Today Bodhinatha went to the second Interfaith meeting of clergy from different Churches on Kauai. We had such a group in the early 1990’s but it disbanded. The new young group of leaders are very eager to see a new interfaith group get started. There was a lot of enthusiasm and energy at the meeting to create a spirit of sharing, understanding, tolerance and eventually some action goals to get things done in the community as a group.

Today, we visit our ever-productive and ever-efficient Pillaiyar Kulam. Here is the talaivar, artisan in charge, Sannyasin Shanmuganathaswami. For the last several days he has been working to prepare our 2005-2006 panchangam (astrological almanach), especially revising the program that generates it to give more refined calculations of the “yogas” (combinations of week-days with lunar asterisms). The panchang will be posted soon at www.himalayanacademy.com.

Sadhaka Jivanandanatha, who tracks incomes and expenditures for our monastery’s far-flung and varied activities, meets with Sannyasin Saravannanathaswami. Today they are discussing ways to budget items to renovate and modernize facilities at our Center in Mauritius, which includes the beautiful and popular Spiritual Park.

Sadhaka Jothinatha is holding two samples of the many items he is currently collecting up and shipping to helpers in the UK in preparation for Bodhinatha’s visit there later this month. He says that there is quite a bit of enthusiasm around London for this visit and various people are coming forward to help make it a grand event.

There is the information office, where the Pillaiyar Kulam do their Sivathondu….

Leaving the offices we come to the Nepali Ganesha at the beginning of Tiruneri and then…

Up the path to Kadavul temple.

The team has removed some of the tarpaulins and the vimanam is open to the sky for the first time in a long time.

The gold-leafed capstone shines brightly in the sunlight.

The “quick-tent” removal was the first step in the dismantling the scaffolding.

These small stones have been placed….

The vimanam is nearing completion!

Gate Mission Homa Satsang with Kulapatis presiding: Iraja Sivadas, Easvan Param, Deva Rajan, Easan Katir

Shrineroom altar through haze of Havana smoke

Golden Gate Mission members and friends listening as Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami talks to us from the
Aadheenam

Putrika Sandhya Param on her patti’s (Kulamata Bhavani Param) lap

Mukhya Jothi Param singing a carnatic piece during our cultural program.

After Satsang final preparations were made for the ritukala (coming of age) samskara for Yatrika Ajaya. All of the ladies joined in arranging flowers, setting up the area in front of the hearth for Yatrika to stand, preparing the trays. The men readily joined in as they were called upon to help.

With the celebration of the ritukala samskara in the home, the community acknowledges, blesses, and honors a girl who has blossomed into young womanhood.

Kulamata Sundari Katir does the milk blessing for Yatrika as did all married devotees at the ceremony, men and women.

Grihini Gowrie Sankara approaches for blessing Yatrika with milk.

After bathing and being wrapped in her first saree, Kulamata Bhavani Param hands Yatrika the kumbam she will hold throughout the rest of the ceremony.

Procession of trays into shrine room. Grihini Sahana Param carries tray with one hand and in her other arm, Bela Sundari.

The tray with rice and curries is presented by Kulamata Bhavani Param and Grihini Gowrie Sankara.

Her mother, Amma Punita, puts kumkum on Yatrika’s forehead.

After prostrating to Appa and Amma, Yatrika and Amma enjoy a loving hug.

Putra Jeyendra Param showers Yatrika with flowers.

Yatrika thanks everyone for coming to bless her by giving plates of her homebaked cookies. Here she gives a plate to Kulamata Asha Alahan.

Yatrika with her Appa and Amma