This is the new Parvati, Shiva's wife waiting to be installed in the Shiva temple complex at the Malibu temple. The actual prana pratishta will take place next weekend...but they have taken out of her shipping crate, given her some preliminary pujas and dressed her nicely.
As readers of this blog know, we make a point of providing food to others as a part of our monthly yagya program. The Vedas are very clear on the importance of this kind of sharing, and this month we have the unique pleasure of being able to feed a group of sanyasis in Varanasi.
As a part of their vows of sanyas, they are not allowed to touch fire so everything that they eat must be prepared by others.
Of course that doesn't mean that they are starving. In fact, they appear to healthy and happy and really seemed to enjoy having lunch together!
Some of them really look just what a sanyasi should look like; clear, sharp, and maybe just a little bit intimidating!
We held a big Ganesha Yagya at our yagya stala on the banks of the Ganga River. Here you see the Ganesha seated in the center. Not the beautiful mandala made from rice grains, turmeric powder, and flowers.
Ready to begin...
There are lots of ingredients in a yagya! The round balls are called modaka; traditionally a favorite food of Ganesha. Note also the puffed rice on the right, and the bunches of green grass. All specific to a Ganesha yagya.
As the puja progresses, the offerings are piled in front of the murti.
And by the end of the puja...it gets difficult to even see the Ganesha!
