Happy Guru Purnima! we have nearly 90 photos and though today is the last day of this short phase we will do a special edition of TAKA tomorrow to bring you all the photos of the profound ceremony and activities…

Here is Bodhinatha deep in samadhi during the pada puja…

Special Announcement!
Satguruspeaks is back online!

We please to announce on this auspicious day of Guru Purnima ceremonies that after a year of being offline, Satguru Speaks is now up and running. And, for those with lo-bandwidth, the transcript is now posted with the talks, together. Please keep an eye on the side bar on the right… we will be going back to the summer of 2004 and coming forward. For avid Satguruspeaks fans. an index page is also available that you can use to access all talks since that time… This page also is being updated.

We want to thank our dedicated team of transcription sevaks for helping us to make this happen.

Yesterday afternoon, pilgrims gathered at the San Marga Lingam site for to help prepared the altar and decorate.

Everything in readiness for this mornings ceremonies.

Stringing garlands…

Red and white carnations…prepared by Thilaka Sunder…

We are happy that long time sishya of Gurudeva and the Paramapara, Tirumati Shama Vinayaga could come this year with her daughter, Shivani (left).

Here we are early this morning at 6 AM… Yoginathaswami arrives with the two priests from Toronto, Canada, who have come to perform the Garba Nyasa ceremonies the day after tomorrow. They have a chance to join the ceremonies as devotees instead of officiating…

The parade begins at the beginning of the Third World section of San Marga… The chariot is beautifully decorated.

Koviloor Swami takes a seat in a small palanguin…

He is lifted up on the shoulders of some of our strong men and the parade begins…

“Om Gurunatha, Jaya Gurunatha, Sat Gurunatha, Siva Gurunatha!” singing along the way.

Koviloor Swami smiles for our camera.

At the site our two priest and two monastic pujaris await the arrival of the satguru…

Kandasamy Kurukkal and the elder Nrityaraja Kurukkal from Toronto… after arriving yesterday, we ask the senior what he though of Kauai Aadheenam. He looked up toward Wailaleale mountain and recited a sloka which was to say that: “This place on Mount Kailas, where the rishis beseeched Parvati to ask questions of Siva on their behalf, that blessed heavenly abode… that place, is right here, manifest on Kauai…”

Alighting from the chariot… Bodhinatha gives the priests and pujaris a big smile.

He is paraded around the lingam square…

then in to his seat…

Natyam Jivananandanatha is the pujari today, Yogi Japendranatha assisting… the rest of today’s photos speak for themselves… so we will use this opportunity to share thoughts from Saint Tirumular. Siva Yogaswami on the nature of the Satguru…

“Transcending all mutations of form and attribute,

Surpassing all finite measure is the GURU,
An embodiment of the highest wisdom.”

From the Tirumantiram.
.

In Siva was he rooted: Sivam did he see everywhere.
In the will of Siva did he discern all things,
Transcending consciousness of past present and future,
And duality ceasing did he realize sweet serenity.

He who’s beyond the visible universe, came down on earth
As a Guru to abide in the hearts of the virtuous,

And illumined them by His grace and mad
e them His own.
The peerless Siva is the priceless NatGuru.

The Guru indeed is Siva,
He is the kingly splendor too;

He is beyond the wisdom of the Vedas.
He is beyond all finite consciousness.

If not for the grace of Siva who came as the Guru,
The import of the scripture,
The way leading to liberation,
The reality of Truth cannot be understood by man.

Endowing me with equanimity, the power of Grace
Descended as the Guru and purged my dross,
And enlightened me from the sway of my ego.
Thus freed did I commingle with Siva.

When you meditate on the form of thy Guru
Then all the bonds that bind you
To this prison house of the body
Shall give way and make you free in Siva.

Siva Peruman did I invoke and adore whence,
He came down as my Guru in the form of a sage.

The majestic Lord did overpower me as my Guru,
And I pay my homage to this Lord of the universe.

Sternly did my Guru chastise my ignorance;
He placed his holy hands on my head,

And his beauteous Feet lit up
The secret chambers of my heart.”

From the Songs of Tayumanavar:

“To those who have been duly initiated
into murthi, the temple and holy waters,
of the Deity… the real Guru who
utters the unique Word (mantram) will also appear.”

“Fixed as a mountain top is firm,
Towards which moves the soul.

All other words beside it are
As vain devoid of aim,
As are the pawns at random moved,
moved in aimless game.”

“Thou camest as the Silent Teacher mine,
Ready to grant all boons however rare,
And with a mother’s love Thou didst unfold
Decking my head with those Blessed Feet of Thine,

The Eternal Law of wisdom’s ecstasy.
Bereft of thought or holy word revolved
The superconscious Vision beyond all thought
Of Freedom’s final state as one or two,

As Light or Void or Form or Primal Sound.
Such is Beatitude. So hast Thou taught.
Grant me thy Grace, O Lord, to live that life
Wherein are steeped time honored lovers thine.
O Thou Siddhanta’s Goal and Prime Essence!
O Dhakshinamurthi that dost shine aloft
On Trichi’s hill, O master of Wisdom’s Bliss!”