Yogaswami wrote:

” We are the servitors of Lord Siva. We lack nothing. Our duty is to serve the Lord. It is the fundamental goal of our life in this world.

“The moon fulfils the will of Siva. The sun and other planets also carry out His bidding.

“The gods and demons, and all other beings are also engaged in the performance of the Lord’s work.

“In everything do we see the will of Siva at work. Not an atom moves but by His will–nothing gained and nothing lost. We continue to be ever the same.

“There is no one above us or superior to us; good and evil cannot affect us. There is no beginning and no end for us. We have no likes or dislikes; we have no desire for material goods. The spectre of the mind does not haunt us; neither are we bound by the limitations of place, time or causation. We simply bear witness to everything around us.

“Aum! Tat Sat Aum !”

This morning was Kartikeya Katir’s final one with us. He tackled one last project for Palaniswami, then was taken to the airport by Durvasa Alahan for his flight to San Francisco. We called his father on Skype, to say aloha and share a few highlights of Karti’s one-month visit.

A bright young man, entering his junior year in high school, with infinite possibilities ahead of him and a heart full of Hindu dharma to see him to his destiny. Aloha, Karti. Safe flight this afternoon. Thanks for all your help on the different kulams!

All of nature looked refreshed and renewed after some early morning showers. Raj and Nala Tharmarajah arrived from Phoenix, Arizona. They are here visiting with their two children Soba (15) and Sanjay (12) from Phoenix, Arizona.

After worshiping in the Kadavul Siva Temple, they were given a tour of the Iraivan Siva Temple and surrounding gardens. Both Raj and Nala found the temple and Aadheenam grounds very beautiful and peaceful and remarked that all of the lush tropical foliage and flowering trees and plants reminded them of their homeland, Jaffna, Sri Lanka.

Here is Nala and Soba admiriing one of the brilliant and beautiful turqouise Jade vines which cascade down from the trees. Soba is an accomplished bharathanatyam dancer.

The Tharmarajah family and another visitor, Sundaresan Hariyogam from New York, are seen here in the North-facing Gopuram with the Dakshinamurthy deity visible in the background.

Another group photo in front of the Iraivan Temple complex.

Morning at the monastery brought a brilliant floral creation by Lord Siva in pink and lavender. This is a bromeliad, and the flower will look just like this for almost three months.

The Ganapati Kulam is working on Hinduism Today, October edition.

Lots of editing, proofing, photo correcting, design happening.

Meanwhile, Yogi Japendranatha is bravely exploring a high-end video program, and creating a 15-minute film on our spiritual lineage for visitors to the monastery to enjoy.

He is director, screenwriter, sound editor, animation team all in one.

All guided by his deft hands.

Yesterday, as you saw, a new door was installed in the publications building.

A close up of one of the 14 panels.

It’s an Indian design.

Another team was installing new cabinets.

Quite a project requiring many tools.

Though the situation in Sri Lanka looks bleak at times. There are good things happening too.

Here are photos from Maha Sivaratri Celebrations in Kopay, Sri Lanka.

The Sri Subramuniya Kottam organized a grand Maha Sivaratri celebration this year. The celebrations began on the morning before the great night of Lord Siva. Devotees assembled at the Katpaga Pillaiyar temple in Kopay at 10.00 am for puja.

After the puja devotees carried paal kudam (milk pots) with the sacred bilva leaves, in a procession lead by a Naathaswaram and Thavil musical ensemble to the Sri Shanti Lingam temple.

The devotees paal kudams were used for the abhishegam of Sri Shanti Lingam, which Gurudeva had installed. The ceremonies ended at 2.30 pm and then resumed again in the evening all through the night until early next morning.

The devotees appreciated the grandness of the celebrations as nowhere in Jaffna was a paal kudam procession, which is tradition of the Kottam, done for Maha Sivaratri.