Lord Pancha Mukha Ganapati looks magnificent on the first Sunday of May for the Ganesha Homa ceremony at the Spiritual Park.

Devotees are already there singing devotional songs before the sacred fire is lighted.

The Homa is lighted in the pit just a little further off the huge granite Ganapati murthi.

Devotees inside the tarpaulin tent. Plans are in motion to fix permanent structures to provide better accommodation to devotees in future.

Nanda and Adisankara leading the bajans…

Offerings coming at the offerings station….

Prayers are being sent into the fire…

An offering of sweets to be sent into the homa pit for the inner worlds at the end of the ceremony.

Kulapati M. Mardemootoo giving a talk to the public on " Positive Discipline"

At the small Pancha Mukha Ganapati Shrine. …

Offerings of fruits and flowers….

Devotes are everywhere over the place.

Worship at the Narmada Lingum…

Devotees going down the newly built steps for the first time….

…..down the river.

The final arati inside the Ganesha mandapam…. all devotees stood up to enjoy the darshan of Lord Pancha Mukha Ganapati!

Kulapati Manon Mardemootoo sends photos of progress on the steps to the river at our center in Mauritius.

He writes:

“The second wall on the right is almost done.

“A larger step has also been added at the begining close to the river.
A footpath will now be added from the steps to the Narmada Lingam
A small simple finishing in a semi circle will be added to encircle the
area we want to keep clean by the water.”

Kulapati Anba Dayananden Valayten is on site… one of the early found members of Saiva Siddhanta Church in Mauritius.

The April Ganesha Homa at the Spiritual Park drew as usual its large crowd of of dedicated devotees to offer their loving worship to Lord Pancha Mukha Ganapati!

The Homa begins with the kulapaties leading the chanting…

The tent outside is packed with devotees…. many of them standing to allow more space for others to squeeze in.

Those seated inside…

Hundreds of written prayers keep coming from devotees. They are each time reminded of Gurudeva's instructions to have their prayers written in black ink on one side of a white sheet of paper.

Pouring the written sheets into ghee and send sending them into the sacred fire…

A little rain is falling outside, but devotees are concentrated on the ceremony.

Kulapati Manon's talk was on the Satguru and he stressed on the role of Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami in Mauritius.

One more bajan to conclude the ceremony…

Despite the rainy weather the HA Booth was pitched up…

Children and adult likewise like going over the Ganesha Bridge,,,It's real fun to see the plants and fish in the pond below.

A large group worshipping at the small Pancha Mukha Ganapati Shrine…

A amazingly long queue of devotees waiting with their offerings ….

…… to be taken and placed by a group of sivathondars at Lord Ganapati's Feet.

Devotees leaving with their blessed offerings…. happy and fulfilled for having been able to attend the Ganesha Homa at the Spiritual Park.

The day arrived for Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami to leave the island of Mauritius after a very short stay. On the Departure day, sishyas gathered at Mahebourg at the residence of Brahmachari Vel Mahalingum to wish Beloved Bodhinatha a "Bon Voyage" back to kauai Aadheenam.

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami and Sanyassin Shanmuganathaswami greeted by an arati.

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami seated near the shrine altar.

Listening to the Guru for His last visit message…..

One aspect among others was the little booklet "Parenting With Love" printed in French and to be distributed in the island.

Sishyas listening attentive to Bodhinatha's plans for the 2010 Mauritius visit.

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami showed his appreciation for the progress all the sishyas have been making in Mauritius at the Spiritual Park.

Kulapati Manon Mardemootoo recommended that Brahmachari Vel Mahalingum be traditionally offered a shawl by Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami for all the good works he has been attending to at the Spiritual Park, especially cleaning and taking care of the huge granite murthis of Lord Ganapati, Lord Siva and Lord Muruga at the Park.

Devotees asking that their Saivite Trilogy be blessed.

Kulapati Mougam Periatumbee…

Bramacharini Indranee

Sishya Malini Peruman

Time almost over… Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami would have to leave for the airport….

One last request. Little Venilla, daughter of Kumaren and Lomavadee Moorooven wants an autograph for her saivite drawing book. Thank you Beloved Bodhinatha for having been with us in Mauritius. Aum.

On Sunday 12, in the evening, Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami met a few enrolled Master Course Mauritius students at Quatre Bornes. Here the Guru is traditionally welcomed.

At a small granite Ganesha installed under a fountain and small pool in the front yard.

The students are gathered around the Guru to listen to His message….

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami stressed on the concept of progress and gave some practical examples about how to measure spiritual progress while studying the Master Course.

A few questions came up from the MC students….

Some parents were there accompanying the youth who were enrolled as MC students.

After inspiring everyone to be consistent with their MC studies and correspondence course, the students were called forward for Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami's Blessings.

Vandana Nathoo and her little baby…

Selven is moving to his next MC Level course….

Veena, from Flacq…

Sanjeeva…

Bala Krishna…

Runjit Munohur ….

Samoo Pillay has been instrument to various construction projects at the Spiritual Park.

Poshan Munian

Ananda Mootoocurpen hosted this MC gathering at his residence. On the whole it was a very nice spiritual meeting between the MC students and their Spiritual Preceptor, Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami.

One of the major events in Mauritius was a seminar on "What is Hinduism" at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Center. Over 300 participants attended…

The day before the seminar at SVICC, Kulamata Kavita Mardemotoo and Mrs Vani responsible for our Spiritual Park Mini iMela had a meeting with Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami and Shanmuganathaswami about the the Spiritual Park database at the residence of Kulapati Rajen Manick at Goodlands.

Shanmugathaswami and Rajen going over Mac database applications for the Spiritual Park.

Young Sivarathna Manick offering a painting of Lord Ganesha he made himself to Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami.

The Manick family for a souvenir photo with Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami ….

On Saturday April 11 a public seminar was organised at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Center for the general Hindu public of the island. The seminar started with an arati to Lord Ganesha, performed by Shanmuganathaswami.

Every participant stood up during the arati…

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami opening the seminar ….

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami talk was supported by a wonderful powerpoint presentation.

Participants listened attentively.

Time for the coffee break…

For many it was their first experience of a spiritual seminar.

Many young couples attended the event…

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami about to answer a few questions from the participants.

A souvenir photo before lunch at the bust of Swami Vivekananda. More photos of this SVICC event in next TAKA. Aum.

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami arrives in the North at the residence of Kulapati Sivakumaren Mardemotoo where sishyas of the Mardemootoo and Manick kutumbas have met.

An arati in Sivakumaren's home shrine.

The Silent Guru radiating His Darshan to the group…

Natchintanaii singings uplifting everyone…

The Natchintanaiis remind the sishyas of Sivayoga's great saying: "Know Thyself by Thyself".

Bodhinatha gave on "Parenting with Love" introducing the newly translated French booklets which outlines practical guidelines for parents about how they are to positively cope with misbehavior of their children. If you would like to receive a free copy of this booklet "Parenting With Love", email us at spark@hindu.org

Three youth taking their Brahmachariya vratas vowing to remain pure and chaste until marriage.

The Guru tying the sacred Bhahmachariya cord around Sivarathna Manick waist.

Now the turn for Dayananda Canagasaby….

…and for Suganda Caramben

Next was the turn for our young ladies to take up their Brahmachariya vows….

Here is Basanti Mardemootoo

……… Darshini Peruman

…..Jambalini Manick

and Geeradevi Canagasaby….

The satsang ended with Chandrasekaran Arnasalon and Ariadassy Canagasaby taking their Arulsishya vows. It was a nice meeting with the Satguru on that evening.

A big smile to Mauritius from Beloved Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami.

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami and Shanmuganathaswami just stepping into the gangway from the plane.

Bodhinatha is welcomed at the SSR Airport VIP Lounge by our kulapaties..

A souvenir photo at one of our granite plates donated by Kauai Aadheenam to Mauritius.

The chairman of the Airport of Mauritius (left) had one of these plates fixed at the Arrival Passenger Terminal at the SSR International Airport. It reads: " Mauritius-The Rainbow island of Beauty and Harmony." A nice welcome to foreigners coming to the island!

Shanmugathaswami meeting devotees at the airport.

A little crowd is there to welcome Bodhinatha.

Sishyas are happy to see Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami back to Mauritius and are happily moving forward to greet the Guru with garlands and flowers.

Everyone is chanting devotional songs honoring the Guru.

An unusual devotional joy at the airport which quickly attracted the attention of onlookers…

The last devotee to touch Bodhinatha's Feet

Time now to leave the airport…. after this brief contact with the sishyas. Watch TAKA for forthcoming events of Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami’s visit to Mauritius. Aum.

After a three-day retreat the monks are back in service. Meanwhile Bodhinatha has been having a wonderful time in Mauritius and in a day or so the photo documentary on his mission there will begin.

For now, we have an arrival photo and his own brief reports from the last few days.

Thursday:

Morning and afternoon free. In the evening to Manon Mardemootoo’s home, five minutes away, for satsang of the kutumbha. Very upbeat group. Six brahmacharya vratas given and two older youth became Arul Sishya. Excellent singing of Natchintanai. Met with each family for a few minutes.

Friday

In the morning we met with Rajen and Premila Manick. Later we shifted to the Gold Crest Hotel in Quartre Borne, center of island. Evening to SK Moorghen’s Moilavadee’s home for satsang. Two brahmacharya vratas and two arul sishya dedications.

Saturday

Om Sivaya, everyone,

Jai Ganapati.

Seminar on Aspects of Hindu Mysticism from 9:30 AM – 4: 30 PM at Swami Vivekananda Convention Centre. Some three hundred plus attended, all very attentive. 6: 00 PM – 7:15 PM an estate planning seminar at the hotel we are staying in –Gold Crest–with some 25 participants and a small introduction by me. There was a major presentation on the booklet Estate Planning Toolkit by Manon Mardemootoo who was quite enthusiastic about the booklet fulfilling a definite need in Mauritius.

Om Namasivaya,

Bodhinatha

In Mauritius there is great progress on the steps from down to the river. Kulapati Manon Mardemootoo sends photos.