1006 posts since 2008

Dandapani’s Blog

Welcome! Sharing my reflections on the spiritual path.
Join me on a profound journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth.

Feb 21, 2012

Labor of Love at Chidambaram's Orphanage

Just a few minutes outside of Chidambaram town is an orphanage built to house, care and educate special needs persons. All of the residents of this orphanage have challenges with mental development. Most of the residents are young but there are four elders as well. Sri Kailas Shankar Deeksitar, one of the priests at the temple, and his family milk their cow each morning and deliver the milk to th...

Feb 21, 2012 Spiritual Adventures

Visit to Chidambaram

At Chidambaram temple, the group pauses for a portrait with the priest who performed the ceremony in which the ancient statue of the elephant-headed Ganesha is bathed with oil, milk, yogurt, honey, sandalwood, turmeric, fruit, rosewater and coconut water.
Learn More
Feb 20, 2012 Spiritual Adventures

Relaxed cows of Pondicherry

Pondicherry is a beautiful seaside French colonial town. Beautiful 19th century architecture and contented cows (although maybe not as Ben and Jerry envisioned them.)
Learn More
Feb 20, 2012 Spiritual Adventures

Shopping excursion to FabIndia

One of the great shopping experiences in India is FabIndia. People got very excited.
Learn More
Feb 20, 2012 Spiritual Adventures

Eating with your hands

Eating with your hand is something that is common in Asia especially in India. The right hand is used and all meals are eaten with it. Today for lunch as part of our culinary journey we visited Sri Krishna Sweets, a restaurant in Pondicherry that is famous for its sweets on the g
Learn More
Feb 20, 2012 Spiritual Adventures

Chidambaram's Temple of Love

This afternoon we made our way further south leaving behind the French colonial town of Pondicherry and arriving a couple of hours later in the temple town of Chidambaram. Chidambaram is most well know for its Siva Nataraja temple. Truly it is a temple of love as all are welcome
Learn More
Feb 20, 2012 Hinduism

More on Chidambaram's Siva Nataraja Temple

Sacred to Saivite Hindus the world over, this majestic temple complex sprawls over 40 acres and is dedicated to the Hindu god Siva. Here Siva manifests as Lord Nataraja, the Lord of Dance. Although there are many temples in South India dedicated to Siva, five among them are par
Learn More