"That goal is to realize God Siva in His absolute, or transcendent, state, which when realized is your own ultimate state--timeless, formless, spaceless Truth. "

Gurudeva

Gurudeva Darshan of the Day

What Happened Today at the Monastery?

Sun Four today. The Ganapati Kulam gave their report. A lot of work is going into:

* Video production
* The New Top Secret Hinduism Today Website
* The October 2008 Digital Edition (just released today)
* Coordinating travel plans for a trip to India to work on the Agama project.

And much more...

One of the new things is Bodhinatha's Publisher's Desk is being release as a YouTube Video instead just and audio file. Check it out below.

 

Sanskrit classes are held on the evenings of Sun Three. Sannyasin Senthilnathaswami is conducting them for our for youngest ones.

Monthly Chitra Puja

This month's Chitra puja was conducted by Sadhaka Satyanatha and Sadhaka Nilakantha. We all felt a powerful shakti. Coming right after Ganesha Chaturthi, it is another mangalam day!

Iraivan Temple Construction Progress

Today we also especially auspicious for Iraivan temple. Our new Sthapati, Chidambaram Sthapati conduct his first stone lift here, with the place ment of the final stones of the "Snake Course."

Larry Conklin our ever trusty and competent crane operator on hand.

The snake course is something rarely seen in temples in India, but Gurudeva wanted to have one....

There is a large snake that goes entirely around the temple. His head and tail meet over the Raja Gopuram.

Today the last stone of the body part are being placed..

And here is the head and tail of the snake that is the final master piece to be placed.

Yoginathaswami confers with Sthapati on how the operation will be done.

The stone is extremely delicate. With a large cobra head and hood and a heavy base with a thin neck inbetween, it could easily be broken.

Here is Chidambaram Sthapati...

As Sadhaka Satyanatha said, who is taking these photos:

"Aum namah Sivaya!

"On Gurudeva Chitra Puja day, the Cobra head is up. It is the most striking feature of the entrance of Iraivan. Congratulations to the Siddhidata Kulam."

Our guests were treated to a wonderful historic moment this morning as they toured the Iraivan Temple. With Chidambaram Stapathy on the left (blue shirt) and Yoganathaswami on the right (yellow hard hat), the white granite hand-carved Pancha Naga was permanently installed on the South-facing aspect of the temple roof with the aid of Larry Conklin's crane. It was a busy scene with the silpis and the Aadheenam monks rushing about assisting with this all important moment in time.

Feeling very blessed to have witnessed this event, our guests paused for a photo with the Iraivan Temple in the background.

All relaxed and happy following a beautiful uplifting morning, our guests rest at the Lookout high above the Wailua river. Note the Iraivan Temple off in the distance on the right.

Our guests include Kalimuthu Subbiah, and Bhanumathi and Anand Kalimuthu from Texas who heard about the Temple by chance at the Kauai Airport - and "are so glad they came." Also present are the Santhirasivam family from Canada, and Satheesh and Shela Kumar from El Paso, TX.