Pg 1, Tamilnadu Pg 2 Pg 3 Pg 4, Nadi Leaves Pg 5, Temples Kids_School Pg 6, Auro & Ramana Pg 7, Hosts/Final Day Pg 8, Photo Album
Chidambaram and Tour of The Three Temples
We returned to my hotel in Chidambaram. Karupaya headed off on his motorcycle, and Ganesh and I retired to a feast of Chicken A/C.
Street scene near hotel in Chidambaram. Note school children in blue and white.. Each school has its own uniform color scheme.
The gas station at the hotel was installing a new UST. These workers were lining the hole for the tank. I laid the course of brick just below the six clean bricks off the shoulder of man in white shirt. They loved it that I gestured that I wanted to come down the ladder, and quickly accepted me as another mason. Much laughter and fun for about 20 minutes as we gestured, joked, and worked together.
Tour of 3 Temples
I awoke early enuf to be ready for my standard 45 minute distance healing session, which always began at 7a. I will mention more of Raji's work later. Following a vegetarian breakfast, compromised by two fried eggs, Ganesh and I headed out for a tour of three temples at which the Nadi Leaf had directed me to make offerings, and light candles. Somehow these acts would remove the troubles that would otherwise visit me in the future. The intellect cannot explain everything, and does not need to. This is what I was remembering, and the temple pilgrimage was an exercise in surrendering to that truth. Once on Bear Butte, in South Dakota, while fasting to coerce God to speak with me, in a certain sense She did. The message was, "This is not your path. You are not Native American. You must find your own way." Consistent with this theme of my instruction, with an explanation resting beyond my reach, I did not find this Bear Butte message applied in India. I felt so naturally at home with all I was immersed in. I wore the ash and red spot marks on my forehead without self consciousness. I bowed to the deities and prayed for silence as the most natural thing I could do. I looked in the eyes of these people and found my sisters, brothers, uncles, grandmas, looking back, smiling at me. Why a human spire, with white skin parading among these small dark people did not draw expressions of surprise remains a mystery to me. In some way I was not a visitor here, I was of this place. I don't know how this occurred. And I'm not going to think about it much.
So as the ancients had directed, we visited Suriyanar (The Sun) Temple, performing devotions to Lord Ganesh, Lord Siva http://www.hinduwebsite.com/siva/sivaintrod.asp, Goddess Parvathi, and the Nine Planets http://www.saigan.com/heritage/gods/navagrhm.htm . Then off to Mayiladauthurai (Jupiter) Guru Temple, offering devotions to Jupiter and the other Deities placed around the perimeter. Finally we arrived at the ocean shore to Velankanni Temple, an awesome white cathedral structure honoring St. Mary. Even the Wise Ones of 2000 years ago were ecumenical in their visions.
Suriyanar (Sun) Temple
http://www.dinamalar.com/koil_english/9_suriyanar_suriyanarkoil_other.asp
Ganesh helped me purchase the10 candles, and the offering to be made to Surya, the bowl of coconut, flower, and lotus blossom. The offering was presented to the Pujari attending to Surya. The candles were lit and placed before Surya, Ganesh, and the deities representing each of the planets. We then circumambulated the Surya temple, as directed by the Nadi Leaf, 9 times, sat for a while in prayer and meditation, and then departed.
Mayiladuthurai (Jupiter) Guru Temple
http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/17/stories/2006101705360300.htm
|
|
|
Jupiter Temple. Alas, in the storm of sense data that was engulfing me I can remember nothing of being in this temple. The sacredness of these temples was beginning to merge into one mass of symbols, pujaris, smells, architecture, deities, and an attitude of simple and constant acceptance. Sacredness had become the norm, and distinctions were just momentary emergences of Grace.
This woman was at work, selling offerings of flowers and colored powders, to temple devotees.
Velankanni Temple
http://www.travelplanetindia.com/velankanni.html
At the Bengal Sea Shore stands this Cathedral to St. Mary. This is the facade pacing the public parking area. The next photo is from the "rear" where the main entrance is located. Inside, a bare tile floor was scattered with bodies of people sitting devoutly, silently, in prayer and meditation. At the front of the church were sites for 100s of candles, which were placed lit, by visitors with prayers to the Mother. Pujaris were busy assembly line-like, removing, dousing, and tossing the candles, to make way for the next visitors.
This is a few across a well tended and watered garden, towards the Cathedral. These workers on the Cathedral grounds were mixing cement, carrying it the standard way to the nearby wall project. Field dried bricks are piled to the left.
Shops along the street from Cathedral to the sea are full of books, mementos, candles, offerings, and miscellaneous kitschy stuff that a visitor might trade a few spare rupees for.
Note the operator resting in the shade of his beachside merry-go-round.
