Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami recounts his several visits to the BAPS temples and centers and his meetings with Pramukhswami Maharaj.
Swami Gnaneshwardas is given a shawl at the entry as our monks chant “Nakarmana.”
An aloha welcome at the entrance.
Walking along the garden path.
Visiting Kadavul Temple.
Off to the Media Studio. Seeing the view for the first time.
Informal sharing in the Cedar Room. Notice the small framed photo on the table. It is of Swaminarayan (1781-1830) who founded BAPS. They carry it everywhere they go to honor and remember him.
Swami Gnaneshwardas places a shawl on Satguru and offers gifts they have brought to hawaii.
Listening intently in the Guru Pitham.
A photo following darshan with the Satguru.
All aboard our solar-powered chariot for a tour of Siva’s Sacred Gardens.
Sadasivanathaswami answers their many questions about the monastery, our daily schedule and more.
Entering the temple
While a few swamis had to return to their quarters to prepare dinner, the senior monks visited Iraivan Temple just in time for darshan of Mahalingesvara.
With great joy, Kauai Aadheenam greeted the twelve BAPS Swamis on November 21. The most senior was Swami Gnaneshwardas who for years has been the mentor for young monks who go through a two-year “boot camp” in the city of Sarangpur in Gujarat. With him were monks from Chino Hills. After a formal greeting at the Aadheenam entrance, they paraded to Kadavul Temple and the Media Studio for some “talk story” time with the Ganapati Kulam. Discussions ranged from youth outreach (a real issue for all groups these days), ChatGPT and more. We shared the three reasons our organizations feel such closeness: Both are guru-centric; both build temples and place great significance on temple worship and attendance (including a home shrine); both have the monks as the leaders/administrators of the mission; both practice traditional sadhanas (e.g. monks travel in pairs always). It is always a joy when there is a confluence of these two orders. The slideshow follows their afternoon adventures.
