To attend worship at Kadavul Hindu Temple make a reservation here
FRONT GROUNDS ARE OPEN DAILY FROM 9AM to 12PM WITHOUT A RESERVATION

Siva Puja

One of our monks doing the Siva puja a few days ago was inspired to take some photos of the sacred process, without any images of Lord Nataraja of course.

Puja literally means "worship, adoration." Forms of puja vary widely between Hinduism's four main denominations and its hundreds of lineages, but all puja finds its basis in sixteen offerings, shodasha upachara. These also vary somewhat, depending on the scriptural source that is followed, but one popular list is the following: 1) Avahanam, invoking; 2) Asanam, offering a seat; 3) Padyam, offering water for cleansing feet; 4) Argyam, offering water for cleansing the palms; 5) Achamaniyam, sipping water; 6) Snanam, ceremonial bath; 7) Vastram, offering vestments; 8) Yajnopavitam, offering sacred thread; 9) Chandanam, offering sandalwood paste; 10) Pushpam, offering flowers; 11) Dhupam, burning incense; 12) Dipam, waving lighted camphor; 13) Naivedyam, offering food; 14) Anjali, praying with folded hands; 15) Pradakshina, circumambulation; 16) Udvasanam, farewell.

Seers can reach Him because He is visible; worshipers, too, can see Him. But if they possess love for Him, Hara, who is the first cause of the ancient universe, will manifest Himself to their mind as light.
Tirumurai, Arputat Tiruvantati 17

Tour Day!

About once a week, a public tour is held at the monastery. Local Wailua Mission members coordinate to give these many forms of Siva a wonderful introduction to what Kauai's Hindu Monastery is all about. Currently the tour doesn't go all the way out to Iraivan Temple due to construction and landscaping, but they still get a marvelous gander at it from the flagpole area. Om Namah Sivaya

Archives are now available through 2001. Light colored days have no posts. 1998-2001 coming later.

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