A Daily Chronicle of Kauai's Hindu Monastery

Satguru Siva Yogaswami
Jaffna, Sri Lanka

Satguru Sivaya
Subramuniyaswami
Hawaii, USA

TAKA - A Daily Chronicle of Kauai's Hindu Monastery

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami
Kauai's Hindu Monastery, USA
aum

February 03, 2004
February 3: Ardra until 7:41AM HST
February 4: Punarvasu until 9:25AM HST
Hindu Year 5105: Subhanu, the "Year of Beautiful Radiance"

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Gurudeva holds the offering tray just before the last part of the morning fire ceremony in Kadavul Temple.

The Mundaka Upanishad advises us, "Let him approach with humility a guru who is learned in the scriptures and established in Brahman. To such a seeker, whose mind is tranquil and senses controlled, and who has approached him in the proper manner, let the learned guru impart the science of Brahman, through which the true, Imperishable Being is realized."

Meet Bodhinatha in Malaysia and India, Jan-Feb 2004

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami will be traveling through Malaysia and South India this January/February on his 2004 Indian Odyssey travel-study program. You are welcome to meet him at the below places:

Mon, Jan 19, 2004 - Sri Kandaswamy Temple, Kuala Lumpur

Fri, Jan 23, 2004 Ü Sri Meenakshi Temple, Madurai

Sun, Jan 25th, 2004 Ü Sri Karpaka Vinayagar Temple, Pillaiyarpatti

Mon, Feb 2nd, 2004 - Siva Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram

Wed, Feb 4th, 2004- Binny Hall, Taj Connemara Hotel, Chennai

Thur, Feb 5th, 2004 - Thaipusam celebrations at Arupadai Veedu Temple, Chennai

Click here to go to his Travel Page for details.

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami giving a sun one morning talk. These talks are recorded and posted on TAKA in both voice and transcript.

We have no further report from the now fast-moving Innersearch beyond "five wonderful hours in Chidambram."

They are now in Chennai, and we'd say "winding down" the last few days, except that the last few days are continuing at quite a pace.

Bodhinatha's Sun One Video. Most Recent update: September 12, 2003. Bodhinatha speaks on Ahimsa, noninjury, yama #1, which is noninjury in thought, word and deed. The law of karma decrees that it is wise not to harm or hurt others, for we will then receive harm and hurt in exchange in the future. 12 minutes, 29 seconds.

An unusual low laying morning mist greeted us after the meditation today. It hung around the aadheenam and the river valley. We took it as an auspicious sign for Thai Pusam tomorrow, which is often accompanied by unusual weather.

In the center one sees there a red and brown tented Ganapati Kulam building undergoing fumigation. The operation required shutting down all equipment in the building, including our e-mail and internet servers, which is the reason we've been off-line. Now all is back to normal.

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Current Overview

Yoginathaswami and Shanmugam Sthapati discuss courses 26, 27 and 28 of the vimanam, the central sanctum, by placing them together on the ground. Some significant adjustments appear to be required and communication is going on now with the Bangalore worksite about them. In the meantime, other details of the carving are being attended to.

Himalayan Academy Travel Study Programs

2004 Indian Odyssey

January 19, 2004 - February 5, 2004
Bangalore, Madurai, Thanjavur, Chennai and
Nearby Temples: Palani Hills, Pillaiyarpatti, Chidambaram,
Swamimalai, Kanchi and others

The afternoon and event of Day 10 of the Innersearch was a highlight for the everyone. We went to visit the Saiva Neri Kalakam Gurukulam in Pilliyarpatti and visited the Ganesha temple in Pilliyarpati. Here we are just getting down from the bus.

First we go to the Gurukulam premises for introductions and tea.

Sri Pitchai Gurukal, the mastermind behind this institution is a great soul.

We are surrounded by priests on every side.

A few of the Gurukulam boys all lined up in the hall to greet and chant for Bodhinatha.

In the middle is our old friend, Kumarswami Gurukkal, who is the nephew of Pitchai Gurukkal. Kumarswami came to Kauai Aadheenam, 19 years ago to perform the 12th year Kumbhabhisekam of Kadavul Temple, and give further training to the monks in Sanskrit and temple puja. It was wonderful to see him again.

This Gurukkulam has trained 1,000's of priests, many of whom are serving in temples overseas. When we first came to India in 1969, there were no schools like this and it was assumed the Hindu priesthood would slowly die out. But now it is in resurgence, in no small part due to Gurudeva's decades of encouragement.

One of the things we noticed here is how much joy and love there is among the students and their teachers.

Next we make our way to the temple, led by musicians.

The temple is manned by a huge team of Sivachariyas, all working together in quiet and precise harmony.

We had no idea what to expect.....

Bodhinatha leads the way in all our processions.

The Innersearchers gather in the outer halls of this beautifully maintained temple. Sadhaka Tejadevanatha looks up....

At the amazing ceiling paintings.

We are about to enter one of the really amazing spiritual places in South India. A little known "secret" ...

These paintings have been maintained over the years.

In many temples, the original painting has been lost, is deteriorated or covered over.

But here, painstaking efforts have been taken to see to the upkeep of this fantastic artwork. Then we were taken into the inner shrine of the main temple Deity. The giant Pilliyar in this temple is carved out of a rock and the temple sanctum is built out in front of it. It was one of the most memorable pujas we have ever experienced in our lives and the presence of Lord Ganesha was felt by all with such "density" that it is very hard to describe.

The rule against taking photos in the temple of course keeps this darshan as a sacred experience to be known only by those who come here.

The following morning, more priest come to the hotel in Madurai to connect with Bodhinatha.

The beautiful cows are everywhere in South India, we take this shot as we leave the temple for an evening function at the Gurukulam.

In one of the nearby halls, all the students are gathered in the center and chairs arranged on either side for our innersearchers and the local townsfolk.

Another one of the top men at Pilliyarpatti. A radiant soul....

Then the monks went on the stage and we had a wonderful unexpected function. Here Sheela Venkatakrishnan translated Bodhinatha talk.

Bodhinatha spoke on the importance of the priesthood.

A big audience.

Bodhinatha honors Pitchai Gurukkal with a shawl and a copy of one of Gurudeva's books.

Palaniswami shares his appreciation for the great work being done by the Gurukkulam.

We also get to listen to the words of several other important community religious leaders, witness chanting demonstrations and hatha yoga performed by the students of the Gurukkulam.

Kumarswami Gurukkal is also honored, in remembrance for the key services he performed for the Aadheenam almost two decades ago.

Next we go off for dinner, served by the students of the gurukulam.

Pitchai Gurukkal calls forward a leading industrialist in the area who is a key supported of the Gurukkulam.

Meal time is always a delightful break, a time for talking and questions and answers.

Moogam Pereatumbee from Mauritius gets to talk with Gerard from California.

One final photo before we take our leave. We were very blessed by this visit to Pilliyarpatti which strengthened the all important ties between Kauai Aadheenam and the Sivacharyas of South India. We look forward to years of collaboration in the future. And the shakti of the temple puja will live on in everyone's hearts forever.

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MORE UPLIFTING THINGS 2004 Indian Odyssey
Join Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami on an 18 day Innersearch to South India, from Jan 19 to Feb 5, as we pilgrimage to ancient monasteries, magnificent 1,000 plus year old sacred temples and meet with India's holy men in a life-transforming adventure. Click on the above link for more details.

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