Artist Arumugam Manivelu's depiction of Gurudeva's early morning three-fold vision of God Siva, the vision upon which Iraivan Temple is founded. Iraivan Temple was conceived as a citadel of Saivite Hindu culture to take our tradition forward for as least another thousand years.


News

Nandi Carving Completed in Bangalore

Iraivan Temple's Nandi murti is fully carved in Bangalore. A unique feature of this particular murti is that he will have one of his ears pierced, or more specifically drilled, to hold a golden earring.

Nandi-side-view-2011.jpg

Nandi Mandapam Carving Progress in Banglore

While the temple rests in Hawaii, there is dynamic activity in India where highly intricate work is being done on the stones for the Nandi Mandapam. Here are a few photos with Selvanathan Sthapati and the team in Bangalore.


Iraivan's Contribution to the World: Fly Ash Technology

Deva Rajan and Professor BK Mehta

[Professor BK Mehta speaks on the significance of Iraivan's Foundation]

Kulapati Deva Rajan:
Greetings everyone. Bodhinatha, swamis, distinguished guests and friends.

In early March of 1999 Gurudeva sent me to U.C. Berkeley to invite Professor Mehta to help us with the design of our concrete foundation of Iraivan Temple.

As most of you know Gurudeva wished that the Iraivan Temple would be designed and built to last 1000 years. So we needed a concrete foundation that would perform in that way, a concrete that would not crack, would not fail in any way even without steel reinforcing. So it was Professor Mehta that brought us a new concrete technology known as high volume fly ash concrete.

What is that you may ask? What is fly ash? So that's a beautiful story that we're here to find out about. Professor Mehta will tell us a very, very wonderful and important story about high volume fly ash. More...

 

 
 

Here is a recent photo showing the construction progress of Iraivan Temple. Keep up with the news from Kauai Aadheenam by following our daily blog: Today at Kauai Aadheenam.


 

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Click Here for Donation Options.


Construction Update Video

3D Photo Slide Show of Some of our Best Photos

View a slide show of some of our best Iraivan photos.

Gurudeva's Vision

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

Gurudeva said: "It was in 1959 that my path led me to the Hawaiian Islands for the first time. In 1968 I returned to the islands on a vision quest, seeking and finding a place to move our international headquarters, there to live a contemplative life in harmony with the ultimate attainment of the Self within man. One early morning, before dawn, a three-fold vision of Lord Siva came to me. First I beheld Lord Siva walking in a valley, then I saw His face peering into mine, then He was seated on a large stone, His reddish golden hair flowing down His back. That was February 15, 1975.

Iraivan Temple Painting by A Manivel

"This was the fulfillment of the quest for a vision of what the future might hold, which led me and my followers to the lovely Garden Island of Kauai, held the most sacred of all by the Hawaiian peoples long, long ago. It is alongside the sacred Wailua River, leading to the top of Mt. Waialeale, that this place of pilgrimage is being built, a temple of kaivalya, granting freedom from the past and a vision for the future. The temple's 700-pound 50-million-years-in-the-making crystal icon is a kalpaka (spiritual wish-fulfilling) ever-giving Sivalingam. So many blessings await each pilgrim. None are ever neglected.

Contributions: Stone Sponsorship

Interested in sponsoring a stone of the temple? Click here to see some of the beautiful options up close.

DVD About South Indian Temple Architecture

Iraivan: The Science of Ancient Traditions

Available now at our online store

Watch the trailer:

Review: "The film was so informative I will watch it many times. More than being educational, it is uplifting, cleansing, and unifying--all the things Gurudeva did and Bodhinatha does. Seeing the intricacies of temple building, life at the aadheenam and the aloha spirit is truly a rare gem. I thank all involved in the movie's conception and distribution."

Iraivan in the News Media

Our monastery and temple project gets frequent coverage in the news media. Go here to find out what the world thinks about Iraivan.

An Invitation to Visit

Iraivan from the East

Come to the ultimate Hindu pilgrimage destination: Kauai's Hindu Monastery, home of Kadavul Hindu Temple, established in 1973, and now the site of San Marga Iraivan Temple. It is already host to a constant flow of visitors and pilgrims. We invite you to visit this magical place and meet the mystics behind the magic, Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami and the monastic order that was founded by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, Gurudeva. Click here for important information about visiting.

Download a Full Color PDF Magazine About Iraivan

Enjoy Island Temple, all about the vision, history and people behind Iraivan Temple on Kauai. Now available in PDF. These pages are rich with photos, art and key information for those interested in contributing or pilgrimaging to Iraivan Temple. Don't miss it!

Iraivan Temple Souvenirs

Cafe Press Iraivan products

The monks have created some special Iraivan Temple products at Cafepress.com. Find such items as mugs and mousepads, tote bags and stickers, buttons and magnets and posters, all with Iraivan Temple art printed on them. The items are custom printed by Cafepress, one at a time, as you order them. The prices are reasonable, the products are shipped directly to you without any work by the monks, and all proceeds automatically go to the Iraivan Temple building fund. So, if you've always wanted a poster of Iraivan Temple art, an Iraivan Temple mug, or an Iraivan Temple tote bag, or an Iraivan temple refrigerator magnet, or if you want to buy some of these items to sell to benefit Iraivan Temple, now is your chance! Visit Iraivan's Cafepress site.