We continue our photo documentary of the powerful ceremonies from the consecration of the Muruga Temple in Montreal. Here is Bodhinatha on top of the temple waiting for the auspicious moment for the pouring of the Kumbha waters over the top of the main Gopuram.

In the morning of the Maha Kumbabhisekam, the Kumba pot which had been energized for almost a week was now paraded around the temple. It is being taken to the top of the temple tower. It will pour at the auspicious moment which is exactly 7.00 AM.

The Raja Gopuram as the sun is rising behind it.

Sivachariyars are climbing up the scaffolding on the vimanam.

Bodhinatha also heading up.

Everyone is waiting for the auspicious moment.

In the meantime another group is also standing by for the moment at the (entrance) Rajagopuram.

This ceremony was conducted by 25 priests.

At the auspicious moment the kumbha water was poured.

Everyone return to the temple. Now the kumbha water will be poured over the deity at another auspicious moment which is at 8.00 AM.

We took the picture of the deity before is it formally consecrated. It is very dark, but if you look carefully you can make out Murugan and the two shaktis.

Yoginathaswami shares this testimony on this impressive moment: “It is hard to describe. There we were before an empty feeling shrine. The murthi was there, but the vibration… nothing… empty. Then, such a magical experience, even to speak of it I gets goose bumps: the priest poured the water on the Deity and in one instant there was a powerful life force emanating from the shrine. it was so striking that even the priests had their breath taken away! It was a remarkable testimony to the enduring vitality and mystical power of our temple tradition.”

Haro Hara! Haro Hara! Lord Murugan had arrived!

Thanks to Dharmalingam Siddhan we are able to share with you some video from these powerful moments, made very so vibrant by the masterful temple musicians.

Bodhinatha flew to San Franscisco on the 29th and the members took him for a walk in Golden Gate Park.

Here are some pix from a walk in the Japanese Tea Garden. One of Kulapati Adi Alahan admiring the Japanese woodworking skills.

Some shots of “Dinnersearch” for 40 devotees, all arranged by Chandran Param.

Visitors from the mainland are always so pleasantly surprised and spiritually uplifted when they visit this sacred home of the Gods.

Anastacia Hunton from Holden, Maine was here to “get away from it all” and enjoy the beauty this Island had to offer – and then she discovered Iraivan the paradise within a paradise! Dave Fittante from Monterey, California here attending a conference and vacationing with his daughter heard about us and was “very happy” he did.

Mary Jane Scurlock from Sedona AZ came on what she called a “spiritually led” vacation and found the Iraivan Temple. Her friend Karen Michaels from Santa Monica, California described herself as a “spiritual seeker” and found a very real spiritual peace at this most amazingly sacred place.

Over the last retreat four rose-colored granite stone benches were installed around the monastery grounds.

These were carved in India by our team at Artha Enterprises, and they have done a magnificent job. This one has a Hawaiian turtle as its motif.

A second was placed on the lotus pond behind Iraivan, with water rushing over the rocks nearby.

It invites pilgrims to sit for a moment, rest, quiet the mind and ponder the Self within which never changes.

Its theme is the hibiscus flower.

A third sits in the shade of palm trees right in fron of Iraivan Temple.

Its theme is the Hawaiian gecko, the Good Luck lizard.

The fourth sits beneath a Jacaranda Tree behind Dakshinamurthi.

It looks out over the nearby pond, with the second one in sight in the background.

Right in front is Siva’s sacred banyan tree.