Sun One today started a new phase with a lot of dynamic activity. It was tour day, unpacking new computer equipment on our once-every-two-years hardware upgrade.

Meanwhile on a serious note: the Veeragatiyar family in Germany, long
time devotees of the Kailasa Parampara, have informed us that their
beloved son, Nirmalan, who struggled for many years with some physical
challenges, finally went to Siva’s feet. The family would like to inform
everyone and request prayers on Nirmalan’s behalf for an auspicious
passage into his next stage of spiritual evolution.

Nirmalan, fearlessly aware that his time was short in
this world, shared with us when he was a teenager visiting Kauai Aadheenam some years back, that he planned to become a monk in his next birth. He knew the soul is deathless, and he lived every moment of his life in a deep love of God and Guru.

Dr. Danie Beaulieu called us from Quebec province, Canada, a few days ago and asked to come meet us and register for our Asian Odyssey 2008 innersearch travel-study program. Yes, she came some 6,000 miles, to do just that–and she did. She is a world-class psychologist, quite a happy and radiant soul and will be a bright presence among our bright innersearchers. Her visit was her first close experience of Hinduism and she was delighted with the discovery. “I am so transformed by just three visits, it leaves to wonder what my innersearch experience may be.” Information on this January 2008 innersearch is available here, and you may contact us for information by emailing innersearch@hindu.org

Danie met with Sivanadiyar Dharmaraj and Sadhaka Jothinatha when she visited our little Minimela book shop just before departing the island. She bought Gurudeva’s entire trilogy. She’d had a small taste of the trilogy and was, again, so deeply and immediately transformed, she felt she could not leave without the entire set. “I wanted to be sure to take all three books with me. I want them with me everywhere, in my home, along with me on my travels so I can look at them, touch them and read them constantly. I want to show this to others and share it with them.”

It was tour day today… The morning visitors trail all along the Pali path on their way to the Iraivan Temple with Sadhaka Satyanatha.

From many different countries and all walks of life, and with varied religious backgrounds, they are all one happy peaceful group of souls today under the canopy of the iraivan Temple.

Surrounded by the second group of visitors, Karupiah happily poses with a Hindu family (center) who live near where the Iraivan stones are quarried outside Bangalore, India.

We had our Iraivan morning this past Sunday and invited the task forcers to join us.

The “Rudraksha Machine” goes into full swing. The ladies handle the jewerly making side of operations

The men work on bead preparations. Here is Tandu Sivanathan.

Robin Jesse mounting beads in preparation for sand blasting.

Teja also mounting beads.

Joe doing the same.

We asked our three task force guests to share their stories of what brought them to Kauai Aadheenam and Bodhinath to serve. We were all inspired to listen to their stories, each unique and powerful.

NOTE! We are sorry too report that all the images from here to the end were mysteriously deleted due to a some network issues that may have come up due to our computer upgrade. (for *nix nerds: mv /taka/images/*.jpg /www/www.himalayanacademy.com/httpdocs/taka/past/2007/March/ etc… this cmd failed to actually move all the files… leaving the source directory empty, and destination directory only partially complete… a gremlin…”)

Durvasa gave our monthly report which reflects consistently strong sales for the Rudraksha malas, earrings, key chains, etc. We had a wonderful lunch prepared by the ladies.

One interesting note is that we have a large valley to the North of our home where a pair of peacocks live. We might not see them for weeks on end but when they do show up in the yard it there is almost always something auspicious happening (It never ceases to amaze me!). Just as the young taskforcers started telling their story of finding their way to Kauai Aadheenam I could here the peacocks coming from out of the valley.

They came and climbed right on the fence and called to us.

Two visitors from Sri Lanka who were invited to attend a Tamil conference in Mauritius last week are leaving tonight. They insisted to visit Panchamuka Ganapathi before going back home. The lady is the Mrs Sivanandini Duraiswamy; her husband was Yogendra (he has passed on). They were two of Yogaswami’s most dedicated shishyas. You may read some of Yogaswami letters to Yogendra when he was young, the letters and prose sections of Yogaswami’s writings.

Shishya Koomaren Moorooven is hosting visitors today, cleaning around Panchamuka Ganapathi.

The new pathway to Ganesha Mandapam

Devotees visiting Lord Muruga this Sunday

Karma Yogis adding a fresh coat of paint to hand rails. The sea water easily damages the metal rails so they need regular maintenance.

We have some very valuable bamboo plants , this variety produces the biggest bamboo

Another variety of bamboo plants which resisted the recent cyclonic winds.

Meanwhile in another corner of the property new guest restrooms are being built.