This week, Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami and Sannyasin Shanmuganathaswami have been traveling, first to London and then to Malaysia.

Yesterday they enjoyed a morning visit to the Siddhar Jeganatha Temple in Tapah which is a two-hour drive from Petaling Jaya. The Malaysia Hindu Sangam president, Dato Mohan Shan, and some of his local leaders greeted them there to show them around the temple construction site, which includes a full five acre property.

While in Austin, our traveling monks went for a nice walk and dinner with Ravi, Devi and Bhuma. After leaving Austin they transited through Denver and have just today arrived back at the Aadheenam.

A compilation video of our Innersearch 2019 Sri Lanka travel-study program. Fifty participants traveled with Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami and four of his monks to Negombo, Jaffna and Trincomalee. They had classes with Satguru, went on adventuresome outings, worshiped at powerful temples and visited holy shrines related to the Kailasa lineage.

Our traveling trio made their way through Southern California where they had an opportunity to visit with devotees. They've since then made their way to Austin. They visited a Chinmaya Mission center and also had a satsang with devotees. While in Austin they have been attending the 4D conference. Aum Namah Sivaya

Jai Ganesha!

Today Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, Sannyasin Shanmuganathaswami and Sannyasin Siddhanathaswami all departed for Los Angeles and Austin, where they will be attending a conference on 4D (our extensively-used database software).

On March 26th, with a little time available before the morning class session, the Innersearch pilgrims set out to the deep ocean during the sunrise. Satguru and the pilgrims embarked on speed boats to watch dolphins and whales. On the way, their first stop was below the Koneswaram Temple. Several fishing boats stopped here too before going out for the catch of the day. The Ravana's cleft view is seen from bottom to top and also the huge Siva statue is visible.

On March 25th, Innersearch Sri Lanka pilgrims took a little excursion and study tour to Pigeon Island. Located north from Trincomalee, visitors take a 10 minute boat ride from Nilaveli beach.

Pigeon Island National Park is one of the two marine national parks in Sri Lanka. The island is small with a total area of 471.4 hectares. The rock pigeon colonized the place and gave it its name. This national park contains some of the best remaining coral reefs of Sri Lanka and has been designated a sanctuary since 1963.

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami had an enthralled group of students for the day's class, under some of the natural shade. Later, pilgrims and monks went snorkeling to swim among the reef's friendly sharks, sea turtles, many of colorful fish and corals.

Koneswaram is revered as one the Pancha Ishwaram of Sri Lanka. This is the abode of "Kona" (the Chief Lord or God). The presiding Siva deity's name is a combination the words of Kona and Ishwara.

The temple stands distinctly atop Konesar Malai, a high point of land that overlooks the Indian Ocean, near the Trincomalee (Thirukonamalai) District. The original temple is believed to be built around 205 bce, with key features resembling the Dravidian temple architecture, such as a thousand pillared hall.
The temple complex was destroyed by the Portuguese Empire in colonial religious attacks between 1622 and 1624, and Fort was built near the site from its debris. Ruins of the Koneswaram temple are still found underwater, and several murtis have been rediscovered.

Koneswaram is described in the Mahabharata and Ramayana. It is mentioned by Sambandhar and Sundarar Nayannar in Tevarams between 600-630 ce. Another prominent Saivite, Arunagirinathar visited here in 1468. In 1952 the Society for Restoration of Koneswaram did the initial reconstruction work and more renovations were done by local Tamils in 1982.

Tiruketeeswaram is one of the Pancha Eswaram temples dedicated to Lord Siva and venerated by Saivites throughout the world. Its famous tank, the Palavi tank, is of ancient antiquity and was restored from the ruins more recently. Literary and scriptural evidence in the Tirumurai dates this temple back to the 300BC to 1500AD when the temple was well kept by the Pallava, Pandyan and Chola Dynasties. Tirunyana Sambandhar sang about the greatness of this Temple, as did the 8th century Nayanar, Sundarar during the Sangam period. The Portuguese destroyed the temple in 1589 and for over 400 years this ancient edifice remained dormant in the scriptures and Tirumurai songs. Through these references, the original site was rediscovered in 1894. A Hindu reformer named Arumuka Navalar came to revive and rebuild the Temple at the request of the local Tamil people. The current restoration work is tremendous and will restore the greatness of this ancient Saivite abode. Aum Namah Sivaya.

On March 24th during the Innersearch in Sri Lanka, students, teachers and tdministrators from both the Yogaswami Hindu Girls Home and Thirunavukkarasu Nayanar Gurukulam came to spend some darshan time with Satguru and the monks. After giving a brief general overview of their activities Satguru offered vibuthi prasadam to all present.