Many of you know about Gurudeva’s language of meditation “Shum.” Since his Maha Samadhi, Bodhinatha has carried forward this marvelous heritage. And for the first time in decades we are releasing some Shum, which has guided much of the monks’ spiritual work, into the public domain.

On the pillars of Iraivan, Gurudeva instructed us to carve his famous twelve “Mamsani.” This is now available (click here) in a beautiful booklet at our web store

These are twelve core meditations to be performed by anyone on the path to Self-Realization. Here is a precious item from our archives. One of the definitions of a Shum portrait.

Each of the twelve meditations gives a map to key areas of inner consciousness that each meditator should work to discover, move into, find and unfold. These twelve basic spiritual practices, or “tantras,” are sadhanas we all should perform throughout our lives.

Here is one word from the Twelve Shum Mamsani text:

Mingbasida:
1) Harmony with one’s Satguru; 2) a beautiful inner flow, spine-to-spine, between you and your guru; 3) visualize energy in your satguru as being the same energy within you; 4) if you can locate and identify with this basic life force between yourself and your guru, automatically and retroactively you will feel one with everyone in the universe, for it is the same energy that permeates all.

Nabalitya

Ukanashum

Ukanashum is striving with the sadhana and instructions giving by the guru. It is the perfection of this sadhana that brings about change and evolution of the disciple.

A very basic practice for the beginner and for anyone as the body quiets during the first stages of the daily meditation:

Alikaiishum:

Meaning: The kundalini’s psychic heat felt as meditation begins.

Practice: Feel the warmth of the body, in the head, through the torso, the hands and the legs. Begin by locating alikaiishum inside the body, then gradually become conscious of it emanating out through the skin.

Breathing:Continue the same count. On the inhalation, slowly count to nine, hold one count, then count to nine again as you exhale, softly contracting the abdomen as you expel the air.

The silpis have been so very busy putting up the roof stones. Here is Pandi and Rajendran from their rooftop position smiling down at us.

Two families were taken on a special tour today. Chandrasekar Kothandaraman with his family from California and Ramesh Subramaniam with his family from Arizona. They had previously read about the Iraivan Temple in Hinduism Today and were delighted to finally be here on their first visit.

And speaking of visitors…. The long range plan for San Marga includes a Visitor’s Center. Paramacharya Palaniswami shares some news on this important part of our future. in this slide show on working at “ground zero” (click here)

Five more roof beams were lifted into place today. Follow the progress of one of them below.

We end the days’ report, this first of five celebratory days of the great Pancha Ganapati Festival, with three happy visitors seated on a giant rock with the Arid Garden behind them.