Bodhinatha arrived safe and sound in Toronto and is busy with events there. We probably will only get news after he returns next phase.

~~~~~~~~~~~
END OF PHASE
Today is the last day of our phase.
This edition of TAKA will remain posted
over our coming two-day retreat,
until Navami Tithi, Sun One, July 23rd.

Out at Iraivan with some guests, we watched with a mixture of amazement and admiration, as Rajendran and Chellaiya sliced through a large piece of white granite (like a knife through butter) using a hammer and five chisels, and their unbelievable silpi’s skill.

Rajendran removes the granite piece of stone.

Posing with some of the silpis are (left to right) B.V. Chandramouli, his wife Anuradha and daughter Anagha (age 7), from Bangalore, now living in Redding, CA., also Parmanathan and Kamalanayaki on their way to Toronto where they hope to meet with Bodhinatha Veylanswami before continuing on to their home in Malaysia. Kamalanayaki has been a subscriber to Hinduism Today for 15 years and “loves it.”

Sumeet and Salomee Magoon are from Mumbai and Delhi and are here on their honeymoon. Their new home will be Washington, DC. Both agreed it was “a very special blessing for them to be here at this time.”

With continue with photos from Malaysia from Ravichandran. Today he brings us a view of events from the halls and background.

He writes: seminar participants filing up details in the `Registration Note’ handed out with program activity sheet.

The seminar well received and talked about and rekindled the spirit of proclaiming and being proud to say, “I am a Hindu.” Satguru kept us being spiritually uplifted with simple, direct’ and to the point narration/explanation on What Is Hinduism?
The book is fantastic and full of illustrations. Never before one could have all the knowledge about Hinduism in a crystal clear summation until arrival of this book. As I was having a light conversation with a young man from Kuala Lumpur who attended the seminar, he had this to say, “If aliens from outer space happened to land on this planet and noticed the vast and colorful Hindu religions with multitude of gods, religious texts as well as cultures, they would be really confused. So, to give them a clear picture about Hinduism, just give them a copy of this book – What Is Hinduism?“

Our Guru Parampara framed photo- Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami and Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami at the Kalamandapam door entry.

Simple, yet beautiful set up – captivates seminar participants before proceeding to the hall.

Annapoorani receives seminar participants and ushers them to their seats.

The seminar has not started yet, but the books corner was stormed by eager and anticipating crowds. Kulapathi Sivajnani entertains book enquirers and helps the sales team.

Kulapathi Selladurai and Kulamatha Shanti await participants at Mandapam door entrance.

More registration activities…

Whatever the venue, whatever the event, the ever dedicated Gowri akka and her team are always there to promote and garner funds for Iraivan Temple. She managed to raise quite an handsome sum of donation for the temple.

We all salute you Gowri akka !! Kulamani Ganesha seen giving an helping hand towards this mission.

Iraivan’ Temple’ fund raising and promotional pictures –Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami and other items.

Seminar participants glancing through some promotional magazines, pamphlets of Iraivan and Kauai Aadheenam.

Selvavathy akka too joins in welcoming participants and helps at the registration counter as well as Iraivan fund raising.

Satguru arrives and gracefully walks towards the hall located upstairs.

Ratnavathy Sivalingam and Bro. Kailasam were the MC’es, announcing arrival of Satguru Bodhinatha and welcome all participants in English and Tamil language.

The audience is engrossed and captivated while listening to Satguru’s crystal clear presentation on What Is Hinduism? Among the crowd, an elderly Tamil scholar (Dr), sits unassumingly at the back row and kept telling me how he was mesmerized with Satguru’s eloquent and simple but highly meaningful teachings, as well as the effort of repackaging Hinduism into modern context while retaining the thousands of years old religion’s practices as traditionally as ever….

Satguru prepares for the presentation. Bodhinatha’s point-by-point explanation and simple examples to illustrate key spiritual technical words were well received and I could hear participants who laughed, chuckled, nodded their heads in approval and looked with awe and wonder as when Satguru reminded all to be proud to say, I am a Hindu!”

Kulapathi Selvaraju and Kulamatha Amutha tirelessly swings into action in assuring all What Is Hinduism? books at the counter are sold out! – The result – Mission accomplished – all 250 books were sold out!!!

Brother Arvind, ensured the overall organizing activities were smooth sailing and surely he deserves the pat on the back for a job well done and organized together with the rest of church members as well.

Bro. Arvind having some light moments with Sadhaka Tejadeva.

brisk sales….

Fund raising booth is always a hit with curious and enthusiastic members of the public!

…more of the crowd…

Among them are our church members’ children who did wonderfully in helping and carry the burden of covering the event.

Seminar participants climbing down staircase for a short tea-break’