A Daily Chronicle of Kauai's Hindu Monastery

Satguru Siva Yogaswami
Jaffna, Sri Lanka

A Daily Chronicle of Kauai's Hindu Monastery

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
Kauai's Hindu Monastery, USA

January 5, 2001
January 4: Asvini Until 9:50AM HST
January 5: Bharani Until 9:29AM HST
Hindu Year 5102: Vikrama, the "Year of Fulfillment"

Happy Birthday Gurudeva!
75th Guru Jayanthi

Gurudeva arrived at the Aadheenam about 10 AM this morning, for "drive by darshan." He was in good spirits and the magnetism of the Jayanthi celebrations were too much for him to stay away.

NOTE: on the Audio:

This year's Jayanthi audio talk was prepared by Gurudeva for a radio address that aired for Sri Lankan Tamils in 35 countries. He speaks of his recent back injury as part of the karma of being involved in the on-going peace process in that country.

Title: 2001, 75th Jayanthi Talk, Part 1
Category: Change and Transformation
Duration: 3 min. 51 sec.
Date Given: January 5, 2001
Date Posted: January_5_2001

Gurudeva's 75th Jayanthi Talk, January 5th, 2001. Kauai, a place of retreat and pilgrimage. Lord Murugan working for the Tamil People. Gurudeva speaks of his injury and its pain as a traditional Kavadi. He talks about prarabdha karmas, memories, quieting the mind of the past. More to come tomorrow. . .

" For more information about listening to Gurudeva's talks online and to hear them in other formats, click here.

Do you have questions for Gurudeva? Send to questions@hindu.org.

Please note: Gurudeva only responds to questions from the general public on matters that are suitable for our public cyber audience. Personal or intimate questions sent to this address are not answered.

A detailed index of past inspired talks is available here.

Transcription of One of Gurudeva's CyberTalks
Date: December_30_2000
Title: Working in the Microcosm, Temple Repair
Category: Hinduism and Tradition
Duration: 2 min., 52 seconds
Date Given: November 17, 2000

A cyberspace devotee writing to e-Guru from Ontario, Canada, asks, "Please explain a little bit more about working in the microcosm and affecting the macrocosm. Can I do this too?"

The existence of every person on the planet is of importance. There are no unimportant people. Everyone is affecting everyone else, whether they know it or not, in small or large ways. Writing a book or a pamphlet or making a poster that is distributed by the thousands to many people who read it, can affect the mass consciousness. Writing letters to the editor of a newspaper can affect many, many readers. Your opinion is an important opinion, everyone's is. Writing a book, creating a pamphlet or a poster is in the microcosm. When it is sent out to the macrocosm, those who read it, see it, understand it or even don't understand it, are affected.

A question from a cyberspace devotee in Australia, mentioning that the temples in his area of South India are in disrepair. The priests need attention and encouragement. Could we help in any way?

You will be happy to know that we have created a Hindu Heritage Endowment just for that purpose. Devotees of certain temples in South India can give funds to the Endowment and the beneficiary would be the Trustees of the temple or the priests of their favorite temple. This is working in orphanages and temples, right now, in South India.

Our bi-monthly magazine 'Hinduism Today' is constantly encouraging everyone to care for our priests, respect them, treat them properly. Happy priests, happy temple, happy congregation. We must remember that the movers and shakers and those who can really make a difference in Tamil Nadu, live in Australia like yourself, the UK, Canada, California, Texas, Florida and all throughout the United States. They can do much for their local temple in their ancestral village in Tamil Nadu through Hindu Heritage Endowment, which has over fifty different Endowments serving this purpose.v

Meanwhile earlier in the morning the monastery performed a traditional Pada Puja in Kadavul temple. The bright white rectangle in the back is actually a backlit picture of Gurudeva and beneath it are his "paduka" sandals.

Natyam Tyaganatha (right) and Sadhaka Jivanandanatha perform the Guru Puja. This is one of the most sacred pujas in Saivite Hinduism, usually done to the actual feet of the Guru if he is present. Milk is offered here.

Yogaswami says:

"Shall we not invoke the name of Siva and gain clarity? Shall we not rejoice in His gracious Feet? Never shall we forget to offer the blooms of grateful love. To far off lands shall we traverse in the service of Siva."

--Natchintanai 60.

Then the sandals are cover with holy ashes. Yogaswami says:

"In the core of the individual being, blossoms always
The fragrant and protecting Feet of Siva."

--Natchintanai. 156.

The arati flame is passed. The Guru puja always brings forth a very powerful shakti as it invokes the Divine within the Guru, which is also the Divine within each one of us.

Yogaswami says:

The sacred sandals are beautifully decorated.

Yogaswami says:

OH BLISS INFINITE In the expansive firmament is the Father and Mother. In the expansive firmament is the soul of existence. In the expansive firmament is the elemental forces five. In the expansive firmament do I too dwell.

Deep within me I see the microcosm and macrocosm. My innate self I see as macrocosm and microcosm. Yet my intrinsic Self sees not the microcosm and macrocosm. I permeate both macrocosm and microcosm.

The peerless One who is Father, Mother and Guru, He fosters me as in me He dwelleth. the Primal One absolves me from past deeds. Him I come to know and merge in Love with Him.

Adorned with garlands. . .

Yogaswami continues in his praise of Guru:

He's ambrosia in the hearts of hoary saints, Bliss eternal and ever immortal. He's the balm that heals the burns of finitude. Freed from affliction sore, I awaken to Reality.

He's the immaculate One, with and without Form. He's my Guru who willeth to make me His own. Above the sway of the twenty four principles, (Tattwas) He alone prevails as the efficient creative cause.

A great blessing pours forth to the devotees:

" He's Effulgence who banished my fears. He's the soul of Justice who shuns false hearts. He's the Alpha of all true religious sects. His Holy Feet on my head, life indeed is blessed!

The Primal One beyond the sixty four categories, The magnanimous Radiance that dispels distress, He's the mediator who showed grace to sage Agastya. My unsullied heart is His favourite abode.

The Consort of the tender Sakti takes His abode In the inner shrine of those who've subdued the senses. The Essence of Letters five cannot be realised In the passion-torn minds who perpetuate finitude.

--Natchintanai. 342-343.

It was a surprise visit.. . .early in the morning we all thought. "Oh, Gurudeva won't be able to come. . ." but a call came and the news was "get ready. . .Gurudeva will be here at 10am." Natarajaswami leads the parade as Gurudeva drives in.

Gurudeva greets everyone.

Yogaswami says:

""Boundless grace He showered--
He who in Nallur came in human form."

--Natchintanai. 119.

Here Sadhaka Thondunatha performs Arati to Gurudeva who sits on the edge of the seat in his car.

Yoagswami says:

"My Guru, Peerless Chellappar, I saw at Nallur, 'neath the sacred Chariot of Murugan. He gazed at me in grace, my wise Teacher-- Him do I praise engulfed in bliss."

"There at the ancient abode of Nallur, I saw Him and bowed. Lo, I got into a trance. In speechless silence, He bade me find who I am. Distinctions fade, as I imbibe His Grace, Instanteous is my gain of insight and joy."

Gurudeva gave a special blessing today focusing his upadesha on the elderly ladies who had come from Canada. . ."I just had to come up to see you all, the prayers of these elder Ammas (mothers) has brought me here. . .as I have mentioned before we really want to manifest a new vision for the elderly in our communities. We want to see beautiful elder homes built near temples with all the facilities for older couples and singles. "Now that father and mothers are both working we also need day care centers for children when they come to the temple. Instead of the elderly being passed around from one apartment to another you should have a good life near the temple, be able to walk to the temple for worship, be together in a wonderful community instead of isolated all alone in empty homes where both parents are working."

Yogaswami says:

"Bow to the sacred Feet of the Guru whose holy utterance--the Mahavakiam--points the Way to everlasting bliss." --Natchintanai. 302.

Then Gurudeva blessed each of the elder ladies who came forward.

He gave each one a shawl.

Larry Rivera also came to celebrate with us an be present for the cultural event.

After the ceremonies Gurudeva departed and the devotees continued with a fun-filled morning of cultural events. We started with Larry Rivera and other members of his family. Here Sadhaka Thondunatha participates in a dance twirling two balls, trying not to hit himself . . .ouch!

Using traditional Hawaiian instruments

. . .and a dance with burning lights.

Devika Ajaya surprised everyone with her outstandingly beautiful rendition of Carnatic songs. A young American girl, she is studying in California and her pronunciation of Tamil was remarkably clear. The monks in the kitchen were listening while they cooked and said to themselves: "Who is that Tamil girl singing?"

Jothi Param was next on the roster. A graduate of Kalakshetra, Jothi has a mature male voice and a strong mastery of ragam and perfect pitch through the most complex passages. His relaxed soulful style is always uplifing and touches the heart. . .

Here is a picture of our Tamil Ammas from Edmonton Canada. Let us all honor the mother spirit within them and pray that Gurudeva's vision for a beautiful spiritul life for our grandmas will manifest. Gurudeva said, regarding the special elder centers near the temples: "We have already made the architectural drawings with a plot plan for such a facility. And money will not be a problem."

An eleven acre site in Bangalore, India, where 75 Indian families live and daily carve the sacred white granite edifice of Iraivan Temple which will soon begin to be assembled on the island of Kauai

Some of Gurudeva's Singapore Mission members visited our Iraivan site. They were inspired with the progress. Seated from left are Jiva Rajasankara, Kanmani Rajasankara (the managers of the site) Tamil Mani,Vanitha, Thanaletchumi Maheswaran and Uma Maheswaran (from Singapore)

The Singapore members inspecting a chain made out of a single block.

Gurudeva's other monastery in the island country of Mauritius
in the Indian Ocean near South Africa

Here's the Hurrynundon cousins visiting from Goodlands with their aunty/mom.

Hurrynundons offer flowers and incense to the small Ganesha in front of the Ganesha Mandapam garden.

Misha Mootoosamy (left) is an alumni of the youth retreats held in past years by our swamis. Now she's reading Merging with Siva. She and her family love the Park so she brought her relatives who are visiting from France.

Mr Sanjay Beeharry (second from left) and his wife Joelle (right) visiting from with three friends. Sanjay is the priest at one of the Hindu temples on Reunion island. There are many Hindus (and many Mauritians) living on that French island which is a 30 minute flight to the Southwest.

This day last year was a retreat day. No page was archived.

"How to Become A Hindu"! Gurudeva's latest book release is now available Hot Off the Press! Visit the Himalayan Academy Book Store Web Site get the book and read the incredible testimonies of the early pioneers from the west who chose to make a full and complete conversion to Hinduism, legally change both their first and last names to Hindu names, change their lifestyles, sever their formal connections to previous faiths and joyously face the challenges in joining the tribe of the Sanatana Dharma

Visiting Kauai's Hindu Monastery
If you are planning to visit Kauai, please go first to our our visitor's page. Thank you.

2001 EUROPEAN INNERSEARCH
12 Glorious Days, 8 Enchanting Countries
and One Chance in a Lifetime!
Imagine spending 12 days with one of the greatest spiritual leaders of this century. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami will be leading this exotic educational and spiritual voyage himself combining the mystical path of Indian spirituality with a superlative retreat from it all.

Take advantage of this one chance to be in close proximity with a living master. Come with us on an inner and outer voyage to Northern Europe and Russia.
www.innersearch.org

SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK AND RECEIVE A FREE GIFT

Sign our guestbook and we will send you a free issue of our global full-color bi-monthly magazine, Hinduism Today.

THANK YOU, GURUDEVA

For those who have been touched spiritually by Gurudeva's work, his books, his guidance, his inspired life and example and even his website, the "Thank You, Gurudeva Fund" has been established within Hindu Heritage Endowment.

Proceeds from this fund last forever; they're not a one-time gift. So gifts to this fund have eternal gratitude built into them. They live on in perpetuity.

Each month Gurudeva receives the income from the fund to be used at his own discretion to promote his work and mission around the globe. He loves this, for he knows that it comes from all the good souls who have met him and studied with him, traveled with him or just talked with him over the years. A contribution to this fund is tax-deductible.

This page is updated every day by 6:30pm Hawaii Standard Time.