Recent Pilgrimage ??

[Vinayaka]

We (Boss and me) just got back from a 3 week sadhana/pilgrimage to the headquarters of my sampradaya, Kauai Aadheenam in Kauai, Hawaii. Any questions about what goes on there, what types of sadhanas we did, I might be able to answer.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

We (Boss and me) just got back from a 3 week sadhana/pilgrimage to the headquarters of my sampradaya, Kauai Aadheenam in Kauai, Hawaii. Any questions about what goes on there, what types of sadhanas we did, I might be able to answer.

Hi! we're going to visit family in Hawaii and that's one of the places we'd like to visit...although we doubt that we'll actually have time to go there, given all the sites we want to see and things we want to do on Oahu

 

[Vinayaka]

Hi! we're going to visit family in Hawaii and that's one of the places we'd like to visit...although we doubt that we'll actually have time to go there, given all the sites we want to see and things we want to do on Oahu

If you do go to Kauai, and you want to go there, PM me and I can give you some 'hints'. Have you read the google or tripadvisor reviews?

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

If you do go to Kauai, and you want to go there, PM me and I can give you some 'hints'. Have you read the google or tripadvisor reviews?

Thanks for the offer!
Haven't really looked at the reviews, but would appreciate "hints". Just told my wife's sister and her husband that we might want to visit there if it could work out--waiting to hear whether or not they think we could work it in, since they're pretty much handling scheduling. Really want to see the Big Island as well, but we know that won't fit into our few days there...

 

[Vinayaka]

It's an amazing place, but I'm biased. The main 'hint' is to read the website first to get the date of the 'weekly' tour. The monastery is cloistered and a lay member gives a public tour about once a week, but that is according to a different calendar than the normal one, so the dates vary. You will get to see a lot more on the public tour than just dropping in. If I was there I could give you a private tour based on that I'm a member, and you're my friend.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

It's an amazing place, but I'm biased. The main 'hint' is to read the website first to get the date of the 'weekly' tour. The monastery is cloistered and a lay member gives a public tour about once a week, but that is according to a different calendar than the normal one, so the dates vary. You will get to see a lot more on the public tour than just dropping in. If I was there I could give you a private tour based on that I'm a member, and you're my friend.

That's good to know! missed that in my first perusal of the website! Thanks!

 

[Shrew]

Was surfing part of your Sadhana?

 

[Vinayaka]

Was surfing part of your Sadhana?

I'm a bit old. Still I did manage to hit the waves (about 8 footers) a total of 3 times. Less than I would have liked. They bounce the physical body around some, so one could stretch it to penance, I suppose. That and some Surya and Varuna worship.

 

[Satyamavejayanti]

We (Boss and me) just got back from a 3 week sadhana/pilgrimage to the headquarters of my sampradaya, Kauai Aadheenam in Kauai, Hawaii. Any questions about what goes on there, what types of sadhanas we did, I might be able to answer.

Namaste,

Well, I would like to know some things.

What is the purpose of the Headquarters?

Who runs it?

What is the Ista Devta/Devi?

What did you do there?

How many people were there when you went?

Does it have a Guru/ Head Purohit/Swami?

What is her/his name and Parampara?

Did you experience something New or Did you Learn something different that you can share?

Why did you go?

 

[Aupmanyav]

Perhaps this would help: Kauai's Hindu Monastery - About The Monastery

 

[Vinayaka]

What did you do there?
How many people were there when you went?
Did you experience something New or Did you Learn something different that you can share?
Why did you go?

Satya, if you read the link given by Aup, it will answer most of your questions and more. I'll answer the ones I edited it down to, that wouldn't be answered in the link.

It's a pilgrimage center, and there is a pamphlet you can get beforehand that lists a few sadhanas.Besides going to daily pujas, I walked about the new temple a few times, did a 6-round japa/meditation with a Shanmukha (6-faced Murugan) inside the roots of a larger banyan tree, helped with the rudraksha project, helped prepare abhishekham materials for the large Ardhra puja, and more.

The crowd varies daily for the morning puja, generally around 20. Over the last few years, as more and more people hear about it, it's been shifting to a more Indian crowd. I met pilgrims from California, Toronto, Singapore, Malaysia, India, and elsewhere. There are still lots of Americans from yoga groups, and seekers interested in learning more about Hinduism.

New for me was the annual Ardhra puja that is the last day of the Nataraja festival known as Tiruvembavai. It's the only puja of the year where the entire monastery helps in the temple.

Pilgrimage is a duty, one of the pancha nitya karmas in my sampradaya, but I also go spiritual rejuvenation.

 

[Satyamavejayanti]

"Vinayaka,"

Namaste,

The site helps.

Pilgrimage is a duty, one of the pancha nitya karmas in my sampradaya, but I also go spiritual rejuvenation.

For my own understanding can you elaborate on the other Chatur (4) Nitya Karma from your Sampradaya.

 

[Satyamavejayanti]

Perhaps this would help: Kauai's Hindu Monastery - About The Monastery

Dhanyavad for the Link, i have actually been to the site before and have found the "how to become a Hindu", page interesting.

 

[Vinayaka]

"Vinayaka,"

For my own understanding can you elaborate on the other Chatur (4) Nitya Karma from your Sampradaya.

dharma, puja, sacraments, festivals

 

[Islington]

Hello! What kind of feelings did you experience while being there? Was there joy? Peace? Contemplation? Is this a place to discuss, perhaps? How do people, both monks and visitors behave?

 

[Aupmanyav]

Sure, no problem in discussing this here. It is all that, something achieved that one had desired for a long time, like climbing a peak, joy, peace, contemplation. The behavior becomes milder. I think it is the same for monks and lay-people. But it is life as usual for people living there. They have to get as much as they can from pilgrims and tourists, means do not matter for them. Many a times Hindu pilgrimage places are deep in the mountains and forests. It bring a person in contact with nature.

 

[Vinayaka]

Hello! What kind of feelings did you experience while being there? Was there joy? Peace? Contemplation? Is this a place to discuss, perhaps? How do people, both monks and visitors behave?

If you go and read the tripadvisor reviews on Kauai's Hindu Monastery, it'll give you a pretty good sense. People do feel peaceful and more, myself included.

It's a cloistered monastery, so often visitors may not even see a single monk. The monks have duties, and remain contemplative, quiet. It's only open to the public for an hour a day, open 3 hours for those who wish to worship in the temple, and open still more for Hindu pilgrims who have pre-arranged with them, and more yet for lay members of the organisation, like me.

AS for behaviour, its very quiet. Walks, reading of information, in a serene environment.

 

[Vinayaka]

Sure, no problem in discussing this here. It is all that, something achieved that one had desired for a long time, like climbing a peak, joy, peace, contemplation. The behavior becomes milder. I think it is the same for monks and lay-people. But it is life as usual for people living there. They have to get as much as they can from pilgrims and tourists, means do not matter for them. Many a times Hindu pilgrimage places are deep in the mountains and forests. It bring a person in contact with nature.

For someone who's never been there, this is pretty accurate, Aup. Much like a math in Rishikesh, I suppose.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Up there it is much more beautiful.

Kedarnath, Badrinath, Somnath, Omkareshwar, Bhimashankar, Mallikarjuna, Rameshwar, Trayambakeshwar, Kashi Vishwanath, Ghrishneshwar, and a thousand others.