And this morning, his successor Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami sat on the peetham to receive the same puja.

Yogaswami said: “”Transcending all mutations of form and attribute. Surpassing all finite measure is the GURU,
An embodiment of the highest wisdom.”

END OF PHASE
Today is the last day of our phase.
This edition of TAKA will remain posted
over our coming three-day retreat,
until Dvitya Tithi, Sun One, Thursday, July 13th.

Preparations began yesterday afternoon on San Marga.

Ladies stringing garlands.

Then this morning at 6:am devotees gather for the puja. We will let the pictures tell the story.

Later in the morning special initiations were conducted in the Guru Peetham. Hitesvara Saravan received his Vishesha Diksha initiation into the performance of daily Siva puja.

Dasan Mahadevan became an Arul Sishya

What a glorious day! Guru Purnima day. The day began at 6 a.m. with a magnificent Pada Puja honoring our beloved Guru Bodhinatha Veylanswami. It was an other-worldy atmosphere, pure and spiritually peaceful and serene at the sacred Swayambhu Lingam where the ceremony was performed on San Marga.

Following this wonderful experience, devotees arrived back at the Kadavul Siva Temple for breakfast. Visitors then began arriving spontaneously and a group was guided down through the gardens to the Iraivan Temple.

A group photo of visitors from Arizona, New Jersey, California and Boston, Mass. The couple from Arizona felt that this was one of the most “magical and beautiful places they had ever visited.” Others felt that it was “oh, so peaceful and what a blessing to be here.”

Here is Neel and Prachi Bikarania from Boston who were married one week ago and are on Kauai for their honeymoon. They had heard about the temple from Neel’s parents who had previously visited here and had strongly urged them to come to this very sacred place. They “are oh so glad they came and will come back.”

Paramacharya Ceyonswami then graciously invited Dasam, Chudika, Devi and Shama to visit the Monastery Aviary.

And also to view the famous “Discus” fish in the Monastery complex. What a blessing!

Thank you Swami!

We are also very happy to have with us Seiyonnne, son of long time Iraivan supporter Suriyakumar.

Ceiyon is 17 years old and here with us for 5 days on a break before he goes to college.

Up at Muruga hill for a shot and then he helped the rest of the afternoon yesterday with the festival preparation team.