We are blessed to have a new truck to replace our very well-worn and aged Dodge. This afternoon at an auspicious moment in our week, we all joined for a traditional care blessing… Bodhinatha presiding.

The new Dodge RAM 1500 is a similar model as the previous vehicle sporting some important new features. Most importantly bigger tires to navigate our rough terrain and a higher carriage to help with the trips to the land across the river and the deep pot holes on the way. And it is white!

Saravananathaswami performs the special puja.

A coconut is broken to conclude the blessing ceremony.

Bodhinatha is given the keys and drives the truck forward over four limes and backward over four limes.

Another feature is a full-sized rear second seat in the cab. This section has its own doors and will allow for easily seating three people in the back, or turning down the seat for a wealth of cargo space inside where it is clean and dry. We sacrificed 6 inches of the haul bed space for the larger front cab.

Bodhinatha is happy with the upgrade, which is all due to his blessings. Thank you Bodhinatha!

Shama Kumaran is hosting guests during Sadhu Paksha.

In the Eastern Gopuram near one of the Lion Pillars are Rishi and Ilima Sanghvi from San Francisco who made a spontaneous trip up this morning and joined our little group touring the Iraivan Temple.

In front of the beautiful sanctum steps of the Iraivan Temple. On the left are Kumar and Sarada Narendrans both physicians from Kanya Kumari, India, now living in Lubbock, Texas. Eleanor McCarthy a retired grade school teacher from Volcano, Hawaii. Kevin Hudson a registered nurse from Mountain View, Hawaii. Both Eleanor and Kevin plan to join the Innersearch pilgrimage to India, Cambodia and Malaysia with Sat Siva Guru Bodhinatha Veylanswami in January 2008.

Ajit Gokhale (far right) has been associated with the monks since the 1980s when he and his family regularly attended the Ganesha Chaturthi puja each month at the Palaniswami Sivan temple in San Franscisco. He has retired from years of work in the Silicon Valley and is now doing volunteer service, studying Jyotisha and enjoying the last half of his life doing dharmic duties. He has been closely involved with the new South Asian Heart Center which is working to fight heart disease among those of Indian origin, which he told us has reached epidemic proportions.

We close this week’s TAKA series with an invitation to join us on Innersearch. Check out the movie recently prepared by Sadhaka Dandapani. (It opens in separate window)

Today is Saturday, not too many visitors at the Park…. In fact many devotees are coming for the Sunday Homa. One lady from Vacoas just phoned to inform us she has organized a bus full of newcomers to the Park for the Sunday event…..

In the meantime our hired workers are about to complete works at the new Ganesha Bridge. The last wooden railings are being fixed and the weather is favorable for varnishing.

The eastern part of the Bridge has already been varnished and is shining in the midday sun.

The planks look strikingly beautiful now….

The path leading to the Bridge from the main gate is being covered with macadam, a kind of broken stone used for paving. Works are still going on the bricks which will line both sides of the path.

Due to noise of the workers at the new Bridge, our youth are not having their SHR class at the Ganesha Mandapam as usual today. They are gathering at a quiet place under a shady banyan tree on the property. Looks like an ancient classroom in India.

Today the lesson is on God, Gods and devas. Many of the youth did not know they had a guardian deva to protect them. Now we are having a concentration exercise on a flower as taught by Gurudeva. The youth are to have their mind focussed only on a flower….

They also studied about the five powers of God Siva. Here they are trying to locate each of these powers on Siva Nataraja. Which power goes with which part of Siva?

The concentration exercise is under the guidance of the Saivite Hindu Religion catalyst.

The next session is Hatha Yoga. Not bad.

More progress this week from the youth… the halasana or plough pose. He is limber.

The paryankasana or couch pose…

The bow pose or dhanurasana ….

The spinal twist….

The lotus position…

We end with some wild fruits in season on the property.