The Moksha Ritau begins!

Bodhinatha goes out to the flag raising for the coming season. We bring you the usual excerpts from the Saiva Darma Shastras to remind us all of Gurudeva’s vision for our sadhana during this time.

112 Introduction

Beginning with Hindu New Year in mid-April, three seasons of the year divide our activities into three great needs of humankind–the learning of scripture in the first season, Nartana Ritau; the living of culture in the second season, Jivana Ritau; and the meditating on Siva in the third season, Moksha Ritau. Thus we are constantly reminded that our life is Siva’s life and our path to Him is through study, sadhana and realization. In ritau one, we teach the philosophy; in ritau two, we teach the culture; and in ritau three, we teach meditation.

120 The Third Season: Moksha Ritau

The third period of the year, Moksha Ritau, the cool season, is from mid-December to mid-April. It is the season of dissolution. The key word is resolution. Merging with Siva: Hinduism’s Contemporary Metaphysics is the focus of study and intense investigation. The colors of this season are coral-pink, silver and all shades of blue and purple–coral for the Self within, silver and blue for illumination, and purple for enlightened wisdom. High above flies the coral flag, signaling Parashiva, Absolute Reality, beyond time, form and space. Moksha Ritau is a time of appreciation, of gratitude for all that life has given, and a time of honoring elders, those in the sannyasa stage of life. Moksha Ritau is excellent for philosophical discussions, voicing one’s understanding of the path through an enlightened intellect. In finance, it is the time for yearly accounting and reconciliation. On a mundane level it is a time of clearing attics, basements, garages, sheds, warehouses, workshops and desks, getting rid of unneeded things, of pruning trees, of streamlining life on the physical plane–of reengineering.

122 Festivals and Realms of the Third Season

The major festival of Moksha Ritau is Mahashivaratri. It is at Kauai Aadheenam, as are all other gatherings, not a public event but a private one, due to the special sacredness of this sanctuary and its Iraivan moksha koyil. Church members, Academy students and special guests by invitation are all who attend. This and all other gatherings at the Aadheenam are restricted in size in keeping with a covenant with the county of Kauai in respect to the surrounding residential area. From December 21-25, the Pancha Ganapati festival is enjoyed in Church family homes worldwide, and the resulting joy and peace is felt even by strangers. During this holiday season, in years when the need is felt, an open house is held at Kauai’s Hindu Monastery to which friends and neighbors are invited. We do this to express goodwill and appreciation for their kindnesses throughout the year. Satguru Jayanti is always celebrated at Kauai Aadheenam and wherever the guru chooses to be on that day. All shishyas gather to participate. Often, if he is outside the US, it will be conducted in his presence as a grand public event. The Aadheenam realms of this season are: 1) San Marga Iraivan Temple, a hand-carved, white-granite edifice seated upon a lava-rock plinth, golden tower shining in a rainbowed sky; 2) Tamil Nayanar Neri, the 1,300-foot-long path that winds around ponds, banyan trees, tropical plants in seven distinct botanical habitats, with seven shrines to the great Saiva saints of South India, and 3) Kauai Aadheenam central, with its offices, publications facilities, kitchen, library, workshops, monks’ quarters, aviaries and cloistered gardens.

434 The Four Steps of Atonement

The four petals of the muladhara can be described as unrestrained devotion, confession, repentance and reconciliation. When penance is given, it must be fulfilled, especially when requested. Otherwise, the life of the penitent is vulnerable to the company of asuras. Penance is given after a certain amount of remorse is shown and the urgency is felt by the individual to rid his mind of the plaguing matter. All help is given by the divine devas to those seen performing a sincere penance. These devas that oversee those in a penitent state of mind are similar to doctors and nurses gathered to help their patient become well again. The angelic helpers surround their “patient,” assisting in the relief of mental and emotional illness caused by transgression of dharma and the guilt that follows. When the penitent is undergoing penance, it is a form of tapas, described by some as psychic surgery performed by the devas working together to bring the soul from darkness into light. It truly is a happy event, but only long after it is over. The guru of every pitham receives the verbal confession of shishyas and gives out the appropriate penance, prayashchitta. He recognizes Divine absolution, knowing the penance has been fulfilled, when the inner aura is bright as a new-born child, the face happy and the testimony on the result of the penance discloses true atonement. In our Church, the period specifically dedicated to confession, repentance and reconciliation is the third season, Moksha Ritau.

Moksha Ritau Begins!

The research on palm leaf digitization continues…

The Year 2007 culminates with a grand Ganesha Homa at the Spiritual Park of Mauritius this month of December. Sishyas are there early to help with decorations and attending other related activities for this monthly ceremony.

Bajan starts. This month we hosted a bajan group of ladies from the far south.

The inside of the Mandapam is filled up…

To secure a seat inside the devotee has to come early to the Park…

The ceremony is about to start…

Outside the Mandapam, under the tarpaulin tent….

On the table on the Ganesga steps, devotees are handing over their offerings of fruits and flowers for the deity.

Meanwhile a massive flow of devotees has queued up at the small Ganesha Mandapam ….

This is the place where all the personal archanas are taken care of by our members and Master Course students…

Sishya Nanda Thungavelloo from Beau Bassin performing an arati for a group of devotees.

Our outside Himalayan Academy sales booth under the responsibilty of Veena, Premila, Kevina and Jambalini. Despite the scorching sun everyone happily performed their seva for that day.

On the Mandapam steps, other ladies are taking care of offerings …

The large Homa is now consuming all the written prayers brought by devotees…

A testimony from a regular devotee from Vacoas….

This devotee is a regular karma yogi at the Spiritual Park. He is explaining how the Park inspired him to seva…

Dis Chenganna from Piton expressing his appreciation for the 2007 activities at the Spiritual Park.

Kulapati Manon reading and explaining a Talk from Satguru Bodhinatha on the Karma Management.

Time for the final arati …. everyone stands up. The last Sunday Ganesha Homa for 2007….. Announcements were made about the new schedule for 2008. Homa will henceforth start at 9.30 AM to end at 11.00 AM on the first Sunday of every month in 2008.

The stewards of the Spiritual Park of Mauritius wish a Happy Pancaha Ganapati 2008 to everyone. Aum.

A space just opened up on our 2008 Asian Odyssey for 1 person (a male to share a double occupancy room with another male). Here’s your chance to join Bodhinatha on this exotic adventure. A journey through ancient temples in Cambodia, mystical classes on meditation in Langkawi and Kerala, a devotionally drenched Thaipusam festival that is out of this world and a journey through south India to some of the most sacred temples in the world, joining in some of their grand sacred pujas.

If you are ready to go, please email Sadhaka Dandapani (danda@hindu.org) or call him on 808-822-3012, Ext 239. It’s on a first come first serve basis so don’t hesitate.

Please see our Innersearch website for more info.