Bodhinatha is in transit today and will arrive on Kauai early tomorrow morning.

Here is some feedback from a participant in one of his seminars. You too can have a similar experience… join him on the coming innersearch!

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Prostration to the Holy feet of Lord Ganesha and Our beloved Satguru Bodhinatha.

Jai Gurudeva !

Vanakkam Bodhinatha and Swami,

All of us had a wonderful time during the two day seminar.
The participants were a mixture of young (teenagers), adult and elderly and the subjects for theseminar, Niyamas and Yamas, 12 Beliefs of Saivism – The Creed, Karma Management and etc, fitted and interests all the age group. The power point presentation with a brief text and picture, holds the interest of all the participants.

The walk, puzzle and other activities related to Hinduism and timely breaks kept the programme smooth and interesting. The participants enjoyed the walk and the other activity as it allows some time for them to think and digest the informations gathered before lunch. Some of them were discussing the topics with their friends and the members. Such activity allows Bodhinatha and Swami to have some rest before the next session starts. The video presentation gave an insight of Gurudeva, Bodhinatha and the building of the Iraivan Temple.

The seminar was an eye opening for the non – members who attended the seminar. The participants went home with spiritually uplifted and with rich valuable information on Saivism. Most of them are looking forward for the next seminar or similar events.

All the members felt very uplifted and energized during the Pada puja and had a great time during the seminar.

I would like to thank Bodhinatha and Swami to be here with us and sharing the essentials of Saivism and for the birthday gift.

Thank you Bodhinatha.

Thank you Swami.

Om Sivaya

Thamilmani Visakan

Here is an interesting carving bound for Kauai. Paramacharya Palaniswami explains for us:

“Each Hindu temple as a special stone, called the Gomugai, which brings the sanctified waters from the puja held in the inner sanctum out to the devotees, who receive blessings from sipping the water.

This stone is supported by a dwarf in traditional architecture. For Iraivan, we thought there is nothing more perfect for this than to have our own Kauaian Menehune hold up the stone, with his two hands above his head. The Menehunes are a race of stone builders who once inhabited our island, said to have been here before the current day Hawaiians. They were of tiny stature, a Lilliputian people yet stout and strong. In fact, they were the stone masons who built large tone water ponds and walls on Kauai. We felt they would be at home in a stone temple.

Just today we received these two photos from our carving site in Bangalore. The 16″ tall Menehune wearing his Hawaiian loin cloth with a traditional “haku” lei around his head, is coming with our next containers.

We thought our Cyber Cadets would all like a preview.

We have had so many photos arriving that we save some for a quiet day like today. Stepping back now in time to Ganesha Chaturthi at Saiva Siddhanta Church in Mauritius.

“Welcome to the Spiritual Park where the main public event every year is Ganesha Chaturthi. This year thousands of devotees turned up to attend the traditional birthday of Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganapati at the Park was beautifully dressed for the occasion…

Traditional musicians were hired for the occasion… giving everyone the feeling of being carried away in India for a short while…

Our two members Nanda Thungavelloo and Parmeswaran Ramsamy leading the bhajans…

The Sivacharya made a very nice Ganesha with turmeric paste. It was placed near the kumbha in between the main granite deity and the Homa pit.

Due to the large number of devotees attending the event, only those who came early were able to have a seat inside the Mandapam.

Meanwhile outside there was a constant flow of devotees. Many local Hindus have chosen the Spiritual Park for a family pilgrimage every year on Ganesha Chaturthi.

The newly installed small granite Pancha Mukha Ganapati outside was surrounded by devotees lovingly making offerings…

The hired priest, a Sivacharya, performed a very beautiful puja and is excellent at karnatic singing too.

A very traditional homa was conducted. Hundreds of prayers were burnt on that day.

The Mandapam was extended on the outside with tarpaulin tents and sitting accommodations

The ceremony is about to end….

A final offering to Lord Ganesha by the Sivacharya and Kulapati Mardemootoo.

A table was placed in the shade and here is a happy group selling the newly released song bo
oklet containing Ganesha bhajans sung during Homa at the Spiritual Park.

Another selling point was set up near the Mini Mela. Here is Kulamata Premila Manick explaining about Gurudeva’s “Loving Ganesha” book.

Gurudeva’s Lemurian Scrolls and Loving Ganesha were all sold out on that day…Many enrolled Himalayan Academy students were happy helping at this stall.

Back to the Mandapam…Government Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hons. Madan Dulloo who took an hour off his office, came to receive the Blessings of Lord Ganapati. He is leaving for an important Mission at the United Nations.

Large tents were set up to serve as food stations. The Mardemootoo kutumba coordinated that activity.

A group enjoying some ‘bryani”….

Later in the evening, after the large crowd had left, the organizers stayed behind to help with the cleaning. This seva over, here is a group enjoying a conversation about Satguru’s Bodhinatha’s upcoming visit.

Member Navind Sagam and enrolled MC student Kevin Neerunjun were at the Spiritual Park whenever needed during the preparation of this big festival. The whole event was a success thanks to all those sishyas who helped selflessly.