It is a quiet day at the Aadheenam. The Ekadanta Kulam is working on the Master Course Correspondence Self-Evaluation course and also plans for Bodhinatha’s next event in California. The Ganapati Kulam is wrapping up the July issue of Hinduism Today magazine.

Dr. Siva Subramaniam, one of USA’s key Hindu community leaders is here from Maryland. His wife is a veena player and vocalist.

A brief tour of the publications facility….

Arumugaswami introduces the to the Agama preservation project. Everyone is always fascinated to hold and see actual ola leaf manuscripts.

Dr. Siva Subramaniam was one of the founders of the Siva Vishnu Temple in Maryland. A noted pediatrician and professor of medicine he is active in Hindu affairs in the Washington, D.C area.

For information on the May retreat, click here for a PDF

We begin a short 4-day phase with a bright Sun One Homa. Bodhinatha gave the State of the Church, 2008 address this morning. This will be available to you in a day or so.

The Church’s teaching outreach and Internet developments were a significant part of his report.

Sadhaka Satyanatha mans the recording station.

Yesterday on the second retreat day a group of the monks along with the silpis when to visit chocolate farmers Tony and Will Lydgate.

Tony was a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge on the chocolate tree, and the growing and processing of the bitter magical seed within its fruit. Here he shows trees growing in their shade house, which also protects the trees from wind.

The monks are planning to plant some trees and see if we can get some of our own chocolate.

Tony writes: “Will and I enjoyed your group’s visit yesterday. Such a pleasure for us to share the company of cultured and dedicated people with a mature spiritual focus: a rare breed on Kauai these days.” The silpis came along for the beginning of the tour, but as they are not really fans of chocolate, skipped the tasting session in favor of their regular outing activities.

It was a quiet tour day… only 30 guests in the 9 am tour.

This little girl tries carving granite with her mom’s help to hold the heavy hammer.

Dakshinamurthi statue…

And silent sages who receive the teaching of the Vedas

…which were breathed out in silence by the South-Facing Lord of the Universe….

Heard within as the mantras….

The lion pillar

with the ball in his mouth.

The completed west side sun shade course

As promised, Sadhaka Harananandinatha brings us a retrospective of Bodhinatha’s travels. Here he is arriving in South Africa.

Bodhinatha was greeted on arrival at his Johannesburg hotel by the Raj Appadu family.

Originally from Mauritius and now living in Pretoria. He and his wife and his parents have brought their month-old baby Tashri for Bodhinatha’s blessings.

Friday evening in Johannesburg. Bodhinatha has been invited to speak at Gurudev Balram’s Bodhgaya Shanti Sanctuary halfway between Joburg and Pretoria. He arrives just after sunset at their peaceful ashram. Balram’s group is involved in personal worship, sadhana and community service.

Gurudev Balram has brought in from India large statues of Hindu deities to be placed in a peaceful two-acre garden setting surrounding the ashram building.

Welcoming arati at the entrance by resident brahmacharini. Some of them had visited Kauai Aadheenam one year earlier with their Gurudev.

Brahmachari Kuvern gives a welcome garland.

Bodhinatha’s seated next to the altar in their newly constructed Yoga Studio which occupies the top floor of the building. A small homa will be performed before Bodhinatha speaks.The residents of the ashram have spent the past year getting the studio ready for classes. It’s really a showpiece of fine craftsmanship.

Bodhinatha watches the homa. We were told that Bodhinatha is actually giving the inaugural talk here in the Yoga Room. Bodhinatha looks forward to visiting again in the near future to see the progress on their meditation garden project.

Homa fire

Next day is an early morning flight from Johannesburg to Durban. Swami Yoga Nanda, head of the Saiva Sithantha Sungum, welcomes Bodhinatha at the Durban Airport. (We’ll tell more about the Sungum in days to come)

Most of the one million Indian South Africans live in KwaZulu-Natal province, particularly in Durban and surrounding areas.

Shren and Misha (center), who were with Bodhinatha on the India Innersearch pilgrimage earlier this year, look on.

Swami Yoga Nanda’s driving through the city streets toward the Umgeni Road Siva temple. A quick stop to see the Chitrai kavadi procession was scheduled for us on the way to the hotel.

Entrance to the temple. Festival crowd is relaxing on the temple grounds.

Since our plane was delayed we have missed the kavadi procession. You can see that there were many people carrying these kavadis this year.

The official name is Shri Vaithianatha Easvarar Temple. Occupying three acres of land near the city center, this is one of the largest and oldest temple complexes in South Africa. Founded in the 1880’s. It’s also one of the most prominent temples in the country.

Durban harbor and cityscape.

View of Durban’s beach promenade to the north of city center.

Late afternoon visit to the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa. This remarkable ashram was founded in 1959 by the South African born Swami Nischalananda (1925 – 1965) on a fourteen-acre property in Glen Anil, Durban.

Bodhinatha is escorted into the Ramakrishna Temple for darshan.

The beautiful altar in the temple.

Swami Vimokshananda, spiritual head of this centre, garlands Bodhinatha.

The Ashram Complex consists of the Sri Ramakrishna Temple, Adminstration block, Library, Bookshop, Ramakrishna Clinic of South Africa, I.T. Room, Lecture Room, Swami Nischalanda Hall, Monks quarters, Living quarters and Anna Purna Kitchen.

See their website to read about the wonderful spiritual, educational, medical and welfare projects performed for the community.
http://www.ramakrishna-sa.org.za/ A large percentage of the more than 1 million Indians in South Africa live within 200 miles of Durban.

Bodhinatha’s been asked to give a talk at the afternoon service.

The Centre has 6 Sub-centres and 8 Satsang Groups in KwaZulu Natal state and one sub-centre near Johannesburg.

Exchanging literature before our way-too-short visit comes to an end.

It is another quiet day at the Aadheenam. Sadhaka Haranandinatha shared news of the trip to Africa at lunch and he will be posting some photos next phase.

Meanwhile, windless, quiet, warming spring days… flowers that we have not seen are blossoming. Siva’s beauty everywhere…

~~~~~~~~~~~
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 Dasami Tithi, Sun One, Wednesday, April 30th.

Below is the YouTube video we promised of Bodhinatha at the homa at Tiruvannamalai on January 25th, 2008, on Innersearch. This was a very special day. Feature in this video is the Mantra Diksha of Kartikkeya Katir.

Join Bodhinatha for his next study retreat in California. Click to download the PDF with program details

It is a very quiet day at the Aadheenam… still, beautiful, peace, dynamic spring day…

We have some wonder video for you tomorrow.

A very quiet sunny morning with few visitors. Kumar Subramaniam (originally from Madurai) arrived from Oahu with a friend, Jenney Nelson. He is employed by Hawaiian Airlines on Oahu. He and his parents last visited the Iraivan Temple in 2004 and he noted that the temple had progressed significantly since then.

This photo was taken on the Western side of the temple looking South. The silpis can be seen in the background preparing the shade stones for the South/Eastern portions of the roof.

Join Bodhinatha for his next study retreat in California. Click to download the PDF with program details

Bodhinatha is home and in fine health after his mission and getting ready for the next journey.

If you live in the vicinity, don’t miss his next study retreat in California in May.
Click here for a PDF with details.

Another crane lift today at Iraivan, more sunshade stones were hoisted up to the roof.

The weather was perfectly clear until the crane left the property and then it rained the rest of the day!

There was one more lift for the crane before it departed and the skies opened up.

It was a great day for the Siddhidata Kulam and the monastery food garden. Seventeen years ago, Gurudeva suggested we put a big Ganesha in the vegetable garden. As things with Ganesha often await the right timing, the carving of a Panchaganapati was gradually completed and then He sat quietly in India for several more years, and then was shipped last year and finally placed today.

Our team is overjoyed…Sadhaka Adinatha on the job.

It is a particularly magnificent and beautifully carved piece from Artha Enterprise.

Jai Panchamukha Ganapati!

Bodhinatha and Sadhaka Haranandinatha arrived home after a 48-hour journey from South Africa. Twenty-two hours of that were spent inside the Singapore Airport!

But if you had to be stuck anywhere for a day, that would be a good place to be.

We are all happy to have our Satguru back with us!

And our dear brother Sadhaka Haranandinatha….

All the monks meet Bodhinatha on arrival.

Arati in the temple. The iPhone captures the inner effulgence that is Kadavul Siva Temple

Another beautiful Spring morning brought many worshipers for the morning puja at the Kadavul Siva Temple. Among them were (far left) Ashok and Divya Saini from Antioch, CA (originally Delhi, India). They had heard about the Kauai Hindu Temple from relatives who had previously visited here. Ashok felt the ‘tangible’ peacefulness that permeates the entire property here and was moved to remark “what a truly spiritual place this is!”

Vijay and Panna Sheth are from Daytona, FL,. They had previously pilgrimaged here in 2004, were “amazed” at the progress of the Iraivan Temple.

Harshad and Rita Shah from Fremont, CA made a special pilgrimage on the recommendation of friends and were deeply moved by the puja in the Kadavul Siva Temple. They stated that their visit here was “unbelievably wonderful” and plan to pilgrimage here again.

All three couples made a special pilgrimage to Kauai to visit the temple here. Gurudeva foresaw the Iraivan Temple as being a pilgrimage site for Hindus the world over. And that is what it has become, even though the Iraivan Temple is not yet completed, pilgrims continue to arrive from all over the world to visit this most sacred site revealed in a three-fold vision to Sivaya Subramuniyaswami more than thirty years ago.

We bring you today the last set of photos from our 2008 Asian Odyssey. Continuing with our morning appreciation event at the Leela hotel in Kovalam.

Everyone takes the time to appreciate one another.

After the appreciation event by the beach we head of the “pandal” for our finale breakfast.

It is grandly decorated for our arrival.

Everyone received a marigold garland.

Oisin and Ruby are quick to grab seats next to Bodhinatha.

The hall is beautifully decorated and has a traditional Kerala style roof.

Bodhinatha begins the event with a farewell speech to all.

Ravi Rahavendran was asked to say a few words on behalf of everyone.

Arumugaswami takes this opportunity to honour Thomas Kelly for his outstanding photographic contribution to Hinduism Today magazine over the years.

Bodhinatha presents him with the Hinduism Today “Hindu Photographer of the Year” award for 2007. The first such award given out by Hinduism Today magazine. Thank you Thomas for all the wonderful photographs you took on this Innersearch plus that we’ve enjoyed in Hinduism Today over the years.

Bodhinatha presents a shawl of gratitude to GK Nair our Hinduism Today correspondent in Kerala who is always ever ready to help us.

Amma Sivayogam shares her experience of joining the group in Kerala. She heads back to Sri Lanka. Thank you Amma for looking after our beloved Gurudeva when he was a young man in Sri Lanka staying in your father-in-law’s home.

Everyone is then given 30 seconds to say a few parting words.

Bodhinatha places a shawl on Kailash Dhaksinamurthi for all his wonderful work in helping with this Innersearch.

Nellaiappan Lakshmanan from Chennai is also honoured and appreciated for all his help. Nellaiappan worked very hard setting up all the events at the temples we visited.

More Innersearchers share their experiences with all.

Thank you TAKA viewers for joining us on this 931 photo retrospective of the 2008 Asian Odyssey. 97 people from 15 countries joined our Bodhinatha on this inner and outer pilgrimage that visited Cambodia, Malaysia and India. We hope you will be able to join us on our next Innersearch adventure! Aum Namasivaya!

Bodhinatha is in his second day of a long and arduous journey home from Africa. He arrives in Hawaii tomorrow morning.

February 4th, 2008: It’s the last day of the 2008 Asian Odyssey. Everyone gathers in the hotel lobby for our final outing, a trip to the Leela hotel for our Finale breakfast.

Innersearchers take this opportunity to say their goodbyes and thank yous to Bodhinatha.

It has been a wonderfully special journey and everyone is a little sad to say goodbye to their newfound spiritual friends.

An amazing journey for Babu Chandreswaran and he has lots of stories to share with the young boys at the orphanage in Sri Lanka plus everyone else in the community that are eagerly awaiting his return.

We gather on the beach area at the Leela to first perform our traditional Innersearch “Who you are makes a difference.”

Palaniswami explains how it works. You place a ribbon on someone and you tell them why they have made a positive difference in your life and everyone around them.

Innersearchers pair up and head off to share their gratitude towards one another.

Bodhinatha and Sadhaka Haranandinatha are on their way home from Africa. It’s a two day journey to Mauritius, Singapore, Taiwan and then home the day after tomorrow.

Sadhaka Haranandinatha sends a short retrospective of the last day in Mauritius before departing for Africa. Here we are on the 14th with the members of Mauritius who live in the south. Vibhuti blessings.

Meanwhile, Bodhinatha sends these briefs from his time in Africa:

April 19th:

Om Sivaya, everyone,

Jai Ganapati,

Late morning flight from Johannesburg to Durban. Small reception group at airport, then a stop at the oldest Saivite Temple where kavadi had finished earlier and Murugan puja was taking place, then on to hotel. Evening to Ramakrishna Centre for courtesy call and meeting with the Swami. Then to the Pietermaritzburg center of the Saiva Siddhanta Sungum where some four hundred gathered for bhajan and then my talk.

April 20th:

Visit to the Chatsworth center of the Saiva Siddhanta Sungum where between 200-300 hundred gathered for their regular Sunday service after which I gave an hour talk. Interesting type service. It is written by the founder Guru Subramanyam, is in Tamil in some 36 parts of group singing and the leader doing a prayer or song by himself. All about God Siva of course. Next a radio interview for a Sunday morning religious program on Hinduism that is widely listened to by the South African Durban Hindu community. Shren, our host who went on innersearch India, felt lots of Hindus would hear the program and be introduced to our website. In the evening to the Phoenix branch of the Sungum for another bhajan/lecture program with well over one hundred attending.

Morning street scene from the hotel roof in Quatre Borne, Mauritius. Today Bodhinatha will go to the south of the island.

On the way to the south we make a quick stop to see the magnificent statue of Shiva at Grand Bassin.

Satsang with the devotees of Chemin Grenier and the south of Mauritius at a sea side bungalow.

Here’s a photo from the seaside bungalow. The beautiful beach at Blue Bay which we (and the Mauritius tourist bureau) encourage everyone to visit.

Bodhinatha’s devotees from Mahebourg are happy to have the opportunity to serve him lunch.

Our gracious hosts in Blue Bay, Viren and his wife, saying goodbye to Bodhinatha as he prepares to leave for the airport to depart for South Africa.

We begin a new phase with Sun One Homa.

The Kauai’s Hindu Monastery is prominently noted in several guide books and is becoming more well-known in the Hindu community around the world. Today two tours at 9am and 11am brought a guestimated 150 people, and the temple was filled with Hindu visitors.

A photographer’s dream

Our silpis on show….

Bodhinatha and Sadhaka Haranandinatha are in Africa with a busy schedule… we may not get news for a few days.

~~~~~~~~~~~
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, Tuesday, April 22nd

A Sri Lankan couple arrived today from Sydney, Australia. Here are Vanathy and Mani Yogathasan in front of a very beautiful handcarved wooden Murugan deity outside the Kadavul Siva Temple.

Both of their families lived in Jaffna and Vanathy attended Gurudeva’s Ashram in Alaveddy where she studied the veena in the early 1980’s. She first met Gurudeva there and received his blessings. Mani’s paternal grandfather was a devotee of St. Yogaswami and it was St. Yogaswami who named his son, “Yoga” thasan, – hence their last name is Yogathasan.

This is from a few days ago… An entire family originally from Jaffna Town, Sri Lanka, (now living in Washington, DC and New Jersey) arrived for a week-long pilgrimage. On the right are Niranjan and Subhedra, and their son Laxshman. Also Padmini Saravanapavan, long time supporter of Iraivan, and Chitranjan and Najervary Pathmamatnan. They were all very happy to be here and spent some valuable moments after the puja talking with Paramacharya Ceyonswami. They were then whisked away to the Iraivan Temple where they chatted with the silpis about the sacred art of stone-carving and temple building.

A Rock Garden Slideshow
A Rock Garden Slideshow

Classes with Bodhinatha continue at our Kovalam hideaway.

In and in we go……exploring the depths of Shum.

Part of our monastic staff planning the big formal dinner for tonight.

Our group gathers in the hotel lobby in the evening dressed in their finest Indian outfits.

It’s our formal night and everyone is looking their finest.

We head off to the Uday Samudra where a dinner on the beach has been planned for us.

But first a group photograph. Thomas organises the group so that eveyone’s faces can be seen. Not an easy task.

But he always does it with a smile.

Here we go, 1, 2, 3!

A young elephant is onsight to welcome our group.

Bodhinatha is in transit and is probably already settled in South Africa. More news tomorrow.

Long time devotee from Bethesda Washington, Padmini Saravanapavan has come to Kauai for a pilgrimage. Amma has been preparing some special meals for the monks and it has been marvelous to have some *real* home cooked Jaffna style dishes! String hoppers and Sodi!

Padmini and her deceased husband Saravanapavan were instrumental in the connection between the Aadheenam and the Murugan temple that was built in Maryland. She kept the Ganesha that Gurudeva gave to the society in their home and conducted worship there for many years until the temple was built.

Recently the Aadheenam gifted some small murthies to the temple and Padmini has brought donations from devotees to Kauai.

Thank you Amma! and thanks to all our friends and supporters in Maryland!

Our intrepid, hardworking and ingenious Iraivan temple support team, the Siddhidata Kulam, were moving the scaffolding today. This amazing platform they have built for the silpis is portable and they move it down along the temple wall today…

Now, the roofline that the silpis have been working on is finally open to see!

We continue with scenes from our days in Kovalam. Bodhinatha and Sadhaka Dandapani share a humorous moment just before class begins.

Definitely one of those special times during Innersearch when we get to sit at the feet of the satguru.

Bodhinatha’s classes are on Gurudeva’s mystical Shum language of meditation.

Excerpts from our study guide: “Gurudeva outlines in detail in the Sh�m word �mfm�mf exactly how the first �kanuhsh�m, learning the eighteen basic images, is to be approached. Initially the student learns to chant and write these eighteen images of the alphabet. Once this is somewhat mastered, the student learns the colors connected to the images. The third step is to visualize, with eyes closed, each image along with its color. Lastly, while breathing nine counts in and nine counts out, the student uses the eighteen images to mark the counts while vitalizing the color and the shape of the image.

We will together go through each of the eighteen images, visualizing the colors. If you know the Sh�m script, visualize the script of each image at the same time.”

Bodhinatha guides the class in meditation.

And after the class there is always an opportunity to ask more questions and share your thoughts with the ever approachable Bodhinatha.

Another day another beautiful sunset.

At dinner tonight we celebrate Shivani Rajan’s birthday.

Happy Birthday Shivani!

Lots of well wishes from everyone to her.

Another joyous day for all.