[Prev][Next][Index]
PRESS RELEASE: San Marga Foundation Stones
HINDUISM TODAY
%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%
Press Release
San Marga Iraivan Temple Foundation Stone Laying
Press Release
April 9, 1995
Foundation Stones Laid in Auspicious Ceremony for San Marga
Iraivan Temple in Hawaii Will be the First all-stone Hindu
Temple Outside of Asia
There is nothing like it outside of India, and certainly it is a remarkable
addition to the considerable beauties of Hawaii. On April 4th and 5th the
Hawaiian island of Kauai witnessed an historic event as ceremonies were
completed for the laying of five white granite foundation stones brought
from India for the San Marga Iraivan Temple. This imposing 35-foot high,
108-foot-long Siva temple is being built entirely of white granite, the
first such hand-carved stone Hindu temple ever to be erected outside of
Asia. Enshrined in the inner sanctum will be the world's largest
single-pointed quartz crystal -- a 700-pound, 39-inch-tall, six-sided
natural gem, called a sphatika Sivalinga, acquired in 1987. The Sivalinga
is the simplest and most ancient symbol of Hinduism's great God Siva,
especially of the transcendent Parasiva, God beyond all forms and
qualities. All 32 million pounds of the temple's granite are being
painstakingly chiseled by hand in Bangalore, India -- a process which will
take sev eral more years, and when completed will add, according to its
founder Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, another color to Hawaii's already
brilliant multicultural rainbow. It is, in part, a monument to the
similarities of the human spiritual experienc e, a commonality that
transcends, but does not deny or diminish our important religious
differences. It is a temple, in short, that is both a celebration of unity
and an affirmation of diversity. It is a sacred site brought at the end of
the old age to live more than a thousand years beyond the waning of the new
age into a prophesied time when religion will have no name, for all will
realize that there is truly "One God, One World," -- the theme carved in
all world's languages within this temple's entrance hall.
The temple is located on the banks of Hawaii's most sacred river, the
Wailua, at the international administrative headquarters of Saiva Siddhanta
Church, the first Hindu Church on planet Earth founded in 1949, in Wailua
Homesteads, five miles from Mt . Waialelale, the wettest spot on earth.
This is the home of world renowned Hindu leader and teacher, Satguru Sivaya
Subramuniyaswami, and his monastic disciples. Subramuniyaswami is building
the temple on Kauai as a spiritual sanctuary and an intern ational place of
pilgrimage for Hindus around the world, dedicated to the theme of "One
World, One God." Over one hundred church members came from all over the
world for the ceremonies -- from Malaysia, Mauritius (near Africa),
Scotland, England, Canada Singapore, Australia, Sri Lanka and the mainland.
Guests were visibly enthralled with the multicultural richness of the
event.
Subramuniyaswami expressed his deep feelings of affinity for his island
home of 25 years. "The Hawaiian Islands is a multicultural community, which
has been likened to a beautiful rainbow. It is our hope we can be one of
its many colors in bringing H indu pilgrims from many nations and many
traditions to our Garden Island."
"I see a multicultural group here. And that's the spirit of Hawaii, the
beautiful rainbow. And we hope we can be just a little color in it to bring
to Kauai the East and the West merging and nothing can be expected but that
which is the best. We real ize that this 51-acre garden sanctuary is near a
residential area and therefore we are careful not to disturb the
neighborhood and have our gatherings within the center of this acreage. We
also realize that this was an ancient temple site established by one of the
relatives way, way back of our dear friend Hawaiian priestess Leimomi Lum
who is here with us today. So we consider this a very sacred land, and we
all walk down the path along the edge of the lake and our great river,
walking the land the old Hawaiians called Pihanakalani, "where heaven and
the earth have merged." Remember, not only we live here, but divine beings
in the inner worlds also live here. With that in mind, we approach every
little bit of it with awe and wonder and expe ctation. We discovered a few
years ago 25 ponds and lakes hidden away in the marshes and ravines which
today are a wildlife and bird sanctuary, rich with tropical plants and
sacred plants from Hinduism's 6,000-year-old tradition.
"Each of the great religions of the world has places of pilgrimage for its
followers, holy sanctuaries that hold within them mystery and blessings for
the people. Islam, Judaism and Christianity have many places of pilgrimage.
And so does Hinduism. S n Marga Iraivan Temple is a sanctuary in the center
of Kauai's Hindu monastery. It is not a public temple. It is a destination
of pilgrimage for the astutely devout. Being a moksha temple, meaning
freedom from rebirth, it is approached only by those seeking the highest of
the high on pilgrimage. Pilgrimage begins at home, by fasting, praying and
preparing oneself and then traveling a long destination to the sought-for
destination, all the while forgetting the past and trying to live in the
etern ity of the moment. Gathered with us today are pilgrims from the
countries of Canada, mainland USA, Sri Lanka, England, Scotland, Singapore,
Mauritius, India, Australia, and 35 pilgrims from the country of Malaysia.
"Every Hindu is obligated to perform worship in their own home once a day,
preferably two hours before dawn. They are obligated to attend temple
ceremonies once a week with their entire family. And to pilgrimage to a
distant sanctuary with their fami ly once a year.
"About 20 years ago immigration laws were changed by our president, the
late John F. Kennedy. As a result, the Indian Hindu community, which had
been restricted from entrance for so long, could now come to the United
States. They came in great number s, and have become the wealthiest ethnic
community in the US. In North America today there are over a million and a
half Hindus. Many are born here, and their parents come from India, Sri
Lanka and other parts of the world. They have built multi-million dollar
temples in nearly every major city in this country. This San Marga
Sanctuary is their place for sincere and profound pilgrimage, for those who
come in the right spirit, having performed the traditional preparations
beforehand.
"The over 300,000 Hindu religious leaders, sadhus, swamis, mahatmas, as
well as heads of government and members of parliament all look at this
beautiful temple being carved in Bangalore as one of the outstanding
creations of India and a gift of India to the West.
"We want thank you all, your excellencies, friends, religious leaders,
neighbors and old acquaintances for coming and adding your blessings to the
land at this most auspicious time."
The two-day ceremony, detailed in the ancient Hindu scripture, is called
Pancha Shila Nyasa, literally, "Touching the Earth with Five Sacred
Stones." It was conducted by two eminent Hindu priests from India --
Sivacharya Sambamurthi and Sivacharya Bha irava. Sambamurthi is one of the
head priests of the Adi Saiva priests, who are specially ordained to
conduct worship in temples dedicated to Lord Siva. Also present was Sri
Vaidyanathan Ganapati Sthapati, India's foremost traditional temple
architect, who since 1981 has been guiding the design and carving of this
ornate temple -- designed to last a thousand years.
The priests fasted and observed silence (except during the chanting rites)
during the rituals. A series of fire ceremonies were performed over a
48-hour period to purify the site and to invoke the blessings of God, Gods
and the local Hawaiian and Hin du guardian spirits. On the first day, April
4th, specially invited local guests joined the proceedings at the usually
cloistered monastery. They included the Honorable Maryanne Kusaka, Mayor of
Kauai, Hawaiian priestess Leimomi Mo'okini Lum, Kahuna Kahu Abraham Aua'ia
Makiole, former Kauai mayor Joanne Yukimura and Wendall Silva, Director of
State Culture and Arts for Hawaii. At 10:00am, dignitaries were led in
colorful procession with drums to the temple site, there to witness the
fire ceremon ies in progress, give speeches, bless the foundation stones,
watch a Bharata Natyam South Indian dance performance and enjoy a
traditional South Indian feast.
Mayor Kusaka offered her kind support and blessings to the entire group: "I
am very humbled to be included in this ceremony. I have known it was here
for a long time but have never come. I feel that it is a sacred place and
that one must be embraced before entering. My impression today is one of
peace and humility. I witnessed great devotion, discipline and respect
here. I am extremely impressed by the children, who are so peaceful and
quiet. It is evident they live in a realm of love. Only good ness can come
from that. I shall carry this memory of this day in my heart and draw
strength from it. I thank you for including me in this ceremony. I truly am
honored."
Leimomi Lum told the audience, "Today was a very auspicious day. It was a
day that I let my people out of bondage. They have been in bondage for
years -- many, many years. The temple that I have [on the Big Island] is
over 1,500 years old. In over 1,500 years, there have been six high
priestesses, and I am the seventh. In order to lift everything, I brought
them out of bondage. I called them. I called them by name and I asked them
to come. I asked them to embrace you -- all the kahunanuis that walk the
site and the people that come, so that we can be one -- as I said to
Gurudeva. One God, One World. May there be peace among our people and
mostly among our children of tomorrow. This is my commitment. It's a long
road. There are many big rocks along th at road. But I have learned to
either kick them to the side or rise above it and keep going. And that is
why it is, I think, a very auspicious day that I am able to bring my people
out of bondage." She brought with her two leis that had been especial ly
tied by children on Oahu with many different flowers to represent the theme
of harmony.
There is a special affinity between Hinduism and the Hawaiian religion (and
all indigenous religions). The beliefs in God and the Gods are often the
same or similar. The importance of ritual worship is recognized and
practiced. It is accepted that Go d is everywhere and in all things.The
Hindu monastery and temple are located on the ancient site of a Hawaiian Ku
temple, the fifth temple from the sea up the Wailua River. It was Leimomi's
ancestor, Kuamo'o Mo'okini who founded this very temple in 4 80ce. The area
is known as Pihanakalani, "where heaven touches the earth." There is a
traditional hula (done by Roselle Bailey's school) which tells the story of
the place. Both Subramuniyaswami and Leimomi feel the presence of Hinduism
(with 850 mil lion followers worldwide) on the islands will help the
on-going revival of the Hawaiian religion. In fact, Subramuniyaswami has
advocated that the major heiaus be reopened, and the ancient rituals
performed again.
India's master builder, Ganapati Sthapati, explained the significance of
the foundation laying ceremony, which he likened to planting a seed. From
this seed, the temple grows, not as a building of mere stone, but as the
living body of God.
After the addresses everyone proceeded to the center of the foundation pit.
The Hindu and Hawaiian priests each chanted and blessed the site with
sanctified water, salt and other offerings. Leimomi and her nephew, Wendall
Silva, Director of State Cul ture and Arts for Hawaii chanted and invoked
the blessings of the Hawaiian Gods.
Kahu Abraham Aua'ia Makiole, a Hawaiian kahuna or priest who lives on
Kauai, performed a powerful Hawaiian chant to open the local spirits to the
presence of the new temple, to ask them to accept the temple and its
celestials.
Following the ceremonies and speeches the guests were treated to an
exquisite Indian dance performance by three young ladies of the church
followed by a sumptuous Indian rice and curry vegetarian lunch. Few of the
island guests had ever seen the bhar ata natyam dance, which was performed
in a most professional way.
Former Kauai mayor Joanne Yukimura commented after the event, "I feel that
Kauai is so blessed and privileged to be the site of this work, and the
temple that is coming forth. It fits with the idea that Kauai is to be a
model for the world -- One God O ne World."
The final rituals were performed the following morning beginning at 5:30,
in ceremonies only open to Hindus. The priests concluded the rituals
culminating in Subramuniyaswami's setting of the five sacred stones in a
crypt underneath the northeast cor er of the temple's future innermost
sanctum sanctorum. At this high point the heavens opened and rain
spontaneously poured down for a short time demonstrating nature's blessing
of the ritual from the Gods and devas. He enjoined the devotees to think of
Sri Tiruchy Mahaswamigal and Sri Balagangadharanatha Swami and all the
saints and Mahatmas of India who were helping with the temple project.
Along with the five brick-shaped granite stones brought from India and
especially inscribed in Sanskrit, Tamil and English, Subramuniyaswami
placed into the pit beneath the sanctum floor the contents of eleven trays
carried by the Order's eleven swam i priests. These included precious gems,
gold and silver offerings sent by devotees from all over the world, sand,
stones and earth from sacred sites from all nearly every country, notably
India, Europe, Australia, mainland USA, Russia, and ancient M yan and Incan
holy sites in Central and South America. Sacred water from the rivers of
India and many other countries of the world was poured over the stones.
Vibhuti (holy ash) was offered that had been gifted by the sadhus at the
Kumbha Mela held in January in India, including the Sankaracharyas of
Sringeri and Kanchi, Swami Chidananda Saraswati and many others.
With so many people of all nationalities and races present there was a
truly unique spirit of loving multi-cultural fellowship. The sentiment of
Hindu devotees on their stay in Kauai was summed up by the elder priest
from India, world famous Dr. Samb amurthi Sivachariya, president of the
South India Priests Association, high priest of a large temple in Madras,
India, who presided as chief priest for the two days of ceremonies. The
learned but remarkably modest 71-year-old liturgist said, "I am to old to
go on pilgrimage to the holy sites in Indian Himalayan mountains, where,
according to Hinduism, God Himself resides and gives His grace to pilgrims.
That was a life-long dream of mine. But now that I have come to the most
beautiful place in t he world, Kauai, to this sacred land, I feel my dream
has been fulfilled. I have come to the home of God. In my life I have
traveled all over the world and performed over 2,000 ceremonies for new
Hindu temples. But I have never experienced the love, the depth of
auspiciousness and sanctity that I have experienced while performing these
ceremonies here on Kauai."
The temple carving has been underway for several years in Bangalore, India,
under the watchful eye of Sri Sri Sri Tiruchy Mahaswamigal, Sri
Balagangadaranatha Swami and Sri Sivapuriswami. Gurudeva and his acharya
swami stewards of Saiva Siddhanta Chu ch have built a small village in
India on an 11-acre site (generously provided by Sri Balagangadaranatha
Swami) where the 75 sculptors and workers live with their families and have
been working daily for four years. About a third of the stones have b een
intricately carved, and now await shipment to Kauai. The next work on Kauai
foundation is to pack three feet of gravel into the foundation pit, then
pour a single mass -- slab of concrete three-feet thick, 82 feet by 188
feet in one continuous pour expected to take 108 cement trucks and 24 hours
to complete -- the largest single pour in the history of Hawaii. This
unusual construction process is necessary because of the huge weight of the
stones and the fact that, due to the brittleness of the har d granite, the
foundation cannot be allowed to settle even a fraction of an inch. The
stone temple is being engineered to last one thousand years and will be the
only structure from the 20th century to exist on Kauai after the next
millennium. Addres s: Saiva Siddhanta Church, 107 Kaholalele Road, Kapaa,
Hawaii, USA 96746.
Photo Captions:
1. A traditional Bharata Natyam -- South Indian dance performance -- was
given by members of Saiva Siddhanta Church. Island resident and owner of
Aloha Computer, Janis Boyer, praised the girls' professional presentation.
(Left to right) Meenakshi Devi Pala ni, 14, of Concord, California; Shivani
Rajan, 12, of Canyon, California; and Vasuki Alahan, 16, of Concord,
California.
2. Community elder Tirumati Sivagnanam (left) leads the group in bhajan,
traditional songs in praise of God. Originally of Sri Lanka, she now lives
in Edmonton, Canada. In the middle is Miss Rogini Shunmugam, originally of
Mauritius, and now leaving in Montreal, Canada. In front is Priya Alahan,
age 6, of Kauai.
3. The Honorable Maryanne Kusaka, Mayor of Kauai, addressing the
congregation and guests. At left is temple founder Satguru Sivaya
Subramuniyaswami, founder-president of Saiva Siddhanta Church.
4. The large excavated foundation site, ready for the placing of bricks
under what will be the temple's main sanctum (beneath tent area).
5. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (center) offering the wreath brought by
Hawaiian high priestess Leimomi Mo'okini Lum from the Big Island (second
from right). At right is Wendell Silva, Director of State Culture and Arts
for Hawaii, who performed e laborate Hawaiian chants of blessing. At left
is Sivacharya Sambamurthi of Madras, India, chief priest of the ceremonies.
Second from left is Mrs. Jothiswarar of Ulubehrang, Malaysia. With
Subramuniyaswami are two resident monks of the Kauai monaster , Sadhaka
Omkaranatha on his left and Sadhaka Tyaganatha on his right, both from
Mauritius. Sadhaka Omkaranatha holds the silver scepter, symbol of the
monastery's authority within its 2,000-year-old Hindu lineage. Sadhaka
Tyaganatha holds the koa wo od scepter, sacred symbol of the Hawaiian
priesthood, presented years ago to Subramuniyaswami by Leimomi as a symbol
of mutual respect and support. Her ancestors built a Hawaiian temple near
this site hundreds of years ago.
6. Chief priest Sivacharya Sambamurthi and the temple's chief architect, V.
Ganapati Sthapati of Madras, India, pour the blessed water into the
foundation chamber. In a ceremony the following morning five sacred bricks
were placed in this crypt, offi cially commencing the construction of the
temple. In addition to the bricks celebrants placed gold, silver, gems,
water from each of India's seven holy rivers, and sand and stones sent by
well-wishers from all over the world for the sacrifice.
7. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami with the honorable Mayor of Kauai,
Maryanne Kusaka, Leimomi Mo'okini Lum, eighth priestess in her
1,500-year-old lineage, and other dignitaries being led in procession to
the temple site.
8. Church member Kulapati Manon Mardemootoo, prominent attorney in
Mauritius, explains the proceedings to the honorable mayor, Maryanne
Kusaka. At his left is former Kauai mayor, Joanne Yukimura, and at far
right is Leimomi Lum.
9. At the completion of the fire ceremonies, Sivacharya Sambamurthi passes
out the sacraments to devotees. Assistant priest Sivacharya Bhairava is a
right. The ceremonies were performed under a traditional cajan (woven palm
frond) roof laboriously an d lovingly made for the occasion by Church
members on Kauai.
Additional photos for Kauai papers.
1. Hawaiian high priestess Leimomi Mo'okini Lum pours sanctified water and
salt into the foundation chamber as Wendell Silva and Subramuniyaswami look
on. She explained during he rites, "Water is life, salt is the preservation
of life."
2. Hawaiian kahuna priest, Kahu Abraham Aua'ia Maki'ole of Kauai, kneels
before the pit as he recites Hawaiian chants and makes the traditional
offerings of salt.
For further information contact:
Arumugaswami
808/639-1029
Fax: 808/822-4351
%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%
Copyright 1995, Himalayan Academy, All Rights Reserved. May not be
published for commercial purposes without the prior written authority of
Himalayan Academy. Write to: hindusm@mcimail.com
%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%
*-=Om Shanti=-* Jai Maharaj
jai maharaj |_|_|_|_| mantra corporation
jyotishi, vedic astrologer |_| |_| vedic prediction sciences
jai@mantra.com |_|_ _|_| telex 6505614754
mci mail 561-4754 | | | | | voicemail +1 808 948 4357
