The meaning of AUM
March 6, 2010
“Do you know the meaning of the word AUM?” Jung asked Campbell, but waved his hand as Campbell was about to launch into an explanation of one of his favorite subjects. “My first experience was in Africa. A group of us got lost on a walk. All of a sudden we found ourselves surrounded by tall young warriors with spears, standing on one leg. We couldn’t understand each other. Then we all sat down and looked at each other, and everything was all right. They were saying, ‘Aum, aum, aum…’
“Two years later I was in India with a group of scientists, near Darjeeling, and we went to Tiger Hill. You arrive before dawn, and are transported up the hill in the dark; then the sun comes up and infinitudes of snowcapped Himalayan peaks burst into rainbow colors. All Conversation stopped. And what did I hear from the scientists? ‘Aum, aum, aum…’
Then Jung said, “AUM is the sound the universe makes when it is pleased with itself!”
Nandi
February 2, 2010
I’m adding this just because I like Nandi….always sitting in front of the Shiva temples, looking at Shiva. And since it is Shivaratri time, it seemed appropriate. This particular one is from Varanasi and is made from beautiful marble as opposed to granite as you would typically see in Tamil Nadu.
Daily pujas
January 10, 2010
Since most of our priests come from the Shankar Mutt, they perform their daily pujas in the way that was originally proscribed by Adi Shankara. They do abishekam for Ganesha, Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti, the Navagraha, all of which you can see on the puja plate in this image. There is one extra murti for Annapurni, a form of Parvati who feeds the universe. She is the family deity of Seetharama Sastry, our Chief Priest.
Chanting the Vedas
January 9, 2010
During the time of the 10 day yagyas, our priests spend two hours every morning chanting the Vedas. We started with the Rig Veda, then Sama Veda, then Yajur Veda. So far we have made one complete cycle through all three.
Parvati
January 8, 2010
The Ekambeshwara temple is whereParvati sat under a mango tree and did long tapas/meditations in order to attract the attention of Shiva. Shiva decided to test her and sent a big river rushing towards her. but Parvati just clung to the Shivalingam. This painting is found near the main entrance to the temple. That’s my daughter Anna standing in front.
Temple
January 7, 2010
Generally one thinks of Kanchipuram and the temples that come to mind are Kamakshi for the goddess and Ekambeshwara for Shiva. But there are so many fantastic Vishnu temples scattered around the city. This one is for Vishnu’s incarnation as Vamana and the murti inside is huge! Fantastic and inspiring place
Ghee lamp in a temple
January 6, 2010
Shiva Lingam in Bangkok
January 5, 2010
I found this lingam in one of the main Buddhist temples in Bangkok. It was obviously cared for with a garland on top and food offerings on the side. It is an inspiring example of the inclusive and tolerant attitude that I found everywhere I went in Thailand.
Navaratri Celebrations
September 12, 2009
Navaratri in India was really great and there are many stories to tell. 10 days of being surrounded with goddess mantras is certainly an interesting experience and one which has profound spiritual meaning. It is one of the great things about being in India, in person, for these yagyas. Just the sound of the mantras is enough, but to have that supplemented by all the pujas and homams, not to mention being able to visit the temples on a daily basis, is really fantastic.
The temple next door
September 1, 2009
This is a view from the old yagya house roof showing the unused gopuram (tower) entrance to the Varadaraja Temple that is just across the street. It is the second largest Vishnu temple in India. After what seems to be years of neglect, they have constructed bamboo and palm leaf scaffolding to cover both this tower and the main entrance tower for renovations. This is one good aspect of the government taking over the running of some of the larger temples in India. They seem to be better maintained.
Inside the temple wall, there are always various festivals taking place and they usually seem to involve taking Vishnu and Lakshmi out for a ride around the neighborhood and back again. It is great fun and full of noise and music. By tradition when the deity leaves the temple, they fire an old fashioned cannon, and again when they return. It gives a very timeless quality to the place. Of course the intent is to signal people when the deity is there so that they don’t come for darshan (viewing) only to find their deity gone. Simple but effective since the cannon is so loud it carries for miles.
In the center of that water tank, there is a temple in which there is a Narasimha murti, so strong and and powerful that he is kept underwater and is brought out only once every 40 years!
Monkeys!
August 31, 2009
When I was staying in the hotel in Kanchipuram, in the afternoons when the heat of the day has passed the monkeys come out and play around. It is endlessly entertaining because they act, well, like monkeys. Pulling tails, fighting, making a lot of noise, etc. I saved fruit for them and then tossed it down onto the roof. They’d scramble and fight over it, but I figure a monkey is always hungry. In a way they are like tree-dogs, although you never go near monkeys.