Recent Visitors day at Kauai Aadheenam

When Gurudeva established Kauai's Hindu Monastery in 1970, visitors to the Aadheenam were rare. Selecting the most isolated land mass on earth for the training and spiritual unfoldment of His monks, the monastery remained a remote destination for most, surrounded by pineapple fields and agricultural land. At that time on Kauai, development and growth was discouraged by the planning department. They had witnessed first hand wholesale development on Oahu and Maui and the local Kauaiian residents didn't want any part of it. Kauai was known, as it is today, as the Garden Island and Kauaiian's wanted to keep the pristine beauty of the island in tact. Slowly as growing families needed more job opportunities beyond the sugar companies, small shops and a couple of hotels the door was open every so gradually to allow controlled development.

Kauai is still beautiful beyond compare and the vision of the early planners has become the number one attraction on Kauai. Hundreds of square miles of tropical forests, mountains, rivers, streams and canyons. From the air the "human footprint" still looks very small. With more hotels, came more visitors. Visitors who do their shopping on the other islands are looking for something else when they come here, and many find their way to Kauai Aadheenam.

I wonder if the monks ever guessed in those early years that they would be discovered and that coming to Kauai's Hindu Monastery would require a parking reservation, staffed with a guard and guides to enjoy a tour of the monastery grounds and building sites.  Yet, this also happened gradually and in a very controlled way. Gurudeva would keep the inner vibration of the monastery in tact, by keeping a very tight schedule of once per week for the guided tour and putting it in writing.

Well we can well imagine that the monks will be somewhat relieved when the entrance to Iraivan is established in the future along the far West acreage of the property and the monastery proper will be back to being cloistered 7 days a week, for now their generosity and openness to visiting guests is remarkable.

So what sublime vibration is it that calls to people from every walk of life and religious background to forgo a day at the beach, a zip line excursion or just sitting by the pool and relaxing with a miatai? - What is it that calls them to venture four miles up the historic Kuamoo Road and try and find the tiny entrance to the monastery?  Many are not really sure when they arrive, but by the time they leave they know they have had a rare and special experience.

Seeing Bodhinatha\

s pen in his hand is such a wonderful fulfillment of the pattern Gurudeva set so many years ago.'

A sweet soul bringing back a book for her grandson. She asks Sadasivanathaswami to sign it.

Paramacharya Sadasivanathswami fills in when Bodhinatha is traveling. This is Thirukkumaran, his wife Chandini is just out of camera view. Deep roots in Alaveddy.

The beautiful Mohan family. It is such a delight to see the stability of three generations coming to the temple together.

Many will return and tell their friends how simple and beautiful is the life of a Hindu monk.

Taking the walk of wonders!

Gorgeous day today!

Happy guests. This day the rains held back until all the guest were back to the parking lot - then poured cats and dogs.

Looking up at Iraivan from the knoll of the hill that leads down to the river below.

Spectacular hello, coming around the corner!

The monks have an Anthurium collection more extensive than any nursery on Kauai.

Guests sometimes catch the final arati, when coming back from Iraivan. In the middle of the crowd is Paramacharya Sivanathaswami finalizing the puja.

}
];

transitionSpeed:150});