We count the years of our life together beginning with Gurudeva founding the Subramuniya Ashram in Alaveddy, Sri Lanka, shortly after he was initiated by Siva Yogaswami. The power of the lineage was passed on to the being of Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami and from him to Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami.

Through six decades that great spark has grown and manifested today as Kauai Aadheenam. With its small band of dedicated, loyal monks who have sacrificed their lives to serve the Parampara, who have stuck with it, “through thick and thin…” Supported by a small band of devoted and steadfast sishya, from Kauai Aadheenam the message of the Kailasa Parampara has reached out and touched the hearts, minds and souls of hundreds of thousands the world over.

Kauai Aadheenam became a secluded powerhouse where Gurudeva kept his monks together doing intense Raja yoga, worship of Lord Siva in the temple and teamed up on his mission work during the day. Out of this mix of Natha Kundalini meditation sadhana, daily chanting and worship of our beloved Siva Nataraja flows a bee-hive of dedicated activity that has manifested many remarkable publications.

Gurudeva started publishing in San Francisco. He himself ran a small Gestetner printing machine that produced the early copies of his “Master Course.” In 1979 he started his first international news publication effort which was to become one day the famous magazine we all know and love: Hinduism Today. This year, 2009, marks its 30th anniversary.

This humble “newspaper” was only letter sized. It was sent to Friends and Members of Saiva Siddhanta Church and called “The New Saivite World.”

In two years the publication advanced to a full-sized broadsheet tabloid.

The editorial team worked nearly full time. It was a monthly then and began to bring in major feature stories with an editorial mission of international scope. It was dedicated to serve “300 Million members of the Saivite Hindu Religion.” Worldwide.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s Gurudeva made a whirlwind of trips to many countries on invitation from leaders in England, Europe, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Mauritius, the Caribbean and of course across USA and Canada.

He returned to Kauai Aadheenam with a new vision. He said that Hindu communities all over the world had no idea what their brethern were doing in other countries. Hindus in Fiji had no clue about the large Hindu presence in South Africa. Hindus in Malaysia were unaware of the dynamic Hindu presence in Trinidad and Tobago. He boldly commissioned the monks to create an instrument which would bring to all the world over a new vision of global Hindu solidarity, based on a unity in diversity. He told the monks that this would be a public service to all Hindus, of all colors, of all nationalities and all traditions. The new publication would promote all lineages, all Hindu sampradayas and especially be focused on honoring and highlighting Hindu leaders and the work of Hindu sevaks the world over. He also mandated the magazine to serve as a Hindu front which would tackle the issues facing the transition of Sanatana Dharma from the past to today and on to tomorrow’s children.

In September of 1985, the publication received a new title, Hinduism Today, and added a single color to the black. Wow! Well, that’s what we thought back then when we were doing the printing. The lead article on Sri Lanka was a fateful one, still relevant today.

By 1987 the publication was gaining recognition, readership and support by advertisers throughout the world. Financially it has always paid its own way. Never made money, never lost it either. Other journals have come and gone. Other journals reach only the small group of followers of a specific institution. Hinduism Today is not about us. It is about the rest of the Hindu world. When Gurudeva set these principles in motion, he told the monks, “Don’t beat your own chest. Make others strong, and see how strong you get in the process.” He was so right.

In January, 1986, after considerable discussions over the added expense, the publication goes full color.

With a growing international distribution, the newspaper format was no longer a viable medium. It was logistically difficult to pack and ship. The editorial content was “crying out” for a more elegant, sophisticated vehicle.

In December of 1996 we tackled what was then referred to in-house as “Project Quantum Leap!” Hinduism Today became a full-color glossy magazine and was to be distributed through all the mainstream distribution channels. The monks worked hard for 3 months, changing over the format, finding a new printer and opening up new business relationships with the mainstream publications industry in the US while reaching out to international distributors. Hinduism Today, the magazine, was re-born again.

And here we are today, 30 years later, going strong! Hinduism Today and Forever!

We continue our story on Bodhinatha’s trip to Australia today with his transit to Adelaide. Here he is arriving at Adelaide airport after a smooth flight from Sydney.

He is met by the President of the Ganesha Hindu Temple in Adelaide, Siva Selvakulalingam (on the right of Bodhinatha), Dr Ravindran, and Prima and Ramani Iyer who travelled on Bodhinatha's 2008 Asian Odyssey Innersearch….

… and Ganga who is usually behind the camera. Bodhinatha will give dashan during the afternoon and give an upadesha at the temple in the evening.

All is ready in the temple for Bodhinatha's arrival.

Aarti is given by Sivanes Selvakulalingam and Prema Iyer as he arrives at the temple.

As the homa begins, Bodhinatha and Haranandinatha worship Lord Ganesha.

An internal moment as the Divine energy builds.

A group of Vedic chanters added their strong voices to the homa and after the abhishaigam.

Around 80 divine souls listens to Bodhinatha's talk on Hinduism and the Temple. It was very well received and produced many comments afterwards.

Gurukal honours Bodhinatha with Siva Selvakulalingam, the President of the Ganesha Temple.

Bodhinatha meets and talks with local Hindus after his talk.

Bodhinatha talks to Gurukal who has been our priest in Adelaide for many years, and with his assistant who arrived in Adelaide in late 2008.

Bodhinatha arrived home today with Sadhaka Haranandinatha. We will bring you episodes of his time in Australia through this phase.

A stop at the Ganesha shrine at the beginning of Tiruneri.

Arati in the temple.

And welcome home to Sadhaka Haranandinatha!

Sannyasin Senthilnathaswami presided over the Sacred Homa Ceremony this morning, assisted by Sadhaka Tandavanatha.

Afterwards, Paramacharya Palaniswami gave a delightful talk, beginning with stories from the biography of Milarepa, Tibet's Great Yogi, then offering parallels with Gurudeva's life. He then read passages from the unpublished book, with stories of Gurudeva's years in Sri Lanka back in 1949.

With Mahasivaratri only days away, pilgrims are already beginning to arrive from other countries for this most powerful and spiritual festival honoring Parasivam, the formless aspect of God Siva.

Puvaneswary Roberts arrived from the Netherlands on her fourth pilgrimage to the Aadheenam. Praful Patel and Jayshree Patel arrived from the airport and drove immediately to the Kauai Aadheenam. They are here from Winnnipeg, Manitoba, Canada for their annual pilgrimage and 5th visit to this temple.

We pick up our travel log of Bodhinatha’s mission to Australia again today. On February 15th evening near Sydney, a Iraivan Temple fundraising dinner was organized by Mathini and Chandran Wigneswaran and others. Nearly 400 people attended the event.

A kolam design at the entrance of the hall

Students of Srimathi Anusha Tharmaraja gave a bharatanatyam performance choreographed to Natchintanai music

Bodhinatha gave a spiritual discourse

Mrs. Mathini Wigneswaran giving the "vote of thanks"

Dinner attendees enjoying getting darshan at the end

The altar overseeing the dinner

Out at Iraivan the Silpis are working on the handrailing.

They have completed parts of the floor, seen here in rose granite, and are now adding the railing that will surround the entire first prakaram.

Dakshinamurthi looks on from the distance.

The railing is quite elaborate.

Chidambaram Sthapati guides the team. This is the same railing seen from the outside of the temple.

Two special blocks have to be carved for this.

Then fitted to the pillars.

It will take several days.

Meanwhile, Silpi Karrupiah works on the other side of the sanctum, where the railing and floor team will be in a few weeks.

Up on top of the temple the Rajagopuram tower is being fine-tuned.

Silpi Chelliah makes fine adjustments to an elaborate piece that has just been added.

Over the retreat a team of concrete workers came, ready to pour the roof cement. But the weather turned bad and it had to be postponed.

Entrance of Sydney Murugan Temple

Bodhinatha is welcomed by youth into the Sydney Murugan Temple, where he will give a presentation on the occasion of Youth Day, an event designed to re-invigorate the Sydney Murugan Youth Circle.

Youth performing bhajan inside the temple

Youth give a carnatic vocal performance

Bodhinatha gives a Keynote presentation

A section of the crowd

Youth coordinator gives an outline of Sydney Murugan Youth Circle activities

Youth stage a skit

Here is Bodhinatha at the Sri Thurga Temple. Here is the Chief Priest and a temple trustee

Earlier in the day he visited Helensburg Sri Venkatesvara temple and gave a upadesha. It is a temple honoring both Siva and Vishnu.

Temple from another angle

Siva temple rajapopuram

Meeting with the temple management and members of the Hindu Council of Australia