It is Sun One of a new phase and the beginning of the Nartana Ritau, the Season of Dancing with Siva.

Happy New Year To All! The sun has moved into the constellation Aries, marking the beginning of another annual circle. The name of this year is “Vyaya,” “The Year of Wealth.”

Over the retreat Tamil New year’s day was also the day of Chitra puja, so we honored Gurudeva and a raised the flag of Hinduism for the new season.

We start out pictures from noon on April 13th, New Year’s Day. First, the Chitra puja in Kadavul.

Ou silpis dressed in new shirts.

After the puja, everyone gathers to go out to change the flag for the season… “Where is everyone?”…

Down comes the coral pink flag of the Moksha Ritau.

Our Siddhidata Kulam is responsible for the flag. Sadhaka Adinatha assists here.

Jai Nartana Ritau! As per our TAKA tradition we share with you Gurudeva guidance for the new season from the Saiva Dharma Shastras:

“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.

114 The First Season: Nartana Ritau

Nartana Ritau, the season of Dancing with Siva, begins on Hindu New Year. This is the period of creation, the warm season, from mid-April through mid-August. The teaching is Dancing with Siva: Hinduism’s Contemporary Catechism, Sivena Saha Nartanam. This foundational text is featured in all mission satsangas. The key word of this season is planning. The colors are orange, yellow-gold and all shades of green–orange for renunciation, yellow-gold for action, and green for regeneration. High above, the main Hindu flag flies the color orange, heralding the Nartana Ritau throughout this season, symbolizing sadhana and self-control. The other colors adorn smaller flags.

“This is the season of giving special attention to those in the grihastha ashrama. It is a time of awakening, renewal, review. The emphasis is on seeing ahead, planning for future years. It is a time of planning retreats and other activities for youths and adults for the entire year. During this time of looking forward, the Church’s six-year plan is updated by the Guru Mahasannidhanam and stewards and another year added. The Saiva Dharma Shastras are studied; and any needed additions in supplementary manuals, representing new growth, are made. The practical focus is completion of unfinished projects. Secular holidays to observe among the families include Mother’s Day in May, Father’s Day in June and Grandparent’s Day in August.”

In the monastery the monks begin their annual 31-day ayurvedic herbal cleansing. Intensive cleaning of monastery buildings and grounds takes place. The special dietary adjustments for the season come into effect and new menus are established. New clothing is issued and old garments mended. This season of harvest and new growth is also the time to review and reestablish picking and planting routines for the gardens. It is a time for ordering seeds and plants for the year, of planting trees, fragrant vines and the annual crop. Review is made for scheduling the care of all nine realms of the Aadheenam’s 457 acres. Kadavul temple and the Guru Temple are cleaned and renewed during this season, and the adjacent grounds receive special, abundant attention. Karma yogis are invited to help in this and other areas with planting and weeding, digging, fertilizing, fence repair and more.”

[photo: bodhinatha present gifts to the silpis]

“115 The Sadhanas of the First Season

The daily sadhana is the Sivachaitanya Panchatantra: experiencing nada, jyoti, prana, shakti and darshana. In Sanskrit, it is a time of learning new shlokas and mantras. In the family community, prashnottara satsanga is held for one and all to attend. Families plan for their annual pilgrimage. Shrine rooms are renewed and redecorated for the year, and the clothing of all is renewed in the Hindu style of the current fashion. It is a time of doing things for others, religious outreach. In the missions, Nartana Ritau is the time of bringing in new students and Church members. It is a time of hatha yoga and philosophical teaching.

116 Festivals and Realms of the First Season

The main festival of Nartana Ritau, and of the entire year, is Guru Purnima. The mathavasis hold special conclave on Vaikasi Vishakham, the full moon day of May. The three Aadheenam realms of the season are: 1) Rishi Valley–with its secluded Guru Hut and parampara shrines on the banks of Rishi Valley’s Saravanabhava Lake; 2) Wailua Farm, with its pastures, orchards and gardens; and 3) Kadavul Koyil, with its Guru Temple, entry gardens, Banyan Pavilion, Tiruneri path, sacred tank and its Puakenikeni and Mango Mandapams.

399 Nartana Ritau Bhajana Satsanga

Nartana Satsanga is held from mid-April through mid-August. Whenever a satsanga gathers, a chakravala is created. Nartana Ritau is the time of year when those in the grihastha ashrama are honored, and we can optionally bring garlands to express our love and support of kulapatis and kulamatas in this ashrama of life. All pay close attention to their testimony on raising children, dealing with family problems, keeping harmony in the home and fulfilling the duties of grihastha dharma. Informal meetings and discussion groups are encouraged to find ways to strengthen the many families in the community and to plan the schooling of children in the 64 kalas and the first seven books of The Master Course for the coming year.

Ladies of the Wailua Mission near Ceyonswami

“Glossary — Nartana Ritau: The first season, of Dancing with Siva, beginning on the Hindu New Year. This is the period of creation, the warm season, from mid-April through mid-August. The primary teaching text is Dancing with Siva: Hinduism’s Contemporary Catechism, Sivena Saha Nartanam.”

Happy New Year!

Coming up to today… early morning, Sun One, monks sitting quietly as the homa begins. Satya Subramaniam from Brasil, silently absorbing the shakti within.

Nitya Nadesan is on the island for a time. He has been doing great service through the years, making sure the HTML version of Hinduism Today goes online, without fail. Here he prepares to offer a written prayerfor the homa fire.

Sadhaka Jivanandanatha is our homa priest today.

Listening to Bodhinatha’s Sun One talk…

Sri Sellathurai Swami, president of Sivathondan Nilayam, Jaffna, Sri Lanka (a society established by our Paramaguru Siva Yogaswami) attained Mahasamadhi on 12th April at 2:00 pm (Sri Lanka Time) on “Pankuni Utharam day”.

He had told all Yogaswami’s devotees three months ago that he would discard his body after the 42nd Maha Samadhi celebrations of Satguru Yogaswami which took place on April 7th. He was 92 years old.

The body was kept at the adjoining building (on the right hand side of the Sivathondan Nilayam in Jaffna). All devotees in Jaffna, from Chengaladdi and Colombo paid their respects to Swami here.

On April 13th (Thursday), Sri Lanka time around 12:00 p.m, the body was transferred to Sivathondan Nilayam, ground floor (Purana Mandapam) and “Abishekam” was performed to the body along with pujas.

Later body was carried from Sivathondan Nilayam to the crematorium with the blowing of conch shells, ringing of bells and with the chanting of “Sivapuranam”. About 800-900 devotees participated in the funeral ceremony.

This great soul performed his duty to Satguru Yogaswami with full devotion for fifty (50) years. (1956-2006) and has now returned to his guru’s feet!

After the return of Sri Santhaswamy (“Lord Salisbury Swami”) to UK, Sellathurai Swami lived in Sivathondan Nilayam, Chengaladdi (photo shows the building) too for many years and performed Sivathondu.

This photo shows Satguru Yogaswami’s tiruvadi in Sivathondan Nilayam, Chengaladdi.