THIRUVANAIKAVAL, TRICHY

When I was in India recently in October of 2013, I visited the famed Thiruvanaikaval Temple upon arriving in Trichy and spending the night at Hotel Temple In. The family, Jnana Jyothi Amma, Dr. Ram Supramaniam and Deva moved on to the temple after breakfast at the Hotel. This was my second visit to the Thiruvanaikaval Temple after my last one in 2003. Both moments at this temple will be cherished by my life long.

Cows, bullock carts, honking of the traffic greet us the next morning

A good, delicious way to start the day - compliments of Hotel Temple In

The family with Deva

The family getting Ganesha's blessings before beginning the journey to meet the Guru

Dr. Ram Supramaniam of Tirunelveli who accompanied us

At Thiruvanaikaval

I came across the following video where artifacts depicting the very well known story of the elephant and the spider at this temple are shown and the infamous legend narrated by the Vice Curator of the Quanzhou Maritime Museum in China.

Later when Bala Chandran and Surendran Selvaratnam of Malaysia traveled to Kallar to participate in the Annual Guru Puja and Jayanthi celebrations for Agathiyar, they visited Thiruvanaikaval Temple too.

BHOGAR'S SAMADHI

Let us visit Bhogar's samadhi at Palani.

Siva299 has uploaded the following video of his visit to Kallar Ashram and the surrounding hills.

PRAYERS AT KALYANA THEERTAM

Here is a personal invitation from Dr. Ravikumar K of the Sri Agathiyar Lopamudra Temple at Kalyana Theertam

Dear Friends & Devotees,

I personally invite you to join this Ganapathy & Sudharshana Homam followed by Abishekam to Sri Agathiyar & Lopamudra. More details are given in the attached flyer and please register with your name, Gothram and Nakshathram for the sangalpam before February 14th. Please share and spread this flyer to help your friends & families around the world to join by online registration. You can post the flyer on your Facebook, Google+ or other media to spread. Thanks for your support.

Sri Agathiyar Lopamudra Temple originally shared:

Sri Agathiyar Around The World - Free Ganapathy & Sudharshana Homam Registration.

For the welfare of the devotees around the world, On February 15th Masi Magam Poornima, Saturday 10.00 am at the temple we are going to do Ganapathy Homam, Sudarshana Homam followed by Abishekam to Sri Agathiyar & Lopamudra, Archana, Arthi.

For more information please click the link below.

Please contact Email Sriagathiyarlopamudratemple@gmail.com,

Phone Dr. Ravikumar K 001 248 757 1877 USA,

Mr. Umayurubagam 00 91 9952336631 India.

JAGANATHA SWAMIGAL

Bala Chandran returned from a visit to Jaganatha Swamigal's Samadhi in Tapah, Perak, Malaysia.

Bala at Jaganatha Swamigal's Samadhi Temple

A photo of Jaganatha Swamigal

An image of Jaganatha Swamigal

Last October Jnana Jyothi Amma traveled from India to be with Jaganatha Swamigal.

Jnana Jyothi Amma

At Chitramuthu Adigal's altar

Jaganatha Swamigal

Chitramuthu Adigal

Chitramuthu Adigal

Do's and Don'ts when in the presence of Swamigal

Chitramuthu Adigal

Watch videos of the Sri Jaganatha Swamigal Sivalayam at http://www.youtube.com/user/siddhaheartbeat?feature=watch

APPRECIATION

This short movie makes us appreciate one of God's greatest gifts!

Watch at http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_4191542365&feature=iv&src_vid=nf496Bv8U9U&v=mnL5f-qlB7E

VINAYAGAR AGAVAL BY AVVAI

Vinayagar Agaval composed by Avvai is set to music and rendered beautifully by Pradeep Swaminathan at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIhuJBj5QCE and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJE1HFEKJ1w. Pradeep explains the significance of the Agaval and talks about his musical composition at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1kXNc18Hj8.

Siddha practitioner Dr. Bhani once spoke in an assembly of Agathiyar devotees about how a hymn by these saints carry various meanings according to one's temperament and understanding. While in school, he was told by his class teacher, this was a song praising Lord Ganapathy, where we stand in front of Ganapathy Murthy, bring our hands together and offer him a prayer. Later when he was learning Siddha medicine under the tutelage of his Siddha teacher, he was told the intricacies of Siddha medicine were hidden in this song. Moving on later to meet his spiritual teacher Yogi Ramaih, the Yogi told him that this song was full of Gnanam or Wisdom. Imagine one song can reveal so many facets according to the seeker's standing and understanding!

Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar of Ongara Kudil explains the inner meaning of this composition.

Watch some compositions from the movie based on Avvai at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPUNMGaBIM4&list=PLF90960A0CEBF6025