Kathirkama devotees Tsunami Disaster relief work in eastern Sri Lanka

[Guest guest]

Dear fellow bhaktars,

 

Kataragama devotees have been collecting relief items and funds and are

even now visiting affected coastal villages that annually support the

Kathirkama Pada Yatra. I am sending this to you from Trincomalee; tomorrow

we head south to affected villages in Batticaloa and Ampara districts.

 

For details go to http://murugan.org under 'What's New' or go straight to

these new pages:

 

http://murugan.org/events/relief-trinco.htm

 

http://murugan.org/events/tsunami-relief.htm

 

yours as ever, in thondu,

 

Patrick Harrigan

Sri Lanka Disaster Relief Mission

Kataragama Devotees Trust

Cell. +94-7766 97948

e-mail: editor

[Guest guest]

MURUGA SARANAM

 

Dear Mr. Patrick..

 

Your knowledge in Murugan Bhakthi and your attitude to serve Murugan

devotees and suffering people is commendable. You seem to be a

westerner and I keep wondering what brought you into to Murugan

Bhakthi and apart from His divine Grace and blessings, what inspired

you to gain so much of knowlegde about Him and serve His devotees. You

have vast knowledge and experience in Murugan Bhakthi even a little of

which many native bhakthas like me do not have. Serving His devotees

is the best thing one can do in my opinion and I realised this when

people use to eagarly serve the pilgrims when we do our patha yathra

to Palani. This reminded me of the 'thondu' done by Sivanadiyars as

explained in many of their stories.

 

When you said (in your web site for tsunami relief) about the

villagers who traditionally supported and cared for the devotees of

Kathirgama pilgrimage I was really touched.

 

I still could not believe that a person born in the west can learn and

progress so much in Murugan Bhakthi and dutifully serve His devotees.

 

While I will certainly join you with my little hands I appreciate your

relentless efforts in Murugan Bhakthi and serving His devotees and

poor alike.

 

MURUGA SARANAM

 

WitH Best Regards

Meyyappan S

 

 

On Mon, 03 Jan 2005 02:39:42 +0600, Patrick Harrigan <editor wrote:

>

> Dear fellow bhaktars,

>

> Kataragama devotees have been collecting relief items and funds and are

> even now visiting affected coastal villages that annually support the

> Kathirkama Pada Yatra. I am sending this to you from Trincomalee; tomorrow

> we head south to affected villages in Batticaloa and Ampara districts.

>

> For details go to http://murugan.org under 'What's New' or go straight to

> these new pages:

>

> http://murugan.org/events/relief-trinco.htm

>

> http://murugan.org/events/tsunami-relief.htm

>

> yours as ever, in thondu,

>

> Patrick Harrigan

> Sri Lanka Disaster Relief Mission

> Kataragama Devotees Trust

> Cell. +94-7766 97948

> e-mail: editor

[Guest guest]

Batticaloa, Sri Lanka

 

Dear Meyyappan & friends,

 

Our survey party just arrived to Batticaloa after covering Trincomalee

district. Next we will be covering Kalmunai in the hardest hit district,

Amparai. I have been publishing reports and photos on the www.Murugan.org

site and, soon, on the www.PadaYatra.org site also.

 

Thank you for your appreciation and flattering remarks about Westerners who

are drawn to Lord Murugan.

 

It may interest you to know that our teacher, too, was a Westerner who came

from Germany in the 1930's, met Nallur Yogaswami and remained with him, and

used to walk from Jaffna to Kathirkamam every year from the late 1940's

onward. When I walked with German Swami Gauribala Giri in 1972, the Karai

Yaathirai was still very healthy and robust, with more swamis than one

could count. Because of that experience, and the instruction I received

from him over the years, I find myself in the position of supporting the

tradition that nourished my teacher's generation and many generations

before his.

 

About your marveling at foreigners who serve Lord Murugan (or other aspects

of the same Lord), it is surely a matter of divine grace, to be sure. But

it is also, for one whose perspective is 'Indian' or orthodox 'Hindu',

simply a matter of continuing unfinished work from earlier rounds of

existence, many of which would have been spent in India where conditions

are most conducive to sadhana. We, like you, have taken birth in this world

to serve our Lord and His devotees and to purify our heart-mind. If we have

been born in India or Europe or America or wherever, it is with a deep

purpose that sometimes may become plain to see. Our vasanas or innermost

impulses are much the same as yours; only we have been 'despatched', as it

were, to take birth in other lands in order to learn from those cultures,

get some special trainings or experiences there, and apply ourselves to the

particular sadhana prescribed for us. All of us are time-travelers,

pilgrims across aeons and entire universes. Nothing about this is at all

odd; it is simply beyond the scope of everyday thinking in this Kali Yuga.

 

By the way, Kathirkamam is quite some distance inland from the sea, so it

suffered no damage. Interestingly, reports from the Wildlife Department say

that there was little loss of life among wildlife in Yala National Park

bordering Kathirkamam, because it seems the wild animals had some sixth

sense that told them to get away from the coast.

 

Apart from Kathirkamam, the Murugan temples in Sri Lanka that would have

suffered heavy destruction (because they are situated right upon the beach,

like Tiruchendur) are:

 

Tirukkovil Citra Velayudha Swami Kovil in Ampara district:

http://kataragama.org/centers/tirukkovil.htm

 

and

Tiruchendur Murugan Tirukkovil, Kalladi Batticaloa district (I will visit

and find out tomorrow):

http://kataragama.org/centers/kalladi.htm

 

and (possibly)

Ukanta Malai Velayudha Swami Temple (Okanda) south of Pottuvil:

http://kataragama.org/centers/okanda.htm

 

yours as ever, in thondu

 

Patrick Harrigan

Sri Lanka Disaster Relief Mission

Kataragama Devotees Trust

Cell. +94-7766 97948

e-mail: editor

 

At 05:05 AM 1/3/2005, you wrote:

 

>MURUGA SARANAM

>

>Dear Mr. Patrick..

>

>Your knowledge in Murugan Bhakthi and your attitude to serve Murugan

>devotees and suffering people is commendable. You seem to be a

>westerner and I keep wondering what brought you into to Murugan

>Bhakthi and apart from His divine Grace and blessings, what inspired

>you to gain so much of knowlegde about Him and serve His devotees. You

>have vast knowledge and experience in Murugan Bhakthi even a little of

>which many native bhakthas like me do not have. Serving His devotees

>is the best thing one can do in my opinion and I realised this when

>people use to eagarly serve the pilgrims when we do our patha yathra

>to Palani. This reminded me of the 'thondu' done by Sivanadiyars as

>explained in many of their stories.

>

>When you said (in your web site for tsunami relief) about the

>villagers who traditionally supported and cared for the devotees of

>Kathirgama pilgrimage I was really touched.

>

>I still could not believe that a person born in the west can learn and

>progress so much in Murugan Bhakthi and dutifully serve His devotees.

>

>While I will certainly join you with my little hands I appreciate your

>relentless efforts in Murugan Bhakthi and serving His devotees and

>poor alike.

>

>MURUGA SARANAM

>

>WitH Best Regards

>Meyyappan S

>

>

>On Mon, 03 Jan 2005 02:39:42 +0600, Patrick Harrigan <editor

>wrote:

> >

> > Dear fellow bhaktars,

> >

> > Kataragama devotees have been collecting relief items and funds and are

> > even now visiting affected coastal villages that annually support the

> > Kathirkama Pada Yatra. I am sending this to you from Trincomalee; tomorrow

> > we head south to affected villages in Batticaloa and Ampara districts.

> >

> > For details go to http://murugan.org under 'What's New' or go straight to

> > these new pages:

> >

> > http://murugan.org/events/relief-trinco.htm

> >

> > http://murugan.org/events/tsunami-relief.htm

> >

> > yours as ever, in thondu,

> >

> > Patrick Harrigan

> > Sri Lanka Disaster Relief Mission

> > Kataragama Devotees Trust

> > Cell. +94-7766 97948

> > e-mail: editor

[Guest guest]

MURUGA SARANAM

 

Dear Mr. Patrick..

 

Thank you for all the information and sorry for allowing my excitement

to be flattering. Praying to Him that His mercy and blessings may

always be there to guide you and and enjoy serving Him and His

devotees. I now realise and understand that though we may be born at

different places we are a pilgrim of this endless universe, which only

He knows completely, and ofcourse with a purpose prescribed by Him.

 

May All Glories be to The Lord of Kathirgama, The Caretaker of This

Universe and all that we see and all that we dont see.

 

MURUGA SARANAM

 

With Best Regards

Meyyappan S

 

 

 

> Dear Meyyappan & friends,

>

> Our survey party just arrived to Batticaloa after covering Trincomalee

> district. Next we will be covering Kalmunai in the hardest hit district,

> Amparai. I have been publishing reports and photos on the www.Murugan.org

> site and, soon, on the www.PadaYatra.org site also.

>

> Thank you for your appreciation and flattering remarks about Westerners who

> are drawn to Lord Murugan.

>

> It may interest you to know that our teacher, too, was a Westerner who came

> from Germany in the 1930's, met Nallur Yogaswami and remained with him, and

> used to walk from Jaffna to Kathirkamam every year from the late 1940's

> onward. When I walked with German Swami Gauribala Giri in 1972, the Karai

> Yaathirai was still very healthy and robust, with more swamis than one

> could count. Because of that experience, and the instruction I received

> from him over the years, I find myself in the position of supporting the

> tradition that nourished my teacher's generation and many generations

> before his.

>

> About your marveling at foreigners who serve Lord Murugan (or other aspects

> of the same Lord), it is surely a matter of divine grace, to be sure. But

> it is also, for one whose perspective is 'Indian' or orthodox 'Hindu',

> simply a matter of continuing unfinished work from earlier rounds of

> existence, many of which would have been spent in India where conditions

> are most conducive to sadhana. We, like you, have taken birth in this world

> to serve our Lord and His devotees and to purify our heart-mind. If we have

> been born in India or Europe or America or wherever, it is with a deep

> purpose that sometimes may become plain to see. Our vasanas or innermost

> impulses are much the same as yours; only we have been 'despatched', as it

> were, to take birth in other lands in order to learn from those cultures,

> get some special trainings or experiences there, and apply ourselves to the

> particular sadhana prescribed for us. All of us are time-travelers,

> pilgrims across aeons and entire universes. Nothing about this is at all

> odd; it is simply beyond the scope of everyday thinking in this Kali Yuga.

>

> By the way, Kathirkamam is quite some distance inland from the sea, so it

> suffered no damage. Interestingly, reports from the Wildlife Department say

> that there was little loss of life among wildlife in Yala National Park

> bordering Kathirkamam, because it seems the wild animals had some sixth

> sense that told them to get away from the coast.

>

> Apart from Kathirkamam, the Murugan temples in Sri Lanka that would have

> suffered heavy destruction (because they are situated right upon the beach,

> like Tiruchendur) are:

>

> Tirukkovil Citra Velayudha Swami Kovil in Ampara district:

> http://kataragama.org/centers/tirukkovil.htm

>

> and

> Tiruchendur Murugan Tirukkovil, Kalladi Batticaloa district (I will visit

> and find out tomorrow):

> http://kataragama.org/centers/kalladi.htm

>

> and (possibly)

> Ukanta Malai Velayudha Swami Temple (Okanda) south of Pottuvil:

> http://kataragama.org/centers/okanda.htm

>

> yours as ever, in thondu

>

> Patrick Harrigan

> Sri Lanka Disaster Relief Mission

> Kataragama Devotees Trust