Here are the first photos from Bodhinatha and Shanmuganathaswami’s “Across America” journey. After several days of non-stop travel, meetings and visits, this is their first TAKA report and is written from the mile high city of Denver, Colorado. So we are going to back in time to catch up on their progress across the middle of America.

After a long delay in the flight from Lihue they took a circuitous route via Los Angeles and arrived in cool San Francisco early in the morning on August 2. After postponing their first meeting of the day they visited two professional business associates related to Hindu Heritage Endowment. Trenched in the heart of downtown San Francisco near Union Square, they visited a vegetarian restaurant where they spent time brainstorming various projects relating to Hindu Heritage Endowment.

On August 3 they flew to Salt Lake City and were met by local shishya Aditya Vinadhara, a long time devotee of Gurudeva. In the evening they drove to the Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple of Utah, the first Hindu temple in Utah. Here they are at the temple on the evening of their arrival, enjoying the sacred mantras being chanted.

Gurudeva gave the Hindu community here a Ganesha murthi in the early nineties, and Lord Ganesha was worshiped in the basement of Mr. and Mrs. Neelameggham for five years. The community bought some land in South Jordan, about 20 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City, and then proceeded to construct the temple.

Arriving at dusk they were greeted by the temple officials. Here you see the silhouette of the temple with the Utah skylight in background.

The priests and devotees of the temple were in the midst of a Lakshmi puja when Bodhinatha arrived and the two monks enjoyed the last part of chanting the 1008 names of Lakshmi. With each name, they are offering kumkuma to the Goddess.

About 44 people were there that Thursday evening, and it was considered a large group for a week day.

The temple opened about two years ago. Here you can see the beautiful marble floors. The mandapam is spacious for a small temple.

After Bodhinatha’s talk, the two priests showed their respect and appreciation by presenting him with a shawl and a few of the temple’s specially minted silver coins.

This is part of the audience who came for the puja and Bodhinatha’s talk. Mushika, Lord Ganesha’s loyal mount, is in the center of the photo with a garland around his neck.

The priests of all the temples Bodhinatha visits have a special sense of closeness with Bodhinatha and the monks of our monastery on Kauai.

The Hindu community is fortunate to have this temple in Utah, and we are told that Bodhinatha is the first swami to visit the temple since it opened two years ago.

Everybody came forward enthusiastically to introduce themselves to Bodhinatha and Shanmuganathaswami.

Young couples were anxious to hear a few words of advice.

Jane Nelson, of Positive Discipline fame, came to see Bodhinatha at the temple. She had received an e-mail invitation sent to all the Utah temple devotees. We were surprised to see her there as she was on Kauai just last week. Jane explained that this was her first time to the Sri Ganesha Temple, although she only lives a couple miles away! She presented Bodhinatha with her latest edition of her book on raising children, Positive Discipline.

Bodhinatha performed a simple milk abhishekam to a small Siva Lingam in front of Siva and Parvati and the larger Narmada Siva Lingam. To the left you may be able to see the murthi of Lord Muruga watching the ceremony.

There is Lord Muruga in the upper left of the photo.

The invitation sent to devotees inviting them to see Bodhinatha was on the bulletin board.

Everywhere Bodhinatha has gone has brought rain. Salt Lake City was no exception. Here is a view of downtown.

Aditya Vinadhara took the two monks to the Oasis Restaurant for breakfast. He explained that Gurudeva had visited this restaurant/book store in 1995, and since his visit it had grown into a larger restaurant and was quite popular. Gurudeva often had this effect on restaurants he visited. Aditya related several stories of Gurudeva’s visit to Salt Lake City and the beginnings of the Utah Ganesha temple. We encouraged Aditya to write down his stories for our archives. Aditya continues with his service to the Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple of Utah, and during his last visit to Kauai he inspired the creation of an endowment for the temple with HHE, fund #56.

Aditya drove Bodhinatha and Shanmuganathaswami to the airport and they flew off to their next destination high in the Rockie Mountains of Eagle, Colorado. And, well, that’s another story for another day.

Bodhinatha gave a very inspiring talk about two questions asked by the youth today. The group listened attentively as Bodhinatha explained the first problem.

As we mentioned a few days back, two grand wooden sculptures arrived with the latest stone shipments from India. Ganesha and Muruga. They are destined to grace the entry of Kadavul Temple, hung right on the lava rock wall on either side of the giant doors. They will be part of the lighting for the outside of the temple guiding visitors to the temple in the dark hours before dawn for early puja and homa.

Each is made from a single tree, a large one. You can see from the lotus Ganesha is standing on how deeply carved it is.

And painted to look like it is already worn with age, though these were tailor made for us.

It took the carver 18 months to make the pair.

Graceful designs everywhere.

Below is a short movie of the two carvings:

Ganesha’s noose.

Murugan is on the right side of the entrance. They are just sitting there now, waiting to be installed.

Muruga offers blessings and protection to all.

Parrots play in the trees above him.

And a peacock looks from below.

Jai Murugan!

Meanwhile, a shot from atop Muruga Hill, with our grassy cow pastures there behind the tall palms.

Bamboo on top of the hill provides shade.

This is the WILD THING of the day, an ensete flower. It’s massive, about 18 inches across and deep purple.

Ensete is a relative of the banana, but gives no fruits. This one is called “Superba.”

The last containers from India brought many gifts to Kauai’s Hindu Monastery, not the least of which is this charming Dandapani, mean Lord Muruga “who holds the renunciate’s staff.”

He has a new home in the temple gardens, on asmall mountain withlarge palms nearby.

His hair is shaven to denote his giving up of all worldliness and ego, and he wears a band of rudraksha beads on his head and larger ones in his ears.

Dandapani is said to be the first human being to renounce the world and take the path of the solitary seeker of Truth.

This is the form of Murugan at Palani Hills,where the following poem is sung to Him:

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!