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Spiritual Adventures February 26, 2012 1 min read

Smashing the Ego

At a small Shiva temple in the countryside of the Chettinad region, we stopped to participate in a Hindu custom in which a coconut is smashed on the ground in front…

Smashing the Ego

At a small Shiva temple in the countryside of the Chettinad region, we stopped to participate in a Hindu custom in which a coconut is smashed on the ground in front of the temple to symbolize the smashing of the ego.

The temple was beautifully kept and practically deserted, a change from the crowded temples of the last few days. We carry our coconuts past rows of statues depicting the Tamil sages.

In front of the temple, each person flings their coconut to the ground and they all break with a satisfying crack.

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Dandapani

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Dandapani

Dandapani is a Hindu priest, entrepreneur, former monk of ten years, and the author of The Power of Unwavering Focus. He lives in Nosara, Costa Rica, where he and his wife are building a Hindu spiritual sanctuary and botanical garden. Each week he writes one teaching to help you live a focused, purposeful life.

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