Sadhu Paksha, Day 2

All is quiet at home at the Aadheenam. Though there are no official tours…lots of Hindus are coming to the temple in the morning. Being school holidays, families are traveling…

We have these photos just in from Toronto… here is Bodhinatha arriving at the Nagapooshani Amman temple.

August 3rd: stepping back in time, Bodhinatha departing Kauai Aadheenam…

Traveling with Sadhaka Dandapani

A polaroid filter creates a rainbow of colors 36,000 feet above sea level as the plane heads towards San Francisco over an ocean of clouds.

August 4th:Bodhinatha responds to e-mails as he waits for his United Airlines flight to Chicago. After a half hour transit time, he boards a connecting flight to his final destination, Toronto.

August 5th: Our first day of events began with a visit to the Sri Ayyappan Temple at 8:30am. Bodhinatha was welcomed with a pada puja and arathi by the priest and devotees.

Temple president, Mr. Balendran, shows Bodhinatha a painting of the new temple and explains the plans.

The construction of the temple is well on the way with the ground floor completed structurally. What you see here is the frame work for the 1st floor which will be where the shrine is and the mandapam where devotees can worship.

The temple faces directly east. It also already owns a 15 to 20 feet tall chariot.

After the Ayyappan Temple, Bodhinatha headed to the Sri Nagapooshani Amman temple. Kandasami Kurukkal (far right), who was recently on Kauai for Iraivan’s Garbhanyasa ceremony, welcomes Bodhinatha. To his immediate left is Surainder Kurukal from Kopay, Sri Lanka.

Bharani Sivacharya garlands Bodhinatha. He was trained by Sri Pitchai Kurukkal in Pillaiyarpatti and is now one of the priests here at the Nagapooshani Amman temple. He also conducts classes in Sanskrit chanting (which this morning Bodhinatha said was some of the best he heard) and puja training.

Bodhinatha poses with Bharani Sivacharya in his Sanskrit chanting classroom.

Upon conclusion of the morning puja at the Nagapooshani Amman temple, Bodhinatha was taken to the site where the temple will be relocated to. They have purchased a 5-acre parcel which includes an existing building which will be renovated to be the new Nagapooshani Amman temple. At this venue classes are currently being conducted in hatha yoga and meditation, computer training, thevaram and bhajan, Sanskrit chanting and puja training.

Kulapati Easan Katir at the summer camp in Pennsylvania…. He’s in the back, top row, to the right in front of the temple door. He writes:

“Campers enjoy puja and dinner at the Sri Venkateshwara Temple.”