Tour Day at the Aadheenam
July 30, 2010From yesterday's tour day: Basanti Mardemootoo is here from Mauritius visiting her family and volunteered to help guide this weeks public tour. This inspired group moved together effortlessly through the many stops and sights like a beautiful large family. With the silpis now working on the Nandi Mandapam the vision...
Fifth Annual Saivite Summer Camp in Chicago
July 30, 2010A three-day Saivite Summer Camp was held in Chicago on July 23th - 25th. Thirty-six children of all ages attended this year's event which was conducted by Rishi Thondunathan. Children were instructed about the Nine Beliefs of Hinduism, karma, Dharma, Yamas and Niyamas. Every day classes began with the morning...
Gift of a Rare Vine
July 30, 2010http://twitpic.com/2a3xqn National Tropical Botanical Garden staff made a gift to the monastery today. A rare vine Entada phaseoloides
Now, that's a serious seed pod!
July 30, 2010http://twitpic.com/2a3yca It has the world's largest seedpod. These are small ones! Thanks to NTBG, a great tropical resource.
Polished seeds from this native of the Philippines
July 30, 2010http://twitpic.com/2a3y1m Its giant seeds are called Matchbox Seeds and are said to be medicinally important, especially for digestive ailments. It's a rare vine, with some fragrance, one we have never been able to find even on the Web where you can find pretty much anything in the known universe.
Darshan Meetings With Bodhinatha
July 29, 2010Nana Bhattacharya, his wife Phyllis and daughter Swasti meet with Bodhinatha. Mr. Bhattacharyya worked for Mahatma Gandhi in the 1940's in his Education Program in Maharashtra. His wife was from Japan and traveled to India as a registered nurse to help at the Gandhi's Sevagram Hospital. Swasti is an Assistant...
Gujarati's Give Bhiksha to Gurudeva
July 29, 2010The cruise ship is in port today. A special tour group of 200 Hindus was on board. Half of them came to the temple this morning. They showered their affection and appreciation on the temple and Gurudeva as they left. The Gujarati Patel community is noted for their generosity toward...
Kartikeya's Ganesha Go National!
July 29, 2010For many years, Satya Palani molded clay Ganesh murtis for the Golden Gate Mission's celebration of Ganesha Chathurthi. He passed the tradition on to Kartikeya Katir, who has expanded production a bit. Here are his murtis distributed to the Sri Venkateshwara Temple Youth Camp in Pennsylvania. More went to the...