Uncategorized

Harvesting from the Greenhouse

1 Comment /
  • Offering to Ganesha
  • Bell Pepper
  • Cucumber
  • Our cat Bandit having a good sleep

    • Jai Ganesha!

    Recently, the mathavasi of Siddhidata Kulam harvested tomatoes. Among them was a “Gladiator” tomato, known for being larger than usual, which they offered to Lord Ganesha. They also harvested cucumbers and bell peppers. Enjoy the photos!

    Harvesting from the Greenhouse Read More »

    More of Satguru’s Activity in Mauritius

    2 Comments /

    • This second image collection shows Satguru giving second vishesha diksha (blessing and directive to personally perform puja daily) to a SSC sishya, then giving mantra diksha (blessing and directive to change 108 Namasivaya daily) to three SSC sishyas.

    On subsequent days Satguru met individually with more devotee families and had a afternoon interview with Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation at their studio in Port Louis for a show called Encounter. The interviewer focused exclusively on philosophical questions. Satguru also met with the American Ambassador to Mauritius, Henry Jardine. His previous posts include Calcutta, where he learned Bengali, and Bangkok, where he learned some Thai. He is quite knowledgeable in the current state of Hinduism. 

    A couple of young sishyas also produced a short video highlighting the monthly Ganesha Homa at our Spiritual Park and interspersed commentary given by Satguru and Shanmuganathaswami a few days ago. Here is the video

    More of Satguru’s Activity in Mauritius Read More »

    August 2025 Chitra Padapuja

    2 Comments /
  • Sadhakas Sabanatha and Shankaranatha offer flowers to Gurudeva’s granite tiruvadi
  • “The cosmos is perfect, you know. Its laws are divine, its timing flawless, its design unique.” – Gurudeva
  • “If we are still reacting to our experiences, we are only starting on the yoga path to enlightenment.” – Gurudeva
  • “We make very little progress when we strive to conquer these baser instincts in a good mood. However, vast strides are possible when we are miserable and work with ourselves to replace our misery with joy and understanding.” – Gurudeva
  • “Humility is intelligence; arrogance is ignorance. To accept one’s karma and the responsibility for one’s actions is strength. To blame another is weakness and foolishness.” – Gurudeva
  • “Turn awareness back in on itself and simply be aware that you are aware. Try to penetrate the core of existence.” – Gurudeva

    • Jai Gurudeva!

    Early this morning, our monks celebrated August’s Chitra nakshatra with our monthly padapuja to Gurudeva. This was the first time Sadhaka Sabanatha performed the puja as the main pujari, with Sadhaka Shankaranatha assisting. Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami is traveling, but our monks and island members attended, invoking the love and blessings of Gurudeva. Aum.

    “We do not follow the way of words, which is repeating from memory verses and stanzas of scripture with meager mental interpretations of their meaning. We follow the way of transformational spiritual unfoldment. We follow the mārga of sādhana and tapas.” – Gurudeva

    August 2025 Chitra Padapuja Read More »

    Bodhinatha Arrives in Mauritius

    Leave a Comment /
  • Devotees parade Satguru through the Spiritual Park
  • Then welcomed at the Spiritual Park with a foot washing by the senior kulapatis.
  • A drone captures the spiritual park overlooking the river jusst before it merges with the sea.
  • Satguru blesses the future site of the bronze Gurudeva murti (seen middle left) with water from a kumbha.
  • Adding rice and flowers into the small pit.
  • Another aerial view. Ganesha is in the mandapam with the dark blue roof.
  • Pada puja is performed in the traditional manner.
  • The stairs down to the river.
  • Bodinatha addresses the members in one of the three new mandapams.
  • Last week this team planted new trees.
  • An amazingly productive Amala tree.
  • The annual Amala (Indian Gooseberry) harvest is underway.
  • Members package the health-giving fruits and sell them to visitors who appreciate the freshness.
  • Such a happy tree. Our Amala on Kauai gives few fruits, since they like a dry climate which we are not.

    • On August 22 Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami and Shanmuganathaswami arrived in Mauritius for a five-day visit with our members. He was greeted by devotees at the airport and later paraded by a large group through the Spiritual Park with drums and conch shells, and lots of melodious chanting. There were multiple events, initiations, ground-breaking, wedding blessings, upadeshas and gatherings.

    Bodhinatha sent a note despite how busy he has been:

    “Aloha, everyone! From 9 AM to noon Satsang at the Spiritual Park was arranged for members and a few devotees. Perhaps 150 attended. A Ganesha Arati fwas ollowed by a ground-breaking ceremony for the soon-to-be-built Gurudeva bronze shrine. Next was a full pada puja followed by my talk on how rising through the chakras is like climbing Mt. Everest. Next we had two Vishesha Dikshas and three Samaya Dikshas. The morning concluded with vibhuti blessings and lots of photos with individual families.”

    Bodhinatha Arrives in Mauritius Read More »

    New Digital Picture Frame

    Leave a Comment /
  • As an aside, here is a unusual cloud formation witnessed at sunrise on our coastline a couple weeks ago

    • Adjacent to our monastery kitchen is what we call the Kopi Kadai, a small area with beverage facilities and breakfast buffet counter. A couple decades ago we had a painting on the wall, and then shifted to a digital slideshow picture frame once that came on the market. It served us for quite a while until finally the screen lighting died, so we just got a new frame and are adding many photos and paintings to it.

    New Digital Picture Frame Read More »

    Scroll to Top