Today at Kauai Aadheenam

Drones Preserve Siva’s Golden Glory

Leave a Comment /
  • Quality is today’s pilot, with Calib acting as wingman
  • They begin with the flagpole
  • It took about 20 minutes for them to adjust the droplet size just right
  • Next over to the main vimanam tower
  • The central tower gets a bath.
  • Some of the granite sculptures are also protected from the mold.
  • The drone is about six feet in diameter and can carry five gallons of liquid each run.
  • Just 60 feet away Siva was showing another golden crown, the flowering of a super rare yellow poinciana in the fullest-yet bloom of its young life.

The Hawaiian tropics with its daily sun/rain/sun/rain rhythm challenges the 23-karat gold leaf on the flagpole and the five golden towers of Iraivan Temple. One of the issues is that old gold, left to its own devices, invades the new gold.

A great solution has been found. A mold-retardant called D-2 is the industry’s gold-standard (I know) for control, but there was a challenge in applying it way up there.

We tried by hand, but then we discovered a Maui-based drone company that has been applying D-2 every 3 or 4 months. It’s working!

Yesterday, the team flew in from Maui, brought their massive agricultural drone, and wet down the flagpole and towers in just a little more than 2 hours. Thanks to Quality and Calib for their careful work. They even got a taste of Chef Mani’s masala dosai in the bargain.

Drones Preserve Siva’s Golden Glory Read More »

Satguru’s Time in Singapore

2 Comments /

For the final leg of the journey, Satguru touched down in Singapore. First up was a lunch with some sishyas, followed by a event for seekers newly interested in our teachings. About 21 people signed up to keep in touch. The next day was a home satsang consisting of pada puja, bhajan, upadesha from Satguru, a brahmacharya vrata taken by a youth and Q&A. The next day, Satguru and Shanmuganathaswami flew to San Francisco, and will arrive home a midday today.

Satguru’s Time in Singapore Read More »

Guru Peedam Roof Nearly Half Done

1 Comment /
  • Seven redwood boards. being replaced
    Seven redwood boards. being replaced
  • Some purlins replaced too
    Some purlins replaced too

Good progress was made on the Guru Peedam roof and they are close to finishing the first half. Seven redwood boards were custom cut on our saw mill for the ceiling covering. Rafters were custom made using our band saw. All this wood came from sishya Deva Rajan 26 years back. The wood came from a water tower that was dismantled in California. This is all old growth redwood that is impossible to find today. After replacing wood planks, they laid new plywood sheathing, then tar paper on top of that as seen in the last photo. On Monday they will attach the composition roof shingles, then move to the other side.

Guru Peedam Roof Nearly Half Done Read More »

Satguru Travel Update – June 26th

2 Comments /
  • Jayendrapuriswami and Satguru meet during their travels
  • A final day in Malaysia before heading back to Singapore
  • A good time to meet with member families

As Satguru’s time in Malaysia drew to a close, he took the opportunity to connect with member families before embarking on his journey to Singapore. He also met with Jayendrapuriswamigal, who has been traveling through the area.

Satguru Travel Update – June 26th Read More »

Long Beans from Our Greenhouse

1 Comment /

Jai Ganesha!

Recently, the Mathavasi of Siddhidata Kulam harvested long beans from our greenhouse. It has been a while since we last had long beans, and the monks of Siddhidata Kulam have been diligently trying to grow them. After much effort, they finally succeeded in cultivating and harvesting a healthy crop.

Below are some of the benefits of long beans:


Long beans (also called Yardlong Bean or asparagus beans) are nutritious and offer several health benefits:

🥗 Rich in nutrients

  • Good source of vitamins A, C, and K
  • Contains folate, important for cell growth and pregnancy
  • Provides minerals such as iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium

💚 Supports heart health

  • High potassium content helps regulate blood pressure
  • Fiber may help lower cholesterol levels

🌱 Aids digestion

  • Contains dietary fiber that promotes healthy digestion and prevents constipation
  • Supports beneficial gut bacteria

⚖️ May help with weight management

  • Low in calories and fat
  • Fiber helps you feel full longer

🩸 Supports blood health

  • Iron and folate contribute to red blood cell production
  • May help reduce the risk of anemia when included in a balanced diet

🛡️ Provides antioxidants

  • Vitamin C and other plant compounds help protect cells from oxidative damage

🦴 Supports bone health

  • Vitamin K, calcium, and magnesium contribute to strong bones

A 100-gram serving of long beans typically contains about 45–50 calories, making them a healthy addition to stir-fries, curries, soups, and salads.

For the best nutrient retention, lightly steam, stir-fry, or cook them briefly rather than overboiling.

Long Beans from Our Greenhouse Read More »

A Special Rainbow on Kauai

1 Comment /
  • A Kauai animal shelter
  • The poster up close
  • And a local clothing shop

One Island, Many Peoples, All Kauaians

For five years in the late 1990s, Gurudeva met monthly with leaders of the island: mayors past and present, business leaders, agriculturalists, real estate managers, university administrators and more. He was the only spiritual leader invited to the table and he ended up being the primary motivator of the group. Their work was to informally create a vision for the island’s future. The Sunday evening gatherings were called “Vision Kauai 2020.”

One of Gurudeva’s important contributions was to push for a shared identity for the diverse groups: Native Hawaiians, Chinese, Filipinos, Haoles and more. They did not have a shared tribe name, like Californians or Texans. So he proposed using “Kauaians,” and that started a slew of projects to get the word out. And it did get out, with his help in printing and in making granite signs for the county, carved in India.

This led to many expressions of the idea of our oneness. Natalie and Jim Levin took his idea, and while he was fasting in October 2001, they made a “Thank you, Gurudeva” poster which the monks presented to him during his final days. Gurudeva saw the art and, with a smile, lifted his hand and traced the rainbow with his finger, first left to right and then right to left. Then he smiled and asked the monks, “How do they know which way a rainbow goes?”

The Levins later produced posters and cards to spread the idea to all corners of our small island. Recently, ten of the larger framed posters were passed around the island by a local leader, Paradise. She sent us photos of two of the small businesses she gave the posters to: an animal shelter and a clothing shop. Gurudeva’s idea of our unity and shared identity lives on!

A Special Rainbow on Kauai Read More »

Scroll to Top