Aum namah Sivaya!

A interestingly powerful day at the Aadheenam. Two of our monks left for Washington, DC — full story below. As the monks walked down Tiruneri path to the entrance, they unexpectedly heard a melodious, strong chanting coming from a group of visitors under our Banyan tree Mandapam.

The Hawaiian Studies Kapuna group came today, chanting beautiful and sacred hawaiian songs. There is a strong and harmonious resonance between Hinduism and the native religion of the islands, their cosmology, Gods and traditions.

Arumugaswami and Sivakatirswami leave for Washington DC today. Their primary objective is to represent Hinduism Today at a giant Svadyay Pariwar national youth convention on Saturday, the 16th. The event includes a parade of Hindu floats down Constitution Avenue and a convention of some 5,000 or more youth and families at the Verizon Convention Center, from all over the US, with Svadyay Pariwar leaders coming in from India.

May Lord Ganesha bless their trip and open all doors!

The trip is sponsored by generous Pariwar supporters who love Hinduism Today. We are also taking the opportunity at the national capital to meet a number of congressmen and senators regarding new religious worker visa regulations that directly impact our ability to bring silpis and new monks to the US from other countries. They will also have satsang with the youth of the Murugan temple on Friday evening.

Today the annual inter-Island Hawaiian “Kapuna” Ka Piho O Ka Lei Lehua O Heawe gathering was hosted by Sabra Kauka of Kauai and came to the Aadheenam for their spiritual gathering. Every Island was represented and each Island honored the sacred land the Aadheenam rests upon with a chant or Oli as their “blessing” for this land. Here are some of the Kapunas from Oahu.

It was a rather large group, all of them very welcome. There were approximately sixty Kapunas in all.

Walking to Iraivan Temple, observed by Saint Tiruvalluvar (left), who wrote the Holy Kural; the TAKA photographer (behind the camera); and Saint Tirumular, the mystic who poured down the beautiful Tirumantiram.

Watching the Silpis’ demonstration.

“Kapuna” means “grandmother.” As in Hinduism, when one reaches a certain age of wisdom in the Hawaiian religion she or he can put more time into spiritual practices, study their tradition and strive to make spiritual progress.

The sacred Wailua river, that flows on our property, is praised in many hawaiian songs.

Chetty Balram (center) has been visiting the Aadheenam daily with his four students while on pilgrimage here from South Africa. He met with Sadhaka Jothinatha (far right) and plans to introduce the International Magazine, “Hinduism Today” to forty separate groups or “Societies” in South Africa.

Next to Sadhaka Jothinatha are Thevashen, Chetty Balram, Jaishni, Nerisha, and Subashin.

Enjoying the vibration of Iraivan Temple.

The group went down to Wailua, to perform abishekham…

…and meditate.

Three early morning visitors arrived from Wellington and Hamilton, New Zealand and were given a spontaneous tour of the Iraivan Temple by Sadhaka Haranandinatha. Glynis Mitchelson “Ngakari” is a Mouri native of New Zealand (far right) and agreed with her friends that the beauty and peace of this incredible place was “heavenly.”

More from the series of photos with our new camera lens.

This is Yogi Jivanandanatha, glowing ever more bright with the intensity of his tapas and the blessings of Muruga.

Our pond reminds us of staying in areas of the mind that are calm, clear, reflective. Saravanabhava.

This camera does take beautiful shots .

Lord Siva Dakshinamurti.

The colors of Kauai Aadheenam.