Shantha and S.S. Mony are visiting from India. They've come to see Bodhinatha with their son-in-law Raja Easwar Prasad of Honolulu.

Shilpa and Nitin Nagar on their yearly pilgramage to the temple from Honolulu.

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END OF PHASE
Today is the last day of our phase.
This edition of TAKA will remain posted
over our coming two-day retreat,
until Dvitiya Tithi, Sun One, Saturday, January 16th.

Bodhinatha gives gifts to the silpis after the Thai Pongal puja at Iraivan this morning.

We all enjoy gathering around in the morning as the sun rises behind us. It is a pleasant, peaceful time. This festival is in thanks to nature for bountiful harvests and we feel a sense of harmony as we go through the simple ancient rites of boiling a pot of rice, then arati and worship of the sun.

The rice pot boils over! Enjoy the slideshow below of our festivities.

“Does anyone know what “namaste” means?” This is the first question we ask on public tour day to those who gather at the puakinikini mandapam. Kulamata Amala Seyon decided to play a little joke and met with the group a few minutes early and gave them all the answer. When Deva asked the question EVERYONE raised their hand! It was a delightful little ambush and everyone enjoyed the surprised look on Deva’s face!

The introduction in the Banyan Mandapam includes a brief introduction to our Lineage of God Realized Satgurus dating back over 2,000 years.

Even with the holiday season winding down our Public Tour reservations fill up quickly.

Rishi Valley is becoming one of the favorite stops along the tour now. We get a little time to give a brief introduction to our Parampara and the anticipation of the full life like images of our line of Gurus that will soon become part of the valley.

Among several born Hindus on the tour were Krishnan and Usha from Westbury New York. Both Doctors who attend the Mahaganapathi Temple in Flushing, New York.

The Dakshinamurthi shrine speaks of the great silence within, which in this modern time we take such great efforts to avoid, through our constant exposure to radio, ipods, TV, cell phones and other habits.

Usha and Krishnan had seen many guests on “Today at Kauai Aadheenam” bathing the Narmada Lingam and asked if they could fulfill this long awaited desire We took them out to the hidden sanctuary of the Path of the Saiva Saints and they worshipped Siva with water there.

Deepak and Amita Bhalla from Michigan are pictured with new friends Meena, Suppial & Balan from Toronto Canada.

This sweet couple is Saparigiri Sambandan and Gunavatha Amirthalingam who have been on Kauai for about a week coming to the temple often.

A beautiful Rudraksha mala, lovely prepared by our Kauai members.