It's the second day of our major consecration of the Nandi Mandapam, Bali Pitham and Kodimaram, full of intense spiritual power. Three priests working and chanting together have empowered the yagasala and drawn us close to the inner worlds as only the Sivacharyas can.

Pujas go from morning to night, as the powers of the sun and moon and earth and devas and deities are invoked. One sweet puja was held under the holy Bilva tree next to Kadavul, a tree planted around the time (1984) when Nandi was installed. It has grown large and strong over the years and had its first Sivacharya blessing yesterday afternoon. Today it was full time in the Banyan Mandapam, as our slideshow describes. Tomorrow we are live-streaming the morning events which are the culmination of these three days. One of the charming little things that the priests mentioned is that here,at the Aadheenam, they have access to all the things needed for puja that must be imported when they perform puja elsewhere: bilva leaves, coconuts, durva grass, cow dung and more.

Chanting can be heard booming across the monastery today as three particularly powerfully voiced priests chant hundreds of sacred chants to begin the first day of the Kumbhabhishekam ceremony which will reintroduce the energies into Kadavul Temple's kodimaram, bali pitam and Nandi. Last September we performed a very similar ceremony to extract the energy from them into a miniature wood replica so the surrounding stone bases could be upgraded. The new bases look absolutely stunning it's hard to imagine they ever looked any other way! Today's photos just contain a teaser so you'll have to say tuned the next two days to see even more! All that stored energy will soon be reinfused into the three structures and everything will return to normal, but with even more refined power! Enjoy the photos! Aum Namah Sivaya!

Aum! Please enjoy these photos from the first Chitra Nakshatra padapuja to Gurudeva this year! Aum Namah Sivaya!

Concrete flowed abundantly recently to fill a large foundation for the Siddhidata Kulam's new machine shop adjacent to their new office and dehumidified storage building. The pour started early on a beautiful sunny morning, by the same team that created the road going down to Rishi Valley some time back. For a week or two afterwards, a sprinkler continuously doused the foundation with coolness so the concrete wouldn't crack as it cured. The last photo shows the finished product.

The silpis have reinstalled our rose granite turtle near Iraivan. It is one of the small carved marvels that pilgrims stumble upon in their explorations of the sacred gardens. The short story is that the fins were broken after it arrived from the Artha Enterprises worksite in Bengaluru four years back, so new ones had to be carved. They arrived in November and have been affixed in the last few days. This honu, symbol of widsom and good fortune, sits on his rock overlooking Iraivan Temple. With thanks to our multi-talented silpis.

Some honu facts: The Hawaiian turtle, also known as the honu, is a beloved symbol of good luck and longevity in Hawaiian culture. These gentle sea creatures can often be found basking on the sandy shores or swimming gracefully in the warm waters of the islands. With their green and yellow shells and friendly faces, honu are a cherished sight for both locals and tourists alike. In Hawaiian tradition, the honu is seen as a symbol of wisdom and is said to bring good fortune to those who are lucky enough to spot one. They also play an important role in Hawaiian marine life and are protected under state law. Whether you're swimming with them, watching them sunbathe, or simply admiring them from the shore, the honu is a truly special and revered creature in Hawaiian culture.

The honu is also commonly known as the green turtle. It gets its name from the greenish color of its cartilage and fat, which is visible through its translucent skin. The green turtle is considered an endangered species globally, according to IUCN Red List. Human activities such as hunting, egg collection, coastal development, pollution, and accidental capture in fishing gear have all contributed to the decline in green turtle populations. Conservation efforts are in place to protect the species and its habitats, such as protected nesting beaches, but more needs to be done to ensure the survival of this magnificent animal.

This morning, Vani, who visiting here from London, took her vrata shishya vows with the blessings from Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami. She's here with her parents who are on pilgrimage to Kauai Aadheenam for the first time from Mauritius. The family gathered in the Guru Pitam following the morning's Siva Puja in Kadavul Temple. Vani read from her new vows and signed them, as did her parents and Satguru. Many blessings from the Kailasa Parampara for this new stage on the path! Aum Namah Shivaya

Enjoy this video graciously produced by a devotee recently on the island containing the first 18 characters of the Shum alphabet. Gurudeva's voice is in the background overlaying each character so you can hear the sound at the same time as seeing the color and shape! The pre-monastics are using this resource right now to learn the characters so they can perform Kalibasa correctly when mediating with the monks. Aum Namah Sivaya!  

When a group of BAPS Swamis came to Kauai late last year, they invited Bodhinatha, beseeched him would be more apt, to attend the amazing 100 Jayanti Celebrations for Pramukh Swami Maharaj. It is an important milestone in Swaminarayan history. Bodhinatha said yes, and flew to the venue a few days back. He gave a short talk, which is below in both text and video form.

This was his report from India about the day:

"We visited the celebrations on day 26. The scale of the exhibitions is what first strikes you. 600 acres of displays with an average of 100,000 devotees present at anytime during the day. For the first few hours we were shown sample exhibits, such as movies for adults, youth dances, game areas for the children, a replica of the Akshardham compound and temple and newly-crafted statues of Pramukhswami. Next we participated in the Africa evening assembly during which I gave a five-minute talk. Dinner was next, followed by a meeting with the current guru Mahantswami Maharaj. Quite an impressive event, worthy of some coverage in Hinduism Today."

Here is the text of his address, sent by Niraj:

Talk by Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami
"In today's troubled world, many thoughtful individuals are concerned with bringing greater peace into the world. A temple such as the Swaminarayan mandir helps individuals find more peace within themselves, which in turn brings greater harmony into their homes, which in turn brings greater tolerance and unity within the community. Certainly, the many mandirs established through the inspiration of Pramukh Swami Maharaj including those in the African countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa will continue generation after generation, helping Hindu values, traditions and customs flourish as well as contributing in an unseen way to making the world a more peaceful place.
"A second important aspect of the Swaminarayan mandirs is how they will influence the current and future generations of children. With most schools focusing solely on secular studies, there is a need for children to learn traditional values in a religious setting such as this. In other words, it is not enough to simply learn to read and write, children also need to learn what to read and write. The concept of what it means to be a successful adult needs to include not only wealth and family, but also the principles of a pious life, virtuous conduct, fulfilment of duty to the family, community and country, and regular worship of God and guru in the mandir and in the home shrine.
"In our 2004 visit to the opening of the Houston mandir one father proudly told us about how his two sons devoted their entire summer working all day in the construction of the Houston mandir. We were quite impressed at the extent of their dedication. Through the inspiration of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, BAPS is an excellent model for other Hindu organizations to follow in successfully involving youth in the construction and subsequent activities of mandirs worldwide."