END OF PHASE
Today is the last day of our phase.
This edition of TAKA will remain posted
over our coming two-day retreat,
until Navami Tithi, Sun One, Saturday, June 23th.

Another Hindu family from California visiting Kauai for a summer vacation for a week. They came across the “Hindu Temple” in a tourist magazine and are so glad they did. “Who could have imagined that such a wonderful place existed here in the Islands” said Arvind. “My wife and I are so delighted and so surprised.”

Arvind Sinha with his wife Rashmi, 16 yr old son Ishan and 13 yr old daughter Sonika at the sacred Wailua river which flows at the foot of the Iraivan Temple.

Blain, a local resident of Kauai, is a regular visitor to the Kadavul Temple. Today he brought his mother Susan with him who is visiting from Chicago. “I wanted to share this experience with my mother” he said, “this is such a very special place.”

The Silpis fill a hose with water at the top of one pillar, while another Silpi on the neighboring pillar holds the other end also filled with water. The water level at each end of the hose will be the same. By putting the water level exactly to top of one pillar, you can look at the water level at the other end of the hose and use that level to mark the second pillar to make both pillars exactly the same height.

Chelliaya holds the other end of the hose on the neighboring pillar. A simple ingenious system that works.

We continue with our report on the visit by Arumugaswami and Sivakatirswami to Washington D.C.

After completing all the visits with the members of Congress and the Senate, on Friday evening, June 15th, in the evening we were off for a brief stop at the Siva-Vishnu temple. A group of priests greeted us with powerful chanting of the Na Karmana chant.

The Siva-Vishnu temple has 11 priests. Seven of them greeted the swami’s chanting in perfect unison. Each one is a from a different sampradaya.

After the brief stop at the Siva-Vishnu temple we were off to the the Murugan temple which is only a few miles away.

Garland greeting..

And breaking coconuts

On Friday evenings the Ganesha Abhishekam is performed to the murthi that Gurudeva gave this community to start the temple years ago.

Following the puja the swamis gave short presentation.

Sivakatirswami sang a few Natchintanai and got the young children in the front to answer a few questions and share their thoughts.

Arumugaswami talked to the group about the Hindu History lesson initiative to change the concepts being taught in our schools about Hinduism.

Meeting everyone after the satsang. Here we are with the priest and his family.

Nigel Siva Subramaniam and his wife Inpah and her mother. Nigel and Inpah are every ready to host the monks traveling to Washington and feed them authentic Sri Lankan cooking.

Ram, Vishney and Ranjini of the Ambalavan family

Padmini Saravanapavan on the left with her daughter and grand-daughter on the right. Padmini was a founding member of the temple and kept the image of Ganesha in her home and held puja every week until the temple was built.

Finally, time to go back to D.C. to retire. The temple shining in the night.

The June Ganesha Homa was another wonderful divine meeting of devotees with Lord Pancha Mukha Ganapati at the Spiritual Park. As usual beautiful lovingly woven garlands and exotic flowers adorned the murthi. A big crowd turned up …..

Bhajan singing filled the atmosphere and even devotees sitting far off under the trees would happily join the chorus. Adi Sankara back from India was leading the devotional singing.

Everyone sang to their heart’s content for Lord Ganapati…

Almost a thousand written prayers to go into the Homa… The kulapatis sitting around had a busy time making sure all prayers being consumed by the flames. The fire pit is small now for the increasing number of prayers brought by devotees …..Due to the large crowd on Sunday Homas, Kulapati Manick appealed to the devotees for their support and understanding regarding hustle and bustle of devotees inside the Ganesha Mandapam after arati, flame passing and food serving. The response was positive….

Time for the Talk… Kulapati Manon introduced the contents of the new book: What is Hinduism? recently released by the Himalayan Academy. The book is now available on sale at the Mini Mela.

The final arati when the spiritual vibration is at its peak … everyone stood up to feel the darshan of Lord Ganapati!

Whether near or far from the murthi, everyone feels close to Lord Pancha Mukha Ganapati on the inside…

The Mandapam view from the bridge

Our dedicated team consisting of sishyas and Master Course students doing a fantastic non-stop job at the small Ganesha shrine where offerings are received for the deity. Hundreds coconuts are broken and the team nicely handles everything…. Thank you for the great job! The small Ganapati Shrine is the most busy spot on such events!

Our mobile book stall right on the path leading to the Mandapam. Selvaraj is always there to take care. A plan is in motion to construct a permanent book stall that will be nicely covered to protect from the rain.

Food sponsors serving at the food station after the Homa ceremony is over. …

Devotees queued up …….

Kulapati Siven Koothan(right) and some regular devotes from the south.

The Dulloo family from Rose hill attends the Homa every month. Mr. Dulloo is a rector in a State College.

After the arati, some cleaning is done around the Mandapam murthi to tidy up the place. Our ladies are taking good care… Once the area is cleaned devotees can then freely come inside for personal worship at the murthi’s feet.

The Hundi is almost full on Sunday Homas with donations … Kulapati SK Moorghen and his team count all the notes and coins and keep track of all the accounts. We thank everyone for their generous donations which help us maintain the Park and continue development here.