HINDUISM:Deepavali: Light of wisdom, peace and unity..!!!

HINDUISM
Deepavali: Light of wisdom, peace and unity
Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar

Deepavali or the festival of lights which is celebrated by Hindus all over the world, on November 05, is a variable pointer to our sacred calling. It brings to the fore the tremendous potential in man and his ability to fight his lower nature with all its base instincts and sordid cravings. Deepavali symbolizes the shedding of light and retreat of darkness.


Deepavali signifies emergence from ignorance into knowledge

Deepavali stands for the triumphant entry of the resplendent light of peace, unity and understanding among men and the dramatic defeat of evil. It also signifies the emergence of the soul from the darkness of Avidya to the light of Vidya or awakening. In other words the awakening of knowledge in an ignorant man indicates light being brought into the lives of silently suffering people immersed in utter misery and gloom.

It is exactly to depict this truth, the Deepavali festival is celebrated with a row of lights in Hindu households. According to Hindu calendar in the month of November (Karthikai) bright and beautiful lamps and candles are lit in Hindu homes like a garland of lamps offered in dedication to the deities. This shows the annihilation of sorrow of the people who are overpowered by the forces of darkness and later inspired with the hopes and aspirations for better times ahead.

Certain people believe that Deepavali is associated with the popular legend of Lord Krishna’s victory over Narakasura who by the practice of austerity had gained strength to drive the Gods out of the celestial kingdom but Lord Krishna with his power killed him and saved mankind.

In another instance Lord Krishna was designed to free the world from the deprivation of the Demon King Hiranyakasa who forbade the worship of Lord Vishnu and substituted the worship of himself. But his son Prahalad refused to give up his worship of Lord Vishnu.

Hiranyaksa was enraged and resolved to kill his son whereupon Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of Narasinha and tore Hiranyaksa to pieces.

Among some Hindus there is a belief that this festival day marks the day of rejoicing when Lord Skanda triumphed over the evil regime of Suraparman. Some even say that on this Deepavali day Sri Rama’s grand coronation took place after his long exile in the jungle.

Indeed Deepavali is a festival of freedom, peace, unity and compassion crystallised in the last hymn in unity and peace in the Indian spiritual hymn Ria Veda.

“Let your aim be one and single, let your heart be joined in one, the mind at rest in unison at peace with all, so may you be.”

“Love and peace are the central theme of Deepavali. Peace is a by-product of love. Hatred will never cease by hatred, but will cease only by love alone.”


A Hindu family adorns their doorstep with Kolam on Deepavali

We have the brilliant light of the sun and the mellow light of the moon and stars, but in everyday’s heart and mind, a different light burns the light of knowledge and warmth of love and compassion which will strengthen ourselves for sacrifice and service and gradually dispel the gloom of poverty, ignorance and egoistic arrogance.

Let our light of knowledge and wisdom shine far and wide scattering the soft but brilliant beams to bring peace, wisdom and the splendour of light. Even the Atharva Veda pronounces Peace be to the earth and to the air, peace be to the heaven, peace to the waters. By this invocations of peace, may peace bring peace.

As the ancients have said “whatever you have, you are its master, whatever you hate you are its slave.” The Deepavali Festival reminds us that when senseless hatred and killings reign on earth and men hide their faces from one another then Heaven to hide its face. But, when Love, Peace and Wisdom come to rule on earth and men reveal their faces to one another, then the splendour of God will be revealed.

Deepavali is a festival which confirms a new beginning - the beginning of reconciliation and peace between communities. Indeed Deepavali festival reminds us that “where there is Dharma peace, righteousness, justice and fair play, there victory shall be.”

“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, where knowledge is free, where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls, where words come out from the depth of truth, where tireless striving trenches its arms towards perfection, where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreamy desert sand of dead habitat, where the mind is led forward by thee into ever widening thought and action, into the heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake,” said the great poet Rabindranath Tagore.


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Kali Ma:

Hindu Goddess of Destruction
As one of the most widely recognized Hindu goddesses Kali or Kali Ma (mother Kali) is said to destroy ignorance and liberate those devoted to God. Kali’s name is


Goddess Kali has a frightening appearance and a fearsome countenance

derived from the Sanskrit word ‘kala,’ which means ‘time’ and also means ‘the black one.’ She appears in many Vedic texts and is sometimes described as an expansion of the goddess Durga.

Hindu Scriptures and Goddess Kali
Shakta Hindus and Tantric believers worship Kali as Brahman (the ultimate reality.) Most Hindus pray to Kali as a benevolent mother goddess and the consort of Lord Shiva. Kali is associated with many other Hindu goddesses like Durga, Parvati and Chamunda, and is the foremost among the Dasa Mahavidyas (ten Tantric goddesses.)

According to David Kinsley, Kali is first mentioned in Hinduism around 600 CE, and “In the Agni- and Garuda-puranas she is mentioned in invocations that aim at success in war and against one’s enemies.” In the Bhagavata-purana Kali is the deity worshipped by a band of thieves who are annihilated by the goddess herself when they attempt to offer a saintly Brahman for a blood sacrifice.

Kali destroys Demon Raktabija
The Devi Mahatmyam describes Kali’s most famous myth where she springs out from Durga’s frown and destroys the demon Raktabija. Fighting Raktabija was creating problems as the demon reproduces a clone of himself with every drop of blood that falls on the battlefield. The Devas (gods) could not kill the demon Raktabija. Within a few minutes of attacking him the battlefield was covered with millions of demons. In despair, the gods turned to Shiva. But Shiva was in Samadhi (deep meditation), so they asked his consort Durga for help.

The goddess set out for battle and the form of Kali arose from her anger. Kali drank the demon’s blood to prevent any of Raktabija’s blood from falling to the ground and reproducing. Becoming intoxicated on Raktabija’s blood; Kali raged across the world killing anyone in her path and adorned herself with the dismembered parts of her victims. Shiva threw himself under her feet to pacify the goddess and Kali returned to the benevolent form of Durga.

The appearance of Kali
The Goddess Kali has a frightening appearance and has a fearsome countenance with a gaping mouth, tongue lolling out and deep reddish eyes. Most texts describe Kali as dark, naked with long nails and dishevelled hair. Armed with a sword, noose and Khatvanga (skull-topped staff) the goddess is decorated with a garland of skulls and only wears a tiger’s skin.

The skulls, limbs and entrails decorating Kali represent the temporary nature of the material world. Kali’s fierce appearance has a deeper meaning and shows the importance of destroying the ego’s attachment to the body.

Goddess Kali and Lord Shiva
Her form when depicted standing on Shiva’s form is revered as Bhavatarini or the saviour of the universe. In the book Hindu Goddesses David Kinsley states that many texts “treat Kali as an independent deity, unassociated with any male deity. When she is associated with a god, however it is almost always Shiva.”

Bengali devotional hymns often describe Kali and Shiva as possessing similar chaotic habits and are regarded to inhabit cremation grounds – reminding us that the body is only temporary.

Kinsley also emphasizes the dominant nature of Kali in relation to Shiva: “She is usually standing or dancing on Siva’s body, and when the two are depicted in sexual intercourse, she is shown above him.

Although Siva is said to have tamed Kali in the myth of the dance contest, it seems clear that she was never finally subdued by him and is most popularly represented as a being who is uncontrollable and more apt to provoke Shiva to dangerous activity than to be controlled by him.”

Kali Pooja: Praying to Mother Kali
Kali Pooja is celebrated on the new day of the Hindu month Ashwin in Bengal and other parts of India. This celebration coincides with Lakshmi Pooja during the five day festivities of Diwali. Kali’s most well known temples are in Kalighat and Dakshineshvara in India.

Kali Pooja aims to invoke the help of the goddess in destroying evil. The worship takes place at midnight with Tantric rites and mantras. Some devotees offer red hibiscus flowers, sweets, rice and even meat.

suite101.com


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2012 apocalypse in Hinduism
Facts about Kalki, Planet X and end of Kaliyugam:

Kousalya


Year 2012 will bring incessant rain and flood according to Hindu predictions

‘2012’ has become a buzzword these days, thanks to the incessant end of days programs on History Channel and the movie. People are freaking everywhere and want to know the predictions in every civilisation from Mayans to Hopis to Aztecs, from the Book of Revelations to I-Ching and Nostradamus Quatrains and of late the end of world connections to the world’s oldest religion Hinduism.

The four Yugas or ages described in the Bhagavad Gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam are Satya or Krita Yuga that will span the first 100,000 years, Treta Yuga next 1,296 million years and Dvapara Yuga 864, 000 years and the last Kali Yuga 432, 000 years. In Kali Yuga people will live for up to 100 years and will be engaged in irreligious practices solely for sense gratification/Kama. People in the age of Kali will be lazy, quarrelsome, greedy and deceitful.

The end of Kali Yuga is marked by the arrival of ‘Kalki’ the last incarnation of Vishnu. The 10th avatar of God.

Also it is interesting to note that coincidentally the 10th planet of the solar system or planet X was named Kalki.

The last avatar of God, Kalki will ride a white horse and would punish all the people who were sinful. Bhavishya Purana , literal meaning ‘story about the future’, is a book of predictions written by Vyasa who also wrote Mahabharatha has predicted the birth of Jesus, Allah and many other religious leaders.

The year 2012 will bring incessant rain and flooding according to the predictions.

According to Puranas the city Dwaraka, where Lord Krishna was born, was under the sea. This ‘underwater city of Dwarka’ was discovered in 1994 and it lies in the Arabian sea in the coast of Gujarat in close proximity to the present Dwarka temple in Saurashtra.

According to archaeologists this underwater city where the real Dwarka where Lord Krishna lived, has stunning golden pillars and remnants of a palace.

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Thiruvalluvar’s wisdom
Elaiya Sivayoganathan

The Thirukkural is the masterpiece of Tamil literature and one of the highest and purest of expressions of human thought, says scholar M Ariel. Kural is a treasure of wisdom that dates over 2000 years. St Thiruvalluvar produced this masterpiece dealing with virtue, wealth and love which has immediate impact on human


Thiruvalluvar Statue in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India

activities. This has more practicability than any other piece of Hindu literature.

Thiruvalluvar’s message is not only for his period but for all times and for all mankind. Learned scholars thought that this masterpiece deserved wider attention and began to translate it. Dr GU Pope translated it in to English, followed by few other scholars. Thirukkural is an outstanding thinker who showed mankind a greater way of life.

The specialty of this great work is above all cults and religions.

The utterance of pleasant words
Pleasant words are those that flow from the mouth of virtuous. Spoken with love and free from guile. Sweet speech with cheerfulness is better than a gift made with joyous mind. Speaking from the heart with a cheerful look and happy face is true virtue. Poverty provoking sorrow will not be there to those who speak pleasant words to all.

Humility with pleasant speech are the ornaments of man. If a man speaks good words his sins will diminish and his virtue increases. Pleasing words of good effect give righteousness in this world and merit for the next. Good speech free from meanness will give happiness both in this world and next.

What is the use in using harsh words when one sees the pleasure which sweet words yield? Using unpleasant words when pleasant words are available is like eating unripe fruit when ripe fruit is available.

Avoid pointless speech
He who speaks senseless words to the disgust of many will be despised by all.

Speaking useless words in the presence of wise is a greater evil than speaking unkind words among friends.

Speech of useless words proclaims man who has no righteous wisdom. The words devoid of sense for a man deprives him of virtue, removes him from goodness.

DAILYNEWS.LK

If any one knows of any organization who can help with these types of projects, please let me know!We can use their help!Even relatively small acts.!

PS: About the photo, year ago a devotee in Malaysia donated 2 cows to our Sivapoomi Elderly Home. The milk of these cows serves all the elders at the home. Our heartfelt thanks go to the Malaysian donor for such generosity.

Sivapoomi.jpg

Bas Baskaran USA

On Fri, Oct 22, 2010 at 1:23 PM, Bas Baskaran wrote:

Greetings, Forty-Four year old Srikanthan was living with his wife and 3 children in Kilinochchi. Three years ago, when the war forced him out of his home, he and his family moved from place to place as refugees. And in May of last year, during a period of heavy fighting in the war, he was wounded and lost his leg in a landmine. After living in a refugee camp in Vavuniya for a period of time, he and his family moved to Jaffna where they live with relatives. Last month, when I was in Sri Lanka, I met Srikanthan. He and his family accompanied me to Kilinochchi. When we visited his old home, we saw that his house had been completely destroyed and his land was overgrown with the bushes. It was sad for his family to see. Despite the adversity he had faced, Srikanthan was determined to rebuild his life. He considered ways that he could might be able to this through self-employment. Recently he approached an American NGO for assistance to purchase a cow. Now, he is the proud owner of one dairy cow. According to him, through the sale of milk, he can receive 215 rupees a day which provides him a monthly income of 6450 rupees (after expenses). As you know, cows are seasonal (won't produce milk all year along), so hopes to purchase one more cow so that he can support his family all year-round. If any one knows of any organization who can help with these types of projects, please let me know. We can use their help. Even relatively small acts of generosity can have a signigicant impact on people back in Sri Lanka like Srikanthan who wish to rebuild their lifes back home.

Aum Shanthi, Rishi Thondunathan PS:

About the photo, year ago a devotee in Malaysia donated 2 cows to our Sivapoomi Elderly Home. The milk of these cows serves all the elders at the home. Our heartfelt thanks go to the Malaysian donor for such generosity.

The link between Man & God is FAITH...!!! That is all that keeps things moving & alive.!!!

From: SHANKAR RAJAPPA

Please read each word and enjoy the faith.

Don't miss even a single word... Too good.
..........................................................
An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God, The Almighty.
He asks one of his new students to stand and.....

Prof:
‘So you believe in God?’

Student:
‘Absolutely, sir. ‘

Prof:
Is God good?

Student:
Sure.

Prof:
Is God all-powerful?

Student:
Yes.

Prof:
My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him.
Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm?

(Student is silent.)

Prof:
You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?

Student:
Yes.

Prof:
Is Satan good?

Student:
No.

Prof:
Where does Satan come from?

Student:
From...God...

Prof:
That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?

Student:
Yes.

Prof:
Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything. Correct?

Student:
Yes.

Prof:
So who created evil?

(Student does not answer.)

Prof:
Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?

Student:
Yes, sir.

Prof:
So, who created them?

(Student has no answer.)

Prof:
Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son...Have you ever seen God?

Student:
No, sir.

Prof:
Tell us if you have ever heard your God?

Student:
No, sir.

Prof:
Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?

Student:
No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.

Prof:
Yet you still believe in Him?

Student:
Yes.

Prof:
According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student:
Nothing. I only have my faith.

Prof:
Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.

Student:
Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

Prof:
Yes.

Student:
And is there such a thing as cold?

Prof:
Yes.

Student:
No sir. There isn't.
(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student:
Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that.
There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat.
We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it .
(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)

Student:
What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

Prof:
Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?

Student:
You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light....But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?

Prof:
So what is the point you are making, young man?

Student:
Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

Prof:
Flawed? Can you explain how?

Student:
Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it.

Now tell me, Professor.Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Prof:
If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student:
Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)

Student:
Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher? (The class is in uproar.)

Student:
Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain? (The class breaks out into laughter.)

Student:
Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain,sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir? (The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable.)

Prof:
I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.

Student:
That is it sir... The link between man & god is FAITH . That is all that keeps things moving & alive.


NB: I believe you have enjoyed the conversation...and if so...you'll probably want your friends/colleagues to enjoy the same...won't you?.... this is a true story, and the student was none other than.........
APJ Abdul Kalam , the former president of India

Significance of Navarathri..!!!

Significance of Navarathri
by K.K. Arumainayagam

Hindus observe the Navarathri pooja for nine nights in the Tamil month of Puraddathi. Navarathri means nine nights. It is also called 'Sakthi Valipadu,' means prayers to Sakthi, the consort of Lord Shiva. Hindus from time immemorial worshipped Sakthi, the divine mother. Bharathi, the great poet and an ardent devotee of 'Parasakthi' said that one could get more blessings if he or she surrenders to 'Ambikai' the divine mother.

Navarathri Pooja starts with 'Kumbam', which is placed to invite Shakthi to make abode on it by chanting manthrams. Kumbam means a pot of water adorned with a husked coconut and mango leaves representing the deity. Since the pooja is offered to Kumbam during Navarathri it is also called 'Kumba Pooja.'

During Navarathri (Nine nights), the first three nights are dedicated to goddess Durga the next three days to goddess of wealth Lakshmi and the last three days to goddess of knowledge Saraswathy. Durga is worshipped to get her blessings for strength. Lakshmi for wealth and Saraswathy for education.

In mundane life one needs these three elements to live a good life. The tenth day falls on the lunar day Thasami, and it is called Wijeyathasami. It is an auspicious day. Small children are introduced to their first alphabet on this auspicious day. Hindus start new ventures on this day with the belief that it would bring success.

There is a puranic story connected to Navarathri. A powerful demon called 'Mahisasuran,' who made others suffer by his cruel acts. When his cruelty became unbearable, people prayed to Sakthi to save them from Mahisasuran. Sakthi took the form of Durga and killed the demon. Since Ambigai annihilated Mahisasuran, she is called 'Mahisasuramarthani.' A religious observance in the name of 'Manampoo' is performed in temples to mark this event.

Navarathri Pooja is observed in temples, houses, schools, offices and workshops.

On the Wijeyathasami day many cultural programs such as religious speeches, music and dance are arranged specially at schools and Hindu religious organisations for moral, material and spiritual uplift.

The inner meaning of worship of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathy is to attain the supreme bliss that is the atma (soul) to unite with the 'Paramathma.'


Produced by Lake House Copyright © 2010 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

In Hinduism the Supreme Lord is represented by Maheswara and His power is represented by His consort Sakthi. Sakthi is the embodiment of power..!!!

Saraswathy Pooja for knowledge and wisdom
by Chelvathamby Maniccavasagar

In Hinduism the Supreme Lord is represented by Maheswara and His power is represented by His consort Sakthi. Sakthi is the embodiment of power. She is the supreme power by which the world is made to function. Such Saraswathy Pooja or Navarathri Vizha is called Sakthi Worship.

In one of his poems T.S. Eliot has described the predicament of man with all the progress and success he had made in science and technology finds inventions and endless experiments bring us knowledge of motion, but not of stillness."


Goddess Sarasvathy Goddess Mahalakshmi Goddess Durga
It is Sakthi which stirs Lord Shiva to motion and speech. Shiva is the word, it is Sakthi which moves to words.

The union between them is represented by the image of Shiva is Ardha Nariswara, half man and half woman. Even in Kanthapuranam Lord Muruga is considered to be Gnana Sakthi and His consorts Theivanai and Valli are Kiriya Sakthi and Ischa Sakthi

Threefold aspects
Of the many Gods in the Hindu Pantheon none is revered more than the Mother Goddess. God as Mother Supreme in Her threefold aspect as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathy is worshipped by Hindus for nine days and is called Navarathri in of September according to the Hindu calendar.

Goodness, strength, prosperity, knowledge and wisdom are indeed very essential for a man's progress and success in life.

When a man is young he should have good health and strength.

He should also have wealth as well as knowledge and wisdom. In fact, Goodness reveals love, while prosperity brings happiness and finally knowledge leads the way to truth and God realisation.

In the Navarathri pooja, Goddess Mother Parvathi in Her aspect as Durga is first worshipped for three nights for the destruction of evil nature in man.

In fact, Durga is considered to be Samhara Sakthi. Durga's Vahanam or vehicle the Lion, is the symbolic annihilator of Evil. Durga destroys the evil forces or tendencies which are hidden within a man.

Man's endeavours
The next three nights are dedicated to Mahalakshmi to attain or seek material and spiritual welfare. She is the protective and sustaining power of Lord Vishnu and the Goddess of Wealth. Wealth has to be obtained by man's endeavours to lead a Dharmic way of life.

During the final three nights the Mother Parvathi is worshipped as Saraswathy. She is the creative power of God and is worshipped as the Goddess of Learning. She is depicted seated on a white lotus draped in a white saree playing the Veena, indicating that she sings the melody of life.

Saraswathy's appearance connotes purity. The white swan is a symbol of perfection. She is worshipped for knowledge and wisdom which will guide and lead men to the final goal of liberation.

Special ritual
The 10th day is called Vijaya Dasami and special and colourful rituals are observed in temples. Life is a constant battle, a war between good and evil, light and darkness, knowledge and ignorance, truth and falsehood, immortality and death. As such, to a world lost in error, beset by illusions of time, weighed down by conflicts and contradictions, trials and tribulation the Saraswathy Pooja or Navarathri Vizha will undoubtedly bring peace, happiness, harmony, unity and prosperity among all communities.


Produced by Lake House Copyright © 2010 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

The Mahadeva Ashram in Kilinochchi was a thriving ashram headed by 85 yr old Ganeshanatha Mahadeva Swami! A Home for Orphans & Elders.!!!

SENT BY.............Bas Baskaran from CHICAGO,USA

The Mahadeva Ashram in Kilinochchi (Vanni Region) was a thriving ashram headed by 85 year old Ganeshanatha Mahadeva Swami. The ashram was home for orphaned girls and boys plus many elders.

Three years ago, during the peak of the War, the ashram was destroyed and the residents (children and their caretakers) were forced to abandon the ashram. Over the ensuing years they moved several times and eventually scattered to many different locations. In May 2009, at the end of the war, Swami came to live in Vavuniya. During the time that Swami was living in Vavuniya as a refugee, The Colombo Ramakrishna Mission Swami sent a car for him to come to Colombo and stay at the Mission. But, Swami refused, as he was determined to go back and rebuild his ashram in Kilinochchi.

Last October I visited Swami in Vavuniya. He told me of his wish and prayers to return to Kilinochchi and rebuild the ashram before he leaves the body. At that time it seemed, to me, an impossible task.

With the grace of God and the determination of Swami his prayers were answered and the Mahadeva Ashram in Kilinochchi has been rebuilt. While in Sri Lanka last month my mother and I chartered a bus and took kottam children and some elders, a total of 60 people, to visit Swami. Some of the displaced children have been reunited and daily pujas are being performed. Our kottam children sang bhajanas and received Swami’s blessings.

As I departed I expressed to Swami how moved I was by his fulfillment of rebuilding the Ashram. Swami, looking into my eyes with great sadness replied, "yes, we can rebuild the buildings but we can never bring back the lives that were lost during the war".

I am enclosing some photos for you to enjoy.

Aum Shanthi,

Rishi Thondunathan

A Short History of the Mahadeva Ashram
Mahadeva Ashram was founded by Vadivel Swami. When Vadivel Swami was a young man, he went to Yogaswami and asked to be initiated a sanyasi. Yogaswami sent him to Vethantha Madam where he was initiated by Mahadeva Swami into Sanyasa (Vethantha Madam was one of Kadaitswami’s other lineages). In 1952, Yogaswami told Vadivel Swami "Go to Kilinochchi ... much work to do there." After that, Vadivel Swami came to Kilinochchi and established the Mahadeva Ashram. Ganeshanantha Mahadeva Swami is the successor to Vadivel Swami. In 1983, Gurudeva visited the Mahadeva Ashram.

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