A powerful tropical rain fell from the heavens this morning at dawn just as our meditation with Gurudeva ended, as though the Grace of Siva, the full flood of the Ganges, had fallen upon us from the Siva Loka. Our young mathavasis were at the river meditating and had quite an experience.

Gurudeva then spoke on the merits of our global fellowship of Sivabhaktars:

"Our Saiva Siddhanta Church is a wonderful fellowship. In fact, we know of no other that has so many strengths and such a rich heritage to offer. Members have recently sent me a long list, thirty or so items, giving the many benefits they have experienced in their association. It should inspire us all to speak to students and indeed to everyone who visits us about becoming members in Saiva Siddhanta Church. Let them know the door is open, that we welcome ardent Saiva souls and that they will have a happy, profoundly spiritual life if they join with those who are so strongly on the path, so dedicated to God and Guru."

A few days back on TAKA (that's our acronym for Today at Kauai Aadhenam home page) we showed you a photo of Gurudeva in the Mahogany Room painting with vibuthi on black paper, making intuitive art for his book Merging with Siva. We thought you would enjoy seeing a sample of the results, which will be black and white in the book but which we colorized for you to enjoy this morning. There are 60 symbols for the book.

In preparation for our special Island Temple issue of Hinduism Today, a long-time supporter, Eric Vogt, came to the monastery. He is the finest goldsmith on the island, and has made the monk's rings, earrings and the wedding pendants (talis) for our members over the years. He made Tara Katirs (that's Tara with daughter Selvi in the photo), so we took a digital photo of hers to use in his ad, which will let readers know that he can make a traditional tali for them anytime.

Thanks, Eric, for your many years of support. We love your tali design, by the way, and share it here for today's visitors to see and enjoy.

Saul Kahn came to the monastery today. He is the son of our friends Marty and Carol Kahn, who own major art galleries on the islands and who have been close to the monastery for more than 20 years. Saul is taking a class on Hinduism at the local community college, and is seen here interviewing Tyagi Kartikkeyanathaswami about Hinduism. Saul is especially interested in auras.

Today a large shipment of items arrived from the mainland at the monastery. 5,000 large posters came first. These are the ALOHA posters that the monks designed for Gurudeva to distribute to the people of our island, in conjunction with the Vision Kauai 2020 group of community leaders that he works with here. The posters are used in local businesses, county and government offices, even the schools, where EVERY schoolroom on the island has one, all 660. Gurudeva gave them posters last year, but the kids are kids, and teachers say the posters are showing a lot of wear. Hearing this, Gurudeva had us reprint the popular poster that teaches basic Polynesian values of kindness and huminity and such. Not only that, he is having the monks box up packages of 660 for the years ahead, and each year for the next 4 or 5 he will present a new supply to the teachers and children of our island when the new school season begins. Kind of an aloha endowment.

Also we received 108,000 vision cards prepared for a similar purpose. These we are getting cut and folded, hopefully in time for the October 10th Future Fair here, when the island gathers to envision its chared future.

We also had 12,500 wonderful posters of Indra Sharma's latest painting of our beloved Gurudeva printed, and they arrived. Look for them in our MiniMela, or write or e-mail Sadhaka Haranandi for one for your shrine room!