Celebrating 50 Years of Kauai Aadheenam

"Back at the Tropical Inn the monk dutifully spoke with the owner, retired Col. Albert Roesch, asking for a what-if price. 'As my manager told you twice, it's not for sale, young man.' 'Yes, I know. But if it were...' the monk sheepishly offered. Seeing there would be no respite until a number was forthcoming, Col. Roesch grumbled in a slightly threatening voice, 'If it were to be sold, and Im not saying it ever would, we would want no less than $300,000.' Back at Poipu, Master heard the number and decreed, 'Go back and tell him we cant afford that much, but we can offer him $165,000 right away. No more. Tell him that.' 'But...' 'Trust me. Just go and make the offer.' An hour later the monk stood before the man and made the counteroffer with great hesitation. 'Hmmm! Let me talk with my wife,' came the unexpected retort.
The offer, amazingly, was accepted and Master moved to the new property on February 5, 1970, spending the first night alone on the property to take psychic control before inviting the monks to join him the next day."

"Master named the lush seven-acre property Sivashram and made it his home, a courageous move in those days, leaving all past history and properties, moving thousands of miles away to a new land, a small island. Thus ended a long search for his spiritual headquarters.

"'Years ago, we came to Kauai and finally never left. I chose Kauai, the worlds most remote land mass, because I wanted to be close to my devotees in the East and close to my devotees in the West, while at the same time cloistered from the world at large. Yes, our inner life is more important than our outer life. If we were in San Francisco, New York, Singapore or New Delhi, we could not do this same work as a contemplative order of meditators and teachers, outreaching primarily through publications and the Internet. Kauai is a spiritual place, a vortex of healing energies emanating from its sacred Mount Waialeale, pristine air and ocean.'"

https://www.himalayanacademy.com/media/books/the-guru-chronicles/web/39_guru06_02.html

Your dutiful monks of Kauai Aadheenam

An aerial view of the early days of the Aadheenam

A sunset during an initial visit by Gurudeva

The same view today

This is the Wailua, from a perspective just south of the Media Studio. The flagpole would be center frame, above the water.

Gurudeva gives a teaching at Siva Ashram

More powerful talks beneath a banyan

Do you recognize this banyan?

The San Marga, as recently carved through the jungle

The same path endures today

Our courtyard where the monks eat lunch

Time to build Kadavul Temple!

Nandi is installed

The walls to the humble temple are built

Worship begins after the arrival of the Deities

Here comes Ganesha!

Freshly unwrapped after His journey from India

and He\

s never left'

Next, Lord Muruga

Gurudeva oversees in the background

Still blessing us everyday

The monk\

s bee keeping operation '

Bringing Kadavul closer to completion

Adding the roofing

It\

looking like the temple we know and love'

Before the tiles or the carpet

More recognizable now

On Gurudeva vision day, monks and members worship at the Swayambhu Lingam

Iravain Temple is born from mystic vision

and carved to perfection

A place \"where the world will come to pray\"

Natural beauty and a divine presence

Gardens abounding in love

Paramacharya gives Hanuman a shawl on installation day, as Hanuman\

s strength and devotion can be found at the Aadheenam as well.'

Pilgrims from around the world can enjoy Iraivan Temple

All because of a timeless Guru Lineage

A place for everyone to find peace and wonder

Kadavul provides the fire of sadhana and the blessings of Nataraja\

s dance'

And as Iraivan is built, we are creating a temple of the Formless, Timeless, Self within.

Aum Namah Sivaya

Jai Gurudeva

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