Here is Bodhinatha giving classes in Australia… More news below, but first, photos are arriving from various celebrations of Gurudeva’s Jayanthi observed in Bangalore and Sri Lanka.

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At the carving site in Bangalore, a puja for Gurudeva done by Jiva Rajasankara assisted by his son, Senthil.

In Karnataka state it is not unusual to see Siva lingams with metal “kavacham” or coverings that are carved like the face of Lord Siva. Here we have Gurudeva’s likeness in granite.

All the silpis in attendance.

Here is a very precious and rare photo of Gurudeva installing the Siva linga in the shrine of the Subramuniya Kottam in Sri Lanka. Thondunathan writes on January 5th:

“It was exactly 23 years ago today, January 5, 1983,his 56th birthday, Gurudeva brought the Shanthi Lingam from Kauai Aadheenam and placed it in the Temple sanctum in Kopay.”

Sri Shanthi Lingam

The Temple’s Chief Priest Sivasri Pranathartihara Kurukkal and Rishipathi Kanagaratnam performing the Krittika Deepam puja Sankalpam, last November….

Jan 7th (Day 2):This morning we checked out of our hotel in Sydney and drove to Strathfield where the Sivathondan Nilayam had rented a hall to conduct the monthly Yogaswami puja.

There were about 300 people in attendance.

The Innersearchers commented later what a beautiful and spiritual event it was.

This group of extremely talented ladies sang Natchintanai songs so devotionally all morning.

Sri Manickavasagar who sang for Yogaswami many times in the past amazed us all with the way he sang. So full of love! It is no wonder that Yogaswami told him once to sing to him for 90 minutes straight.

Bodhinatha presents the Sivathondan Nilayam with a painting of Satguru Yogaswami. Sri Siva Pasupathy receives it on behalf of the Sivathondan Nilayam.

Bodhinatha does the final arathi.

Everyone comes up for vibhuti blessings.

Sri Manickavasagar.

Mr. Pasupathy is the one who took this rare photograph of Satguru Yogaswami. He presents it to Bodhinatha. It is one of 5 photographs ever taken.

It is a wonderful time to connect with devotees of Yogaswami in Sydney.

After morning puja we were served a delicious Jaffna style lunch.

Then we drove over 90 minutes north to Dooralong. This is our resort home for the next 4 nights.

It has 360 acres of land with ponds, lakes and an incredible amount of wild life.

There are cabins in the woods that house 2 or 3 Innersearchers each.

Ganga Sivanathan from Adelaide checks into her very homely wooden cabin.

Dora and Rudy find a moment to play volleyball. The resort is also filled with many sporting facilities.

The first event of the day is an introductory class with Bodhinatha.

Our classes take place daily in the Watangan conference room which overlooks the resort ponds and land.

Group discussions are part of Bodhinatha’s classes. Everyone is having such a good time that they want the classes to keep going.

Some discussions take place outdoors in the fresh countryside air and sun.

Jan 9th (Day 4): One of the most popular activities at the resort is horse riding. Arjunan Subramaniam from Malaysia (left) and Manon Mardeemootoo from Mauritius (right) loved the horse rides.

Lisa Marston from California.

“Giddyup!” says Saravananathaswami “and stop eating the grass, horsey”

Sadhaka Jivanandanatha after a great horse ride through the bush. His horse Clarissa was very well behaved.

Palaniswami talks to Usha Shastri (from Oregon)

Palaniswami conducts a class on karma.

We saw a pack of wild kangaroos and some deer during our horse ride.

Sadhaka Jivananda pats Storm the donkey.

The Jilliby restaurant which is beautifully built is where we have all our meals.

Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree,
Merry…….do you know that song?

A beautiful sunny day.

The resort is everything we hoped for and more.