Bodhinatha reports that they had a wonderful Satsang with all the member last night (Friday in Malaysia)

“Evening satsang at Gunasegaran Chitravellu’s home--pada puja plus lengthy ceremonies for youth becoming Arul Sishya and taking brahmacharya vrata plus Brahmacharini Gowri receiving Vishesha Diksha. Good crowd inside the home and on the porch.”

With the scaffolding removed we now have a magnificent view of the Iraivan temple South entrance and Raja Gopuram.

The first stop after entering the inner gate to the monastery, guests view a vast expanse overlooking the North fork of the Wailua River. The pond and waterfall below are called Nani Ka’ua, which means beautiful rain. Behind this majestic scene stands the five million year old Mount Wai’ale’ale which means “rippling water” or “overflowing water”. Here they get a real sense of the divine peace or sannidhya that pervades Kauai Aadheenam.

“Subtlest of the subtle, greatest of the great, the atman is hidden in the cave of the heart of all beings.”

This happy family of nine is from Washingtion State.

We regret not getting the names of this beautiful family who lives close to the Aadheenam. This is the first time they brought their son to see Iraivan temple. They will soon be traveling to Japan to visit her parents and stopped to talk with Tandu about helping him with the bonsai in Rishi Valley.

This is adventurous Sarasvati from Canada, who decided she must come to Kauai Aadheenam even though it meant travelling all alone. She told us that many people stepped forward along the way to help her. Sarasvati is a long time reader of Hinduism Today which has taught her on so many levels the richness of her religion.

Kulamata Amala Seyon takes the opportunity to talk to our guests about rudrakshas and the beautiful rudraksha malas, and jewelry that are available in the new mini mela.

After walking the grounds in the blazing Hawaiian sun, the trees offer a resting place.

Absorbing the energy of the sacred Rudraksha trees.

Sadhaka Nilakantha working in the new herb garden, just a few yards from our kitchen. Talk about fresh food!

It has dozens of herbs, from lavender to basis, parsley to catnip, fennel to oregano…

And the famous Echinacea. Echinacea, also known as coneflower, is a wild flower that grows naturally in meadows and moist low-lands throughout the mid-west. While Echinacea is most commonly known for it medicinal effects, it is also a common garden plant with beautiful purple flowers. While alreay popular as a medicinal herb, the true potential of Echinacea has yet to be fully explored by the medical industry. There are three varieties of Echinacea: Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea angustifolia. All three varieties are used to boost the immune system and fight infections, but only the purpurea and pallida varieties have been shown to be effective. Echinacea is thought to serve as a stimulant to the body's immune system by activating white blood cells, whereby making it more difficult for foreign bodies to infect cells. Echinacea is one of the most popular herbal remedies for respiratory infections and has been studied extensively for cancer and AIDS patients.