Monastery

Nitya Shankaran’s Final Days on Taskforce

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As Nitya Shankaran Mogan comes toward the end of his taskforce stay, he is spending about a week helping out the Minimela staff in the mornings. Here he is at the cashier desk, being efficient with time by making more bracelets in between visitor purchase inquiries. He also shared a couple of the photos he took over the last few weeks.

Thank you Nitya for your tireless service for a month.

  • Finished bracelets and other items on display
  • Nithya took this photo during the Iraivan Samvatsara Puja
  • Nithya took this sunrise photo from the back porch of our taskforce residence
  • A clear day this morning before heavy rains are forecast starting this afternoon through tomorrow

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Leaning Tower of Rudraksha (Tree)

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As we shared a week or so ago, recent strong winds were too much for a very tall rudraksha tree clump that has been growing in a low swampy area for decades soon after the Ganesha shrine on San Marga path. The clump was uprooted, but rather than falling all the way down, it got stuck at a 45-degree angle on more rudraksha trees on the other side of the path.

Cutting down a tree clump in this scenario is very dangerous because the weight distribution is difficult to predict. Fortunately we have professionals on the job. We got some photos of the beginning stages and thought we could come back later in the afternoon to capture some of the biggest pieces being felled, but they moved so quickly that the clump was all down by the time we came back mid afternoon!

  • They had to first remove some other tree branches that were in the way
  • A large piece in the midst of falling after being cut
  • Despite all the experience and best efforts, the chainsaw got stuck at least once. They had to attach rope to a section and pull the branch down with with a excavator arm
  • Another recent rainbow

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New Monastery Residents

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Several days ago we welcomed two young men who arrived here just in time to help prepare for and attend the Iraivan Temple annual Samvatsara Puja.

Nithya Shankaran Mogan arrived first from Singapore, on his very first visit to Kauai for a month. He is a longtime sishya in Saiva Siddhanta Church along with his late father, his mother, sister and brother. While he currently works in Singapore, his family is from Malaysia. He turned 31 yesterday; Happy Birthday!

About a day later, Arinien Mootoocurpen arrived from Mauritius to pursue the monastic path. It was the culmination of months of preparation, including a special visa application and entering the first stage of pre-monastic life which we call Aspirancy. He first flew to Kauai some years back to experience the monastic path for several months in order to be familiar with his life path options. Arinien comes from a family who are also longtime sishyas in Saiva Siddhanta Church. With plenty of joyful tears, family members and other sishyas in Mauritius wished him well for his chosen path.

  • Nithya Shankaran Mogan
  • Arinien Mootoocurpen
  • Putting infrastructure away after Iraivan Samvatsara Puja
  • Recent beginning of a rainbow after lots of rain

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Cleaning Kartikeya at Muruga Hill

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A Kartikeya Deity adorns the side of Muruga Hill on San Marga path, tall bamboo swaying above. The Deity was previously at the entrance to the Svayambhulingam square. Just before completing his taskforce stay a couple weeks ago, Maruthu Darmalingam and one of the monks cleaned the murti and surrounding platform, lightly oiled and dressed Him in clean garments, with new pottus.

A couple days ago we had very strong wind gusts, so formidable that, just before Muruga Hill, a tall rudraksha tree clump fell across the San Marga path. It had been growing in a swampy area, so the roots were unstable. It’s now leaning at a 45 degree angle over the path because more rudraksha trees on the other side halted the fall! It’s going to be quite a job to safely remove this clump, probably involving a excavator. For now, no one is allowed to pass through this area.

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Efficient Use of Space for More Storage

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For decades we’ve been using “Big Max” small storage sheds to hold many construction, maintenance and repair supplies such as plumbing parts, electrical parts, etc. The sheds served a good purpose, but are inherently flimsy and more susceptible to corrosive elements than a actual building. Now that we have the new Hale Hana metal building, the Siddhidata kulam is gradually moving supplies into secure, better-protected storage space created above the welding station. They are fashioning shelves with unusually-thick plywood that was gifted to us by a local contractor.

Across the room they also recently installed safety poles and ropes along the storage space up there.

After capturing these few photos, we saw taskforcer Aran Malhotra weeding next to the “Tiki” sculpture outside Hale Hana entrance.

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Sadhaka Sabānatha Receives Samaya Diksha

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Aum Namah Śivaya

During this month’s celebration of Ardra nakshatra, and following our special abhishekam to Lord Nataraja, Sadhaka Sabānatha received his Samaya Diksha. This diksha is the receiving of the sacred Panchakshara Mantra along with special instructions for daily japa from one’s Satguru. In the Saiva Siddhanta tradition, this moment of diksha marks a pivotal step in the soul’s long journey. It is when Lord Śiva’s Power of Revealing Grace flows through the Satguru, opening the inner door and granting the devotee both the opportunity and the means for liberation.

  • Sadhaka receives instructions for chanting the Namah Śivaya Mantra
  • Blessed with vibhuti, sacred ash
  • and flower petals!
  • Aum Namah Śivaya

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