Bodhinatha writes from Maryland:

We had a busy Wednesday here in Greenbelt MD near the Murugan Temple. We had small satsangs with many devotees and covered the whole gamut of issues on all areas of life from personal karmas to website development, teaching Saivite philosophy etc.

There is a strong interest here to help put more Tamil on the web and to keep the Murugan Temple a pure Saiva temple.

Today we are seeing a few more devotees, visiting the Murugan temple on the way to the airport and then flying to Atlanta.

A brilliant day at Iraivan as the silpis continue work on the North Gopuram

We got an inspiring letter from a devotee who had some profound experiences while attending puja here last week. He gave permission to share it on TAKA:

“During my recent visit to the temple, I had a series of extraordinary experiences. I felt Gurudeva’s presence and guidance very strongly and this was quite unexpected. I came as a casual observer, but I can tell you that I left as a fire brand, lit with the light of Shiva from within. I have been meditating and chanting for many years, but I seldom have had flashy experiences. My experiences have always been subtle…a gently knowing that guided me quietly from within. Suddenly, while at the morning puja, something opened up inside of me and all the glory of heaven seems to have descended, enlightening my mind and filling me with happiness and profound love for God. Even the mention of one of His names is like a direct connection to the Divine Consciousness that is so alive in me at this time.

This unbounded consciousness of the Divine is with me now, even while I am also experiencing the boundaries of 3 dimensional life in the world. I don’t know how long this connection will continue, but even if it ends today, I will not complain. I feel that my life has been fulfilled completely. If nothing else ever happens, I could ask for nothing more. God has granted my every wish.

Please find enclosed a check to help with the temple project. ($5,040). This is the first of many checks, as I have made a pledge to myself to raise $108,000.

With gratitude…

Kambhampati Sastry and his wife are visiting us from Hyderabad, India. Though it is their visit to the Aadheenam, Mr. Sastry has read a lot about us on the web. His wife was most interested in all the unique plants that we have here and was able to identify some that she has seen in India.

Many stones awaiting their place in the sky…