We began another bright new phase today with a homa and a talk from Bodhinatha.

Bodhinatha’s talk was on spiritualizing daily life, how to meet emotional difficulties without being overwhelmed by them.

Shama Kumaran has been very busy hosting guests and then she takes time at the end of her busy day to write these captions for TAKA. Thank you Shama!

A beautiful morning with a cloudless sky so that one could see Mt. Waialeale very clearly.

The day began with a 6:00 am Sun One Homa and a wonderful talk by Bodhinatha Veylanswami. A group of devotees visiting from Canada and two from the UK, all originally from Sri Lanka, were present at the ceremony. They had been present when Bodhinatha recently visited Canada.

Here is our group of Canadian devotees in front of the Iraivan Temple Sanctum . . .

and in front of the sacred granite Vel on Muruga Hill . . .

and down the path of the Nayanar Saints to the Narmada Lingam where everyone performed abhishekam.

The lotus flowers are in full bloom now!

A group photo of all of our visitors in front of Dakshinamurthy and the four Sages.

Returning back from the hill, Rukumani Satyananda stopped to have her photo taken beside St. Tirumular and St. Tiruvalluvar in front of the Aadheenam courtyard.

We all arrived back at the Kadavul Siva Temple just in time for the 9:00 am Arati. All agreed that this had been a most memorable day and that they wanted to return to this spiritual paradise again soon.

Devyani, Jay and Leena Ved from California in front of the Iraivan Temple . . .

Another visiting Hindu family in front of the Chitra Pillars.

A yoga group also posed for a photo in front of the Iraivan Temple. They came to Kauai from all parts of California and Washington State to visit the Temple and were on a spiritual yoga retreat on the Island.

A warm July day on Kauai, with 30 or more visitors. Two families had been here four years ago and were telling the monks how much this special place has meant to their lives. Here’s a peak at the Narmada Lingam through the bushes.

Pilgrims use the buckets to gather water from the nearby stream, and bathe the Sivalingam.

All under the every watchful gaze of Nandi, the Joyful One.

Here is Vikram (16) and Pratap (12) at the waterfalls lookout. They are visiting with their parents Rajni and Girish Rao from California.

A shot of a lily and lotus pond.

Small waterfalls to soothe.

And lovely new flowers recently brought in from Florida.

This is a flower called Zantadeshia and you will see it in multiple colors as the season continues.

A bench oversees the ponds and lotus flowers.

We visited Iraivan.

This side was long concealed by large wooden platforms until recently.

So this is the first time we have a full and unobstructed view of this corner. Stones of the future are stored nearby.

Crates protect the stone from breakage.

Another view of the Northwest corner, looking toward the monastery.

Each day Gurudeva’s grand vision unfolds.