Uploads from Ganga108 Ganga108, tagged monk

The Satguru waits for the Homa to begin.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:35:56 -0700

Deep deep inner silence.

The Pujari Readies Himself for the Homa.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 04:32:29 -0700

Before the Homa begins and the fire is lit, the priest prepares himself for the puja and the task he is to perform. Cleared and sanctified, he goes within, and within, and within.

The Homa Continues as Dawn Arrives. Tiruvannamalai, India

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 05:25:33 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

Dawn brings a beautiful light. A homa ceromony is performed in the ancient Tiruvannamalai Temple.

Part of the Beloved India series, and also of Tiruvannamalai.
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The Homa Begins. Tiruvannamalai, India.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 05:09:37 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

The priest rings the bell, and the pre-dawn homa begins in the ancient Tiruvannamalai Siva Temple.

Part of the Beloved India series, and also of Tiruvannamalai.
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Swami with Tree. The Trees of Angkor. Cambodia.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Fri, 28 May 2010 04:17:22 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

Not only do tourists cause immense damage around Angkor, trees, centuries old, have also caused their own nuisance. However, they are immensely beautiful in their own right.

Although Cambodia is mainly Buddhist, it is a form of spirituality that integrates elements of Buddhism, Hinduism and their original spiritualism. There are certainly times during its history when Cambodia was Hindu. The temples around Angkor reflect that history with elements that are strongly Hindu as well as recognisable Buddhist elements.

The tragedy is that it is all crumbling away by the minute, and the huge amount of tourism does not help. Tourists climb in and over temples, few of which are monitored.

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The Guru, The Priest and The Devotee. Ramanathaswami Temple, Rameshwaran.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Thu, 20 May 2010 01:16:41 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

Bodhinatha Veylanswami admires the magnificent corridor of pillars in Ramanathaswami Temple in Tamil Nadu, India.

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The Guru Speaks. Rameshwaran, Tamil Nadu.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Tue, 18 May 2010 06:43:16 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

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Under the watchful eye of Goddess Rajarajeshwari, Satuguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami addresses the attentive audience at Kailas Ashram in Rameshwaran, India. The Satguru giving the talk heads the Kauai Aadheenam (Hindu Monastery) in Kauai, Hawaii. Amongst other things, the Aadheenam publishes Hinduism Today which is one of the premier Hindu magazines read throughout the world. Here he is visiting India.

Kailas Ashram in Rameshwaran is one of the many ashrams run by Sri Jeyandrapuriswami, successor to Sri Tiruchy Mahaswamigal and based in Bangalore.

Temple Band Plays for Visiting Archarya Swami at Kailas Ashram. Tiruvannamalai, India

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Sun, 16 May 2010 15:51:18 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

My apologies for the quality of this shot - it was taken in low light. I wanted to show the young men from the previous photo playing their instruments. It was very loud, enough to awaken even the sleepiest god. They were also extremely good. They play tavil and nadaswaram.

It was a great chance to hear a temple band without the distractions, movement and other noise in the temples. It is a wonderful, complex sound, unusual to Western ears. Traditionally they accompany pujas as well as special rites. They are at their loudest at the height of the puja. At that time, bells are also ringing and the chanting is loud. It is magnificent.

The photo is taken at Kailas Ashram, one of the many ashrams run by Sri Jeyandrapuriswami who is successor to Sri Tiruchy Mahaswamigal and based in Bangalore.

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Kailas Ashram, Tiruvannamalai, India

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Sat, 15 May 2010 18:02:56 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

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Explored. Thank you!

Kailas Ashram, one of the many ashrams run by Sri Jeyandrapuriswami who is successor to Sri Tiruchy Mahaswamigal and based in Bangalore.

Inner Beauty with Monk. Take 2. Angkor Wat Complex, Cambodia.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Tue, 11 May 2010 18:52:16 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

I like this crop too. Which is your favourite? (see previous photo)

I find cropping an interesting dilemma. I don't fuss over it very much, but do at times wonder whether to crop or not. Leave more detail in and it tells a much larger story. Crop detail out and it focuses in on the essence of the story. Most times I can make that decision easily enough (e.g. see this one which I cropped to be square, leaving out some "story" detail but the end result is much more "impactful"). But with this one I love the "longer story" of an abode and its monk, yet the square crop has some great impact too, as a monk and his abode. What do you think?

View Big - notice the tattoos on the monk.

Inner Beauty with Monk. Angkor Wat Complex, Cambodia.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Tue, 11 May 2010 16:42:46 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

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Monk with Curtain and Shoe. Angkor Wat Complex, Cambodia

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Tue, 11 May 2010 01:32:58 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

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The Homa Rituals Begin.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 04:33:00 -0700

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Agni is invoked, the fire is lit.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 02:27:47 -0700

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The Swami Teaches. Kovalum, Kerala, India.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 09:12:42 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

Part of the Beloved India series.
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Angkor Wat. Cambodia.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Mon, 31 May 2010 02:17:24 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

What do you call a collection of swamis, satgurus and sadhakas? Joyfulness personified, I think.

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Enough Temple Viewing for Today

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Sun, 30 May 2010 06:24:17 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami walks with Nellaiappan after a day of intense temple viewing.

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Guru with Tree. Trees of Angkor. Cambodia.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Fri, 28 May 2010 01:45:26 -0700

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Monk Worships at the River of a Thousand Lingams. Cambodia.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Wed, 12 May 2010 04:39:15 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

A Hindu Monk worships the Unmanifest God as Sivalingams in the River of a Thousand Lingams.

A very sacred place in Cambodia is high in the hills outside of Siem Reap. Here, the 9th Century king placed 1008 Sivalingams in the river over 2 kilometers. As the water rose from springs and rain to form the river, it's blessed by Siva as it cascades over the lingams and brings abundance to the people, the animals and the crops.

The site is so beautiful and gentle, the energy is definitely sacred. We had a beautiful meditation by the river. Visiting this place was one of the highlights of my trip, in spite of the climb.

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Monk at Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

nobody@flickr.com (Ganga108 Ganga108) — Mon, 10 May 2010 19:53:55 -0700

Ganga108 Ganga108 posted a photo:

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