Today at Kauai Aadheenam

Jai Ganesha!

We know some of you have seen this video before, but many have not, so we thought it a good idea to show it again here on TAKA. It is a video made by Sivanadiyar Kodiswara, interviewing our monks about monastic life here. The goal is to give greater insight for both those who may be considering monastic life, and those who simply would like to know more about the monastery and our monks.

A Palm Tree was blown over, next to our buildings

The next day the SK works to rebuild our broken quick tents

Sadhaka Shankaranatha going through the manual

Checking the pistons

Jai Ganesha!

Two days ago, the island of Kauai experienced a challenging day as heavy rain and strong winds swept through. Everyone, including us monks, faced the storm’s intensity as it descended upon the island, causing power outages and property damage. News channels and government issued warnings to locals, and although we had previously encountered similar storms and taken some precautions in advance, we did not expect this one to be so severe. After the strong wind ended, the Siddhidata Kulam monks went around the property, fixing everything they could. In the slideshow above,the mathavasis and taskforce repairing the tarps that were torn off by the storm. Meanwhile, amid all the restoration efforts, Sadhaka Shankaranatha carried out routine maintenance on our new Kubota tractor. Since it requires a piston check every ten usage-hours, he ensured it was in proper working condition and performed the necessary maintenance. The video below offers a glimpse of what we experienced during the storm. Aum!

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami gives his weekly upadesha in Kadavul Temple at Kauai’s Hindu Monastery in Hawaii. It is part of a series of talks elaborating on the inspired teachings of Satguru Śivaya Subramuniyaswami as found in his book Merging With Śiva.

“A woman living in the iḍā current goes through her emotional cycles, too. Her moods change regularly. She laughs, cries, sulks, enjoys. He has to be wise enough to allow her to have these ups and downs and neither criticize nor correct her when she does. If conditions become strained within the home, the man of the house becomes the example by feeling the power of his spine and the spiritual force of Śiva within it. He finds that he remains calm and can enjoy the bliss of his own energy. He finds ways and means to create joy and happiness and make odic forces that may have gone into a heavy condition beautiful, buoyant and lovely again.“

Contractors are nearly finished installing vinyl wood floor panels throughout the upstairs office rooms. A wooden ridge was also fashioned by the monks for stepping into the meeting room. Soon the kulam will be able to start moving furniture in to the various rooms.

A shot looking straight down at Iraivan Temple

The Chola Gardens and Rishi Valley Ponds

Gathering before the afternoon’s Pradosha Puja

The Svayambhu Lingam’s temporary tent along San Marga, the Shadkonam Garden and Iraivan Temple

A slightly closer shot

Our grass plantings are beginning to grow in

An overview of The Path of the Saivite Satguru’s, with the Silpi Pavilion to the left

The new Siddhidatta Kulam shop

And a final view over to our hardwood forests, across the river. In the far upper-left, the bright green patch is our Noni field

Aum Namah Sivaya!

Happy Pradosha Puja day! With such nice weather we decided to take the drone up for some fresh aerial photos of Iraivan Temple. These also give us a good view of the new temporary service path around the temple, which is in place until funds are raised to build the final stone path. They also give us a snapshot of the growth of our temple gardens and landscaping. Aum.

The best thing to do when you begin meditation is to live in a good environment, among good people.

Sivaya Subramuniyaswami