Frances near the summit of Mt. Sabarimala, 2005. The Irumudi bag on her head contains an offering of coconuts filled with ghee.
A puja in Kerala, India, for Lord Shiva’s three sons, Ganesha, Ayyappa, and Subramanyan
Decorated Navagrahas at the puja house in Rajajinagar, Bangalore, 2009
Chris Jackson, co-author of Driven by the Divine, on the day he experienced jyoti, the light of Ayyappan, during a puja at the South Park Street house in Kalamazoo, Michigan, 2005
Shivalinga Swamy eating prasad (blessed food) following a puja for Lord Ganesha
Large Lord Ganesha murthi during a ten-day festival in Rajajinagar, Bangalore, India, 2005
Shivalinga Swamy (2nd from right) at a puja for Lord Ayyappan. The candles leading to the altar represent the 18 steps at the Mount Sabarimala temple in Kerala.
Shivalinga Swamy at his home performing aarti for Lord Ayyappan. Following the puja, several students began a pilgrimage to Mount Sabarimala.
Subramanyan, brother of Lords Ganesha and Ayyappa
Priests performing puja for Shivalingam in Bangalore
Vinnuacharya at a temple in Bangalore, 2008
A sketch of Vinnuacharya by my niece, Eileen Gormley
Frances and Vinnuacharya at the South Park Street house in Kalamazoo, 2005
Vinnuacharya and Frances in 2008, at an outdoor puja in Kerala for Lord Shiva's three sons, Ayyappan, Subramanyan and Ganesha. Ganesha is pictured in the background.
Frances with Shivalinga Swamy in Bangalore, 2008
Frances with her grandchildren, Alastair Fisk, Gaja and Mantra Jackson, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, 2017
Jeff Morton of Grand Rapids, Michigan, who plays percussion and stringed instruments. Jeff recorded numerous devotional songs with me and my daughter, Erika Jones of Kalamazoo.
Chris Jackson, co-author of Driven by the Divine. His stories comprise all of Chapter 6.
Erika Jones, Frances's daughter, sings, plays tablas and records songs and stories with her. She also designs her songbooks and books.
Frances and Vinay in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Shivalinga Swamy
Click here to read the 108 Names of Shivalinga Swamy
Shivalinga Swamy at his mother’s house in Banavasi. Lord Shiva’s vahana, Nandi the bull, blesses the entrance to the home.
Shivalinga Swamy and his wife, Rashmi, early in their marriage.
Shivalinga Swamy and his daughter, Gagana, in a playful mood at their home in Bangalore, 2005
Shivalinga Swamy with his daughters, Gagana and Lekhana, and his twin sons, Skanda and Shasta
Shivalinga Swamy brewing chai.
Guruji Shivalinga Swamy traveling with his students on a pilgrimage to Mount Sabarimala
Shivalinga Swamy as a Guruswamy