KAUAI, HAWAII, July 21, 2005: Over 600 people took in the splendid serenity of Kauai’s Hindu Monastery (home of Hinduism Today and HPI) as monastery leaders opened up the grounds for their open house. They came, according to Palaniswami, one of the monks, “because they’re spiritually alive.” And also to see immaculately maintained grounds of the monastery over-looking the North Fork of the Wailua River, to see an under-construction temple designed to last for generations and topped in real gold, and to enjoy Indian food and entertainment. “We’re halfway there,” Palaniswami said of both temple construction and fund-raising. Half of the hand-carved stones for the temple designed to last 1,000 years are on the island, and half of the US$16 million necessary to complete construction has been raised, he said. As suggested by the late Gurudeva (Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami), former head of the monastery, 50 cents of each dollar raised for the temple construction is going into a permanent endowment to pay in perpetuity for maintenance of the temple, so that future monks won’t have to worry about where money for maintenance will come from, Palaniswami said.
Taken as a sign that Gurudeva is still influencing things on the piece of paradise he called home for several decades, or as a sign of welcome for people of various religions who converged on the monastery site, the summer’s first lotus blossom opened up to all who entered the place, Palaniswami said. The temple’s main sanctum and central tower are finished, and close to complete are three side towers, whose domes are all being gilded with 23-karat gold leaf using a new technology, he continued.
Visitors were allowed to try their hands at carving granite using hand tools, which are all the masons are using to construct the temple. A musical parade through the gardens ended at the temple site, where Bodhinatha, Gurudeva’s successor and current head of the monastery, officially welcomed and greeted visitors. Dignitaries shared speeches, and supervising masons and architects updated all on the latest happenings with the temple construction.