Kauai Aadheenam

Aerial Photos – January 26, 2025

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  • A shot looking straight down at Iraivan Temple
  • The Chola Gardens and Rishi Valley Ponds
  • Gathering before the afternoon’s Pradosha Puja
  • The Svayambhu Lingam’s temporary tent along San Marga, the Shadkonam Garden and Iraivan Temple
  • A slightly closer shot
  • Our grass plantings are beginning to grow in
  • An overview of The Path of the Saivite Satguru’s, with the Silpi Pavilion to the left
  • The new Siddhidatta Kulam shop
  • And a final view over to our hardwood forests, across the river. In the far upper-left, the bright green patch is our Noni field

    • Aum Namah Sivaya!

    Happy Pradosha Puja day! With such nice weather we decided to take the drone up for some fresh aerial photos of Iraivan Temple. These also give us a good view of the new temporary service path around the temple, which is in place until funds are raised to build the final stone path. They also give us a snapshot of the growth of our temple gardens and landscaping. Aum.

    The best thing to do when you begin meditation is to live in a good environment, among good people.

    Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

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    A Blessing for Our Kubota Trackhoe

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  • Blessing the trackhoe for a long and useful life
  • It has a few small dings here and there, but overall is in excellent condition
  • Swami starts it up!
  • It is more powerful than our previous one and has much smoother controls
  • Jai!

    • Jai Ganesha!

    On Ardra Darshanam, our new (to us) Kubota trackhoe arrived, ending its long journey across the ocean from California, where it had been a well-maintained piece of rental equipment. The trackhoe replaces our previous machine, which was recently sold. These little machines are invaluable for our many projects throughout the aadheenam, and with such a small size, they can fit into areas of the gardens that larger machines can’t reach. The day after its arrival, we held a little blessing at the Ganesha shrine in front of the Siddhidatta Kulam’s new shop. Satguru and several monks attended while Sannyasin Tillainathaswami conducted a small puja and blessing for the vehicle, followed by its initial operation and the digging of a small gravel pile to celebrate. Aum.

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    Devotional Song Library

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    Jai Ganesha!

    We’re pleased to announce access to our Devotional Songs Library, now available on our website at himalayanacademy.com/audio-songs. After many years we’ve accumulated a collection of music of varying recorded quality, much of it sung by devotees, including Natchintanai, Tirumurai and many more. This has been a continued request since our website update. Migrating data correctly form our old website is a slight challenge with the many different ways the data was formatted, so we’re happy to finally be able to release this initial access. Aum!

    Enjoy!

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    Blessing Our New Skid Steer

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    • This morning, the monks of Kauai Aadheenam gathered to celebrate and bless their newest piece of equipment, a Kubota SVL 97-2 skid steer, with a sacred Ganesha Puja. The machine was parked in front of a beautifully adorned murti of Lord Ganesha near the Siddhidata Kulam’s new shop, Hale Hana. Satguru, several monks and Vel Mahalingam, observed the traditional blessing, while Mayilnathaswami offered flowers and incense to invoke Lord Ganesha’s blessings for the new machine. Swami then got into the machine and started it up. It was ceremonially driven over a several limes, something observed in vehicle blessings to absorb negativity and barriers that may lie in the path ahead. Thus we mark the start of the Kubota’s role in supporting our many projects around the monastery. Much like our old skid steer, the Kubota will play a key role in the monastery’s self-sufficiency and the care of our land. From landscaping the temple grounds and maintaining vegetable gardens to grading land, improving roadways, and handling heavy mulching work, the machine is a welcome addition to our efforts.

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    Sivalaya Dipam 2024

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  • Satguru carries the lamp which will ignite the maha dipam
  • Earlier in the afternoon Pravin Kumar begins the puja
  • Satguru, monks and devotees are present as afternoon turns to evening
  • diyas are lit
  • Nandi received an abhishekam hours earlier, during pradosh
  • Night begins to fall with a full moon in the sky
  • The flame is carried around the sanctum and then brought outside
  • Smaller lamps are lit for the acharyas to carry
  • The flame is lit, and burns brightly
  • Aum Namah Sivaya

    • Last night, Iraivan Temple came alive with the radiant celebration of Sivalaya Dipam, a sacred festival honoring Lord Siva as the infinite light of consciousness. This festival commemorates Lord Siva’s boundless nature as an endless pillar of light. Devotees gathered at sunset for the enchanting ceremony. A collection of oil lamps encircled the temple sanctum, casting a serene glow. After a puja to Mahalingesvara, the flame was carried by Satguru out to the front of the temple. The event culminated in the lighting of a grand fire in front of Iraivan, mirroring the traditional hilltop beacon lit at Mount Arunachala in Tamil Nadu.

    The lighting of lamps symbolizes the victory of wisdom over ignorance and the illumination of the soul’s inner light. This deeply spiritual evening offers a moment for reflection and renewal, inspiring all to nurture Siva’s eternal presence within, as the sacred flames merge with the starlit sky. Aum Namah Sivaya!

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