Siva's Bonsai Gems

A long-awaited manifestation is taking place in Siva's Sacred Gardens. It is the brainchild of Tandu Sivanathan, a bonsai sensei who has cared for, nurtured, shaped and otherwise raised dozens of bonsais at his Kauai homestead. He has recently, with the help of Deva Seyon, brought twelve of his master works to the monastery. Together they placed display stands at each of the Satguru murtis, then hand-picked which guru should be honored with which style of bonsai. Now Tandu comes to the monastery every other day to water them all, since their super-shallow root system is hyper sensitive to drying out. Come with us on a tour of this marvelous addition to an already marvelous sanctuary.

Inspired the the beauty of the bonsai, Kartik Suresh wrote this short song (he's a bass player).

Bonzais of San Marga by Kartik Suresh, January 26, 2022

With Iraivan Temple just feet away, stand individual Bonzai for each Guru today.
As each guru along San Marga’s path, each Bonzai’s shape colors their individual message. 

Whether lush with leaves, or a long branch as one, Siva’s grace is seen and expressed in rain, wind and sun.

Such as Sanatana Dharma, Bonzais have seen millennia, and as Santana Dharma, need meticulous care and discipline to wash away karma.

Jai Ganapathi, Jai Gurudeva, with these Bonzai at your feet, may Siva’s message and dance be shared with the world to see.

Click to play!

Tandu takes Gurudeva\

s blessings for the project. '

Here we have a famous bonsai, an Old Pine, over 800 years old. Famed for the price it sold for: $1.3 million. US, not Singapore dollars.

This is Gurudeva\

s bonsai'

Let us take a walk. First we come to Nandinatha.

His bonsai in the morning sun.

Tandu fetches another pot of water from the ponds. It takes about a gallon for each one.

Then Tirumular.

His bonsai is being guarded by three boulder devas.

It\

s a beauty. '

This is the gnarled trunk.

Rishi

Tandu with the han-kengai style, bending outward.

This is Rishi\

s tree.'

Off to Kadaitswami

Tandu waters his tree

Off to Chellappaswami

The trees are happy to see their caretaker

Somehow the ruggedness of Chellappaswami\

s trunk reminds us of his character. '

Next we visit Yogaswami.

His bonsai is also han-kengai, a form regarded as requiring intermediate skill. Tandu got this at Polihale Beach decades ago.

He tells us it is a beach vine, called Pua Hinahina in Hawaiian. It is just budding out and will have a flush of leaves in the weeks ahead.

It gets a big drink of fresh water

The base is covered with moss.

Now to Gurudeva\

s murti in Narmada Valley.'

His is some form of pine tree

With the Narmada Lingam behind

Deva says it has two Jalani Caves in the trunk.

Bodhinatha looks directly at his bonsai and seems to be honoring its Sivaness.

As it, in turn, honors the Satguru.

It\

s a ficus. '

Up close it reveals its age.

They can be ancient, some over 1,000 years old, nurtured for six generations by Japanese families.

Tandu put two of them at the entrance to the path of the Saiva Satgurus.

This is true Kengai, defined by the fact that the branch falls below the pot.

And two more on pedastals in the Kadavul Temple pool.

This is an expert-level bonsai called Yose-Ue, like a small forest. Thank you, Tandu and Deva, for the precious addition to the monastery.

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