Happy Pancha Ganapati from Bodhinatha and all the monks to everyone all around the world! You can read Bodhinatha’s description of this modern day festival. Download the PDF by clicking this link.

Jai Ganesha! In Dancing with Siva, Gurudeva writes:

“Pancha Ganapati, December 21 to 25, is a modern five-day festival of gift-giving, dear to children. Families invoke His five shaktis, one on each day–creating harmony in the home, concord among relatives, neighbors and friends, good business and public relations, cultural upliftment and heartfelt charity.”

In Kadavul Temple we have this beautiful image of Pancha Ganapati… sitting now in front of the main Ganesha… collecting gifts.

Each day we will share with you the guidance of the sadhana for this day.

“December 21, yellow: The family sadhana for the first day of Pancha Ganapati is to create a vibration of love and harmony among immediate family members. The day begins early, and the entire family works together to design and decorate the shrine with traditional symbols, rangoli, lamps and more. …”

“Then a grand puja is performed invoking the spirit of Pancha Ganapati in the home. The sadhana of the day now begins. The family sits together for the purpose of easing any strained relationships that have arisen during the year…”

“They make amends one with another for misdeeds performed, insults given, mental pain and injuries caused and suffered…”

“When forgiveness is offered to all by one and all, they speak of each other’s good qualities and resolve that in the days ahead they will remember the futility of trying to change others and the practicality of changing one’s self to be the silent example for all to witness…”

Gifts are then exchanged and placed unopened before Pancha Ganapati. As family harmony is important to all Hindus, this sadhana must be taken very, very seriously.

On this auspicious day we also sent the new full color edition of Lemurian Scrolls to the printer in Malaysia. It’s so exquisite with all the new art from I Wayan Marya in Bali.

A stone lift today… and what a beautiful day it was….

Our silpis up on the top of Iraivan. Roof beams are going up.

We have some small videos taken with a cell phone. We hope they run on your computer (you may need Quicktime…)

New storage facilities for the silpis tools have been build near the patrai…

A new addition to our farm: a 72-horse power, 8860, 4-wheel drive, Italian, Landini, for Himalayan acres work. It will be equipped with a front end loader with a grapple and a specialized mower that is offset from the wheels to allow for mowing under our trees. The nearly new tractor was purchased at a bargain price. Now *that* is a Pancha Ganapati gift!