony of the day. Members of Saiva Siddhanta Church are there early to set up everything for the fire ceremony which usually starts with bhajans to Lord Ganapati.

An arathi is performed to Lord Pancha Mukha Ganapati and the camphor flame is then placed into the homa kundam. Four kulapaties sit around the fire and make offerings to the inner worlds while everyone present happily joins in to chant the sacred mantra.

Vamadeva and Saravan Thungavelu of the membership taken by surprise by our TAKA photographer…

Kulapati Siven Koothan is dipping written prayers in ghee before offering them to the devas or angelic beings through the sacred fire. The Mandapam is already packed to capacity and devotees are seated on the front steps and on the wing of the Mandapam.

This lady from Russia, now settled in Mauritius, a grand worshipper of lord Ganesha gave a very uplifting testimony about how Lord Ganesha helped her obtain a visa easily at the Soviet Embassy despite tough official constraints. “Things happened like a miracle for me and my husband”, she said.

Kulapati Siven Koothan gave an introduction to Gurudeva’s Book Loving Ganesha and invited every Hindu household to have a copy of it.

Kulapati SK Moorghen talked about the Park and thanked all the supporters who are lovingly helping to maintain it.

After the ceremony devotees would come forward for the arathi where they gently touch the sacred flame with both hands and touch their eyes. They feel inwardly very close to Lord Ganesha….

Serving food is no hectic work after the ceremony. Everyone voluntarily joins in to help. Our Amma is nicely being served orange juice by a foreign visitor…

At another food serving station it is the same enthusiasm…

Here is our newly enrolled Himalayan Academy student, Amba Mootoocurpen with his wife and little son.

The Patten family from Rose Hill sponsored the food on that day. Everyone in this family looked bright and happy to have performed this wonderful seva.

Greg Holland has been studying with Gurudeva and then Bodhinatha for several years and making great progress. He recently made his new Hindu name “Dharmalingam Siddhan” legal. Here are the court documents.

With his mother and daughter…

And wife and daughter…

As per the guidelines Gurudeva set up for adopting or converting to Hinduism. The person should make a public declaration of his new chosen faith by announcing the legal name change in a local newspaper and also by notice to friends and relatives. We are helping him here on TAKA to get the job done.

The document says:

“Order of Court

And now, this 23rd of November 2004, it is hereby ordered and decreed that the name of Greg Alan Holland is hereby changed to Dharmalingam Siddhan.

It is further ordered that the Recorder of Deeds is to note upon the record of a mortgage found at Instrument No. 200306120048844 the granting of this order for a change of name.

By the Court:

Signed:
Gary P. Caruso, Judge”

Congratulations and welcome to Dharmalingam Siddhan!