Today at Kauai Aadheenam

At Kauai Aadheenam during our last retreat the Dandapani mound in Siva's Garden was taken apart in preparation for a major overhaul. It had grown dense and needing of resuscitation, as life often is. Sadasivanathaswami was supported by Tandu Sivanathan and Vel Alahan, and the three of them removed all but a few of the plants, getting it ready for new gems.

The mound holds a four-foot-tall Dandapani which came from India in 2006. His name means "One who holds the renunciate's staff, or danda."

He is the deity we draw close to when we wish to meditate, when we want to let go of some small (or large) part of our worldliness, when we are in need of healing, when we wish to undertake special penances and yogas.

At Palani Hills this song is sung to Dandapani:

O Lord of Palani Hill!
O Dandapani!
O Karttikeya, O Muruga!
Salutations unto Thee.

Thou art the younger brother of Ganesha.
The six Krittika Devis nursed you
Thus are you named Karttikeya.
Thou art Nirguna Brahman.
Thou art Siva's sparks of Light Divine,
Thou art the great General
Of Celestial forces,
Thou art the Destroyer
Of Tarakasura and Simhamukha.
Surapadma became Thy vehicle and flag.

Come, O come, Lord Subrahmanya
You blessed Arunagiri.
Now Bless me, O Skanda,
I am Thine, all is Thine my Lord!

The murthi was freshly oiled, awaiting his new forested surroundings that will slowly unfold in the weeks ahead.

On our Siddhidata day, Arumuganathaswami, Natyam Satyanatha processed about 130 pounds of freshly picked and ripened noni in this old-fashioned cider press. Yield was 9 gallons, which is good. The fresh juice has to be kept refrigerated; it is tastier than the fermented type.

Filling a jar. Noni juice is a wonderful tonic and a good support for your immune system.

A pair of birds have made their nest on a shelf compartment in our workshop area. We’d seen them coming and going, one blue and one brown, and today found on sitting in the nest. A few minutes later she (he?) was gone and three little chicks were begging us for food.

They must feel totally at home with the monks knowing that no harm will befall them. Why else would they nest here where there is often a huge amount of noise, banging on metal, welding and testing of machines

Aloha. My name is Teji. I have pretty black markings. All of us cows are watching TAKA closely. You put a picture of my mom, Deepti, on TAKA Yesterday and said she was me.... Teji. But she's all white and her name is Deepti!

Go Mata, (cow mother) Teji Deepti is a rambunctious young lady, fairly active grandmother. She found a break in the fence line of the pasture and went for a walk to Iraivan, enjoying sweet Ti plants and other marvelous things planted by the monks along the way

Food is foremost on her mind and a bucket of tasty alfalfa is all you need to prod her to follow you all the way back to her proper paddock.

[rambunctious |ram?b? ng k sh ?s|
adjective informal
uncontrollably exuberant; boisterous.]