Our current landscaping project at Iraivan Temple is the placement of stepping stones up to and after our stream bridge. Our groundskeeper, Doug, and local member, Tandu, haul the heavy stones and drop into place.

A monks recently took these photographs of some of the many astounding flowering plants which are coming into bloom in Siva's garden. Enjoy this visual venture!

"The flower has a stalk. There always has to be something that sustains you. If everything were perfect, there would be no reason for this birth. The moon makes no attempt to dispel the darkness that covers one portion of it; it gives light to the earth and dispels darkness there." Siva Yogaswami

"Nature is the first temple"

These last two weeks our monks have been spending their mornings out of their usual worship and meditation routines. During Sadhu Paksha you'll find more than a few monks wondering through our sacred gardens as the sun rises. Today is the final day of Sadhu Paksha for our monastics. After a two day retreat they will start next Sun One with their usual routine homa and with a flag raising for the new season.

These wonderings through nature always spark appreciation for the beauty of a natural world which seems both infinitely complex and eternally simple.

While on taskforce at the Aadheenam, Adi Srikantha has been doing a great deal of work on the Iraivan Temple's landscaping project, particularly in Chola Gardens. This is the area on the east side of the temple which leads down into Rishi Valley. Adi has been planing plants, helping to move dirt and boulders, laying topsoil, weeding, planting grass seed, keeping everything watered and much more. Thank you Adi, for all your selfless service! Om Namah Sivaya.

A week into Sadhu Paksha and the heavy rains we've been getting up on our hill have been slowing. This means an easier time for our monks who are wondering the sacred gardens in the early mornings. Here are a few photos captured this morning by one of our monastics. A nice view from Iraivan Temple as the sun rises, with Siva's crescent moon just above it, and Venus up and to the right. Om Namah Sivaya.

As body, life, and world,
As sea, cloud and cloud-laden sky,
Permeating all, indestructible and continuous
The Lord stands in Majesty
The True way that never closes.
Tirumantiram 413

Aloha everyone, here are a few simple, wonderful shots of a new hibscus flower blooming around the monastery. Have a great day! All the monks are with you. 🙂

Paramacharya Sadasivanathaswami was tending to his garden chores and stumbled upon this spectacular colony of mushrooms. Being on the Saiva Neri gives us much appreciation for all life, since we know its all divinity, its all Siva.

Some Photos of one of the monastery's Longan Trees. These delicious little fruit are quite sweet with a melon-like flavor. Each year we see a lot, but this year is especially abundant.

Recently the monastery's new CAT 301.7D mini excavator arrived. Thanks to an anonymous someone's wonderful generosity, we now have a reliable tool for landscaping in places that larger machines can't go. While we previously had another mini excavator, it was old and prone to disrepair. This new one is roughly the same size but with much more horsepower. It has been given the nickname of "Rajendra Chola," as this south indian king was known for his building of temple gardens. This little excavator will have that as its primary purpose, especially now while we are making ample progress on the landscaping around Iraivan Temple.

This lovely Yucca recently bloomed in our sacred gardens, near the flagpole. Yuccas are members of the large agave family and are native to the southeastern U.S. and in arid parts of the Midwest or Southwest, depending on the species. Noted for their long, strap-like leaves that form a single large rosette, yuccas also produce showy white flowers in clusters at the end of tall spikes. They only bloom once a year.