Sivanadiyar and Bhairava pose for a photo- Singing bhajans in Kadavul temple
- Final arati of the Muruga puja
- Off loading the compost bucket
- The blessed temple flowers from Nataraja become our food!
- lush Japanese pumpkin vine
- This pumpkin will be ready to pick in the weeks to come
Vel Muruga!
Today, we shadow Śivanadiyar Arinien around the monastery. His day is filled with a dynamic balance of temple worship and selfless seva. He enjoys singing devotional hymns while the Muruga pujari adorns the Deity with fresh flowers and richly embroidered clothing. During the height of the puja—the final arati—Arinien receives Muruga’s blessing, encouraging his mind to become calm as a still lake. After the puja, he heads to the garden with compost buckets. He empties their contents into a large composting bin, layering the food waste with woodchips to help it break down into beautiful soil. Besides composting, he attends to many other garden duties, including growing food. He shows us a sprawling pumpkin vine that is harvested weekly. Walking the monastery’s German shepherd, Bhairava, is another duty he performs with a smile and enthusiasm.