Jai Ganesha, who guides us always along the right path!
Pillayarpati is one of Lord Ganesha’s greatest temples on Earth. Nearby, Picchai Gurukkal, Hindu of the Year 2005, has his priest training school. We prepared a surprise for his 60th birthday.
Mark Boyer took several weeks off from his New York projects to fly to India and help Bodhinatha and Arumugaswami, and he was our envoy to Pillayarpati.
Mark volunteered to drive all the way to Pillaiyarpatti and present the gift on behalf of the monastery.
The painting is an exotic and masterful rendition of Siva giving the sacred Agamas to Devi, who gave them to Nandi, who passed them to rishis and finally to Picchai Gurukkal.
Mark explains the meaning of each section of the art.
Gurukkal with his wife, proudly displaying the art.
All gather for the group photo. All around the hall, Mark reports, are photos from Gurukkal’s life, including several of Gurudeva, Bodhinatha and the monks.
Jai and happy birthday, Gurukkal.
Afterwards, a private lunch, South Indian style.
The art is based on the Agama verses which describe how the scriptures were revealed to manking. In the first panel, Siva hands the leaves to Parvati.
She in turn conveys them to Nandi.
Nandi graces a living Rishi with the precious spiritual texts.
The Rishi hands them to Picchai Gurukkal.
Who in turn, presents them to humanity. It is Gurukkal’s life mission to do just that, so the painting depicts the deepest purpose of his work. Thank you, Mark.
the painting illustrates the path the Agamas travelled over thousands of years to reach Picchai Gurukkal at Pillaiyarpatti, who is imparting the knowledge to several young Hindu priests. Having met him on September 3, 2008, at Pillaiyarpatti, it gives me great pleasure to see Picchai Gurukkal receive this painting which he so well deserved! Brilliant gift!
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:20 am
Beautiful !
Jai Ganesha !
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:28 am
wonderful painting, self-explanatory one. great gift for all the Gurus
December 25th, 2008 at 9:58 am
the painting illustrates the path the Agamas travelled over thousands of years to reach Picchai Gurukkal at Pillaiyarpatti, who is imparting the knowledge to several young Hindu priests. Having met him on September 3, 2008, at Pillaiyarpatti, it gives me great pleasure to see Picchai Gurukkal receive this painting which he so well deserved! Brilliant gift!
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:29 am
This painting is realy very nice. this is TRUE. so this live thousands thousands of year.