Bodhinatha arrived yesterday. He and Palaniswami and Sadhaka Dandapani are all well. It was a long trip so they had a good rest and today, Sun One we are happy to have the whole monastery together again.

Today’s TAKA brings you photos from the last events of the mission: The World Saiva Conference in Sydney, Australia and other visits in that beautiful city.

Jan 27 (Sydney); This morning Palaniswami and Sadhaka Dandapani went to interview the Nallai Aadheenam kartar (head) of Sri Lanka.

He is a wonderfully sweet soul full of love of Lord Siva.

Then we met with another wonderful soul, Santhalingaswami, head of the Peerur Aadheenam in India.

Translating swami’s wisdom from Tamil to English.

The Nagaratnams join in the photo.

Then in the afternoon it was off to the Sydney Murugan Temple for the opening of the World Saiva Conference

2 tavil and nadaswaram team lead the procession.

Flag raising is one of the first events.

Nandi flies high showing Saivism is alive, well and strong.

Santhalingaswami.

Back to the temple’s cultural hall.

Welcome speeches by the 3 visiting kartars.

That evening Bodhinatha met with some of the core members of the temple youth group who came to ask for guidance.

January 28th: The conference begins.

Bodhinatha delivering his keynote speech using his laptop and projector.

The talk focused on the challenges and opportunities of Saivism, the theme of the conference, and was well received by the crowd.

Palaniswami chats with Sri Manickavasagar, who shares more stories of his encounter with Yogaswami.

Sundaresan, middle, set up and ran with the help of the youth a display table with Himalayan Academy’s publications.

That evening a meeting with some devotees. Here’s the dynamic Prashant Shanmugan

Then a meeting with the Nagaratnams.

And Chandran and Mathini Wigneswaran and their family.

Then it was off to the Vedanta Society to meet with Swami Domodaranandaji (87 years old) (far left) and other swamis of the Ramakrishna order.

it was a joyous meeting for all.

January 29th (sydney): Bodhinatha began the day with a visit to one of the local Sai centres where he gave a talk and answered some very insightful questions. It was a beautiful sunny day in Sydney.

Then Palaniswami and Sadhaka Dandapani visited the Royal Botanical Garden.

Hundreds of bats graced the tree tops in one section of the gardens.

Then it was off to the conference again.