Predawn finds Wailua Mission members in the “Banyan Cafe” doing what they love the most – Serving Guru Bhaktars. Here we are waiting for those wonderful souls who have come from all over the world to honor our beloved Gurudeva.

Gurudeva arrived in full force about a week before the pilgrims. His Being is palpable and as always – His presence accelerates everything!

The “Banyan Cafe” (instantly transformed Banyan Mandapam) seemed to grow in width and breadth during the night. We just managed to pack in 50 souls last year and somehow this year we can accommodate 100 with some breathing room!

Chai tea, Starbucks breakfast roast and flower teas await.

“Lemurian prasad” is the diet of the ancients. A very actinic blend of fruits, yogurt, milk, honey and nuts. It is a universal food that everyone loves, even the children. Gurudeva used to say it is like having desert for every meal.

The official observance begins tomorrow. Most of the devotees have arrived already. Today everyone joined to help with the preparations. Our temple decoration team did a marvelous job. Tandu Sivanathan’s floral arrangements are beautiful!

Because our group is so large, this year we will be holding large satsangs in the courtyard, which has been beautifully prepared by the monks. Dasan Mahadevan and Tandu add flowers.

Yesterday a large contingent arrived from Malaysia and Singapore and the mainland.

The Singaporean devotees brought with them the new Raja Mela Thalam which the Aadheenam purchased for Kadavul Temple. The Thalam was manufactured in Kanchipuram and shipped to Singapore. There the devotees dismantled it to fit in their luggage.

Here it is being re-assembled.

What is it? You are probably asking. This is an automatic drum, bell, cymbal machine! Truly fun! Quite cool, and not the least bit hilarious when you see it running! If you have experienced one of these in use in a Hindu temple before, you will know what we’re talking about.

Sannyasin Senthilnathaswami, Bhani Karthigesu and Dohadeva Samugam are reassembling it.

First: the bells must be put back on.

Bhani took photos of everything before taking it apart in Singapore. Yoginathaswami jumps in to help with the assembly.

Bells are on. Next the cymbals.

And finally the 24-inch brass drum.

We got a 110 volt to 220 volt converter and are ready to plug it in.

Yes, it works!

And it is really loud! Everyone plugs their ears, and you can hear it everywhere in the Aadheenam, and beyond. Enjoy the video below!

After his sannyas initiation Siddhanathaswami began to let his hair grow. When it became long enough to tie into a kondu in the back it means it is time for his tonsure. Acharya Kumarnathaswami performs the deed.

Then comes the blessing from Bodhinatha.

Writing this email from Toronto. Getting ready for the grand Gurudeva puja. There are three newspapers published full paged articles about Gurudeva's life. Here I am enclosing one article.

Aum Shanthi,
Thondunathan

Master Course student, Woody Waits, arrives from Seattle area.

Here is here for a six-month task force program to learn about monastic life.

Click here for report of Guru Jayanti celebration

Aum sivaya,everyone.
Ayudha Puja is a important puja for all production units. Iraivan worksite celebrates this in a grand way. All the silpis will be very happy because they will receive their bonus and new clothing.

Here is the group photo of the silpis . Jiva Rajasankara and Senthilathiban is seated .

This is another group photo where Thuraisingam is seated. Chinmayie (Thuraisingam's daughter) is standing with Senthilathiban..The third generation has joined the function. We will learn her to learn this craft. We do not allow boys under 18 to work. The boy standing is a son of one of the silpis .

Puja begins at the blacksmith (pattarai) Our retired silpi, Sundaramachari came to join the function. We allowed him to do the puja.

After the puja, he shows the arati to all the silpis.

A new stone is normally blessed and chipped on this day. Supervisor Manikandan is preparing the thread to mark the stone. Sundaramachari is doing the puja.

The stone is marked with the red oxide thread. The silpis are looking on.

It is a tradition that the sthapati or the supervisor starts the first chipping. Then each of the silpis come forward to chip. After chipping they apply sandal paste and kumkum on the point where they chipped.

After the chipping a huge pumpkin with coins inside is taken around the stone three times and broken . It is done to remove evil thought forms.

One of the highlights is when the silpis rush to pick the coins when the pumpkin is broken.

Puja is done to the gangsaw. This machine can cut 2.5 feet in depth. You have to cut 0.5 inches at a time. Periperal wall stones will be cut using this gangsaw.

After the puja, the machine is started. Water keeps pouring from the shaft above while it cuts.

There are 2 trolleys below the stone. The top trolley can rotate 360 degrees. This makes it easy to cut any sides without removing the stone.