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Archive for October, 2007
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Flags
As the first day progressed, a series of flags were made and placed in specific spots around the yagya stala. During the pujas we had to touch the flag pole as the deity was invoked. Here you can see the Ganges in the background. By the end of the process the flags look magnificent and [...] -
The Post of Vishnu
In the yagya statala there were four large posts that structurally held up the center of the structure. These were made from small trees that had been felled, stripped of bark, and then painted different colors. One pole for Vishnu (seen above, although I am not sure why his was black), one for Shiva (white) [...] -
Participation
One of the greatest aspects of this trip was that we were the ones to perform all the pujas. We had two priests who guided us through the process while the other 15 priests chanted the mantras. It made the longs days enjoyable and interesting. In my opinion there is something special about performing the [...] -
First entry
The yagya stala had been made ready, and we completed a full morning of preliminary pujas. Now it was time to enter the yagya site for the first time. The vedic tradition, particularly Jyotish (astrology) considers beginnings to be vitally important to the success of any endeavor, so this moment was timed rather precisely. The [...] -
Invocation
At the beginning of the five day yagya, the first day was spent doing pujas to invoke the various deities and to prepare the site for the days that followed. These beginning pujas took place in the first area that would later be used for the 100 priests at the end of the yagya. After [...] -
64 Yoginis
This mandala was in one corner of the yagya stala and is certainly pretty on its own with the alternating squares of colored rice. But symbolocially it is very interesting. The circles of white rice will support clay pots of water topped with a coconut and mango leaves. One pot for each of the three [...] -
Rice Mandalas
Each corner of the yagya stala featured one or more malas made with colored rice. This one is for the 9 Planets (Navagraha). The center row has the the Sun (red) in the center, the top is Jupiter (yellow) and the bottom red triangle is Mars. The right row starts with a green arrow for [...] -
Yagya Stala
The September trip to Varanasi started with a 5 day yagya way out in the countryside about 1 hour from Varanasi. The yagyas were held in a traditional structure called a yagya stala. As you can see it is constructed from local wood and features a thatched roof. The second building was just being completed [...] -
The world is coming to an end!
From the Times of India….and you just know this means the world is going to end. “Gods made in China: Chinese manufacturers have started making figurines of Indian Gods too. Chinese made idols have been available at gift shops in Varanasi for a few years now. Many shoppers have been buying them unaware of the [...] -
When the creator dances
“When the creator dances, the worlds he created dance. To the measure that he dances in our knowledge, our thoughts too, dance. When he in our heart dances, all parts of life dance. Witness in the ananda of the Self, the dance of Him who is like a dancing flame.” -Tirumantiram