Happy second day of Pancha Ganapati!

The monastery keeps moving forward in our duties as usual, but Ganesha’s joyous shakti is in the air.

“Day two of Pancha Ganapati is devoted to creating a vibration of love and harmony among neighbors, relatives and close friends and presenting them with heartfelt gifts. The sadhana of the day is to offer apologies and clear up any misunderstandings that exist.”

Here is our special shrine established for these five days, lavishly decorated by Sadhaka Nandinatha, who celebrates by offering an arati to Lord Ganesha.

“On this day relatives and friends in far-off places are written to or called, forgiveness is sought, apologies made and tensions released.”

Gurudeva designed Pancha Ganapati a few decades ago, and it has been growing more popular ever since.

”Winter solstice has always been a festive time among Hindus especially,” Gurudeva explained, “and a traditional season for the worship of Lord Ganesha. Pancha Ganapati is the Hindu expression of this natural season of worship, gift-giving and celebration.

It is a time to light up the house, share gifts and have a good time with children, family, friends and neighbors. Ganesha presides from the home shrine, blessing us all.

Read more about Pancha Ganapati here.

Also today in our monastery we began a new landscaping project. A big excavator began to cut back the hau bush, a very aggressive and invasive plant that is a problem on Kaua’i. Paramacharya Palaniswami guides the driver.

We have quite a few landscaping projects for the next few days, clearing up paths, opening areas for better sightseeing and even creating a pond.

It’s our duty, as humans, to work together with the Devas in making Kauai Aadheenam the most sacred and beautiful place it can be.

We have the help of Keoki — that’s the Hawaiian phonetic version of “George” –, an unbelievably skilled operator of this heavy excavator. He is a bit of a legend, really, in how much he can achieve with the machine, and there are abundant stories and first-hand accounts. No slope too steep for him.