The
Siva Nataraj Mandir (non-Agaamic temple) was activated
during a day long ritual in August of 2005, by Pujari
Sri Ramanuja Acaraya, who is also the training instructor
for our 5-year Pujari Training Course.
During this ceremony, the deity Nataraj was invoked
and invited to into a gold yatra which is currently
situated in the main yoga studio at Yoga Mandala.
How wonderfully applicable as Siva is after all the
progenitor of Hatha Yoga and his Nataraj form depicts
the Universal Dance of Creation and the wonder of stillness
in action.
Now in 2007, we are finally able to house our Siva
Nataraj appropriately. In June of this year, we were
able to install Siva Nataraj in a custom-built, Balinese
temple house.
Please see the Temple
House Project for more information on this beautiful
structure.
Daily
Nataraj Puja
Daily puja (devotional offering) is performed at sunrise
to Nataraj, by students of Trika Kula and initiates
of Jnanagni Kula.
Public pujas in the mid-afternoon occur from time to
time.
You may make your own offerings of flowers or sweets,
as well as monetary donations to help maintain the mandir
with incense, oil for the lamps, and new raiment and
ornaments for the deity.
Cash donations to the Siva Nataraj Mandir go towards
the numerous puja offerings of puspam (flowers), prasad
(fruits and sweets), incense, silks for decoration,
etc.
As
of the end of 2007, we were able to raise the $10,000
needed to complete the purchase of our beautiful, handcrafted,
custom-made, Balinese temple house for Siva Nataraj.
Thanks to all of you for your generosity.
If you are in the Berkeley area, please come by to
bask in Siva Nataraj's new home.