Aum Namah Shivaya
Recently, our traveling monks landed in Malaysia after many hours of plane rides from Hawaii to Japan and on to Malaysia. Upon arrival, Sannyasin Yoginathaswami and Nirvani Tejadevanatha were greeted by Malaysian shishyas at the airport. After some much-needed rest, the two enjoyed private meetings and meals with member families and students.
Monks Arrive in Malaysia Read More »
A walk through the garden today brings us to the Rishi from the Himalayas murti where two stunning Arenga pinnatas are blossoming again. This is the first time we have captured the early protective sheath that covers the inflorescense, and also its removal to reveal the flower buds.
When you visit Siva’s Sacred Garden, you must stand in front of this Sugar Palm, a true gem of Southeast Asia, especially revered in Indonesia and the Philippines. Towering up to 20 meters, this majestic palm boasts large, feather-like leaves that dance in Kauai’s tropical breeze. More than just a scenic marvel, every element of the sugar palm is utilized by local communities. The sap is tapped and transformed into sweet sugar and aromatic alcohol (called arrack). Its fibers are woven into durable ropes and rustic brooms, while the broad fronds find a second life as robust roofing materials. This versatile palm is a cornerstone of sustainability and a testament to the ingenuity of traditional practices in harmonizing with nature.
The Sweet Sugar Palm Read More »
Early this morning Yoginathaswami and Sadhaka Tejadevanatha departed for Malaysia to conduct several Path to Siva seminars for Malaysian youth. Their goals include presenting the option of monastic life to young men there.
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami has visited temple groups in North Carolina and Missouri US states over the last few days, and returns to Kauai this afternoon. A group in North Carolina has a grand plan for a Murugan temple and more on a 130-acre site–
https://carolinamurugantemple.org/
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami was invited to attend the Montreal Murugan Temple Chariot Festival held in late August. The Montreal Murugan Temple was established in 1983 and was the first Saivite temple in the province of Quebec, Canada. The Chariot Festival was an elaborate event featuring several nadaswaram players and drummers, multiple priests, and thousands of devotees in attendance. The following four-hour video gives an up-close view of the sacred celebration.
Satguru’s Current Travel, Part Two Read More »
Jai Ganesha!
This week, the monks of the Ganapati Kulam finished up a long term project to rebuild their office aquarium. With the help of Mayuresh, who was visiting for a few months, the monks built this custom aquarium stand out of rough koa wood, some tarnished copper panels and a giant bronze mandala (donated by Holly Young). It’s a copy of the the same bronze chakra that resides on the back of Hanuman’s neck at the rudraksha forest. The tank is made of five tempered glass panels, and the interior is filled with a papaya root-ball and plants from the previous aquarium.
Our New Monk-Made Aquarium Read More »
Today while walking along the Path of the Saiva Satgurus we came across a bird sitting on the black granite murti of Satguru Yogaswami. It reminded us of a story he told that one day “I was in meditation under the Illupai tree and a bird came and sat on my head.” The unspoken implication is that he was seated so unmovingly, drawn so far within, that the bird did not take him to be human, so rested on his head.”
Silence, Summa Iru, was a major teaching of the Lion of Lanka. Yogaswami taught it often, urging seekers to quiet the mind more and more perfectly, a meditative exercise that proved a life-long sadhana for many.
When he established the upstairs meditation hall in the Sivathondu Nilayam, in the late 1930s, he had a sign installed with three short sentences that summarized his requirements for all those climbing the steps to the room. “All words are in silence. All doing is in silence. Everything is perfect within silence.” He would nnot allow a single word to be uttered in that space.
Read more of this story by following this link to The Guru Chronicles chapter on Yogaswami. Click Here.
