The Hawaiian Island of Kauai is known throughout the world for
its great natural beauty.
 Tourists flock to its sunny beaches, rugged coastline and
resort hotels. And this island paradise is familiar to many who
have only watched the many Hollywood movies filmed on location
there. But perhaps few visitors to Kauai know about one of its
spiritual treasures. Located along the Wailua R
iver on the island’s east coast is an important Hindu monastery
on nearly 500 acres of lush rain forest.
The Hawaiian Island of Kauai is known throughout the world for its great natural beauty. Tourists flock to its sunny beaches, rugged coastline and resort hotels. And this island paradise is familiar to many who have only watched the many Hollywood movies filmed on location there. But perhaps few visitors to Kauai know about one of its spiritual treasures. Located along the Wailua River on the island’s east coast is an important Hindu monastery on nearly 500 acres of lush rain forest.
In 1990 this institution was established as home to around 20 monks from six nations. Its founder was the guru (spiritual leader) Guredeva. He was born in Northern California, orphaned at the age of 11 and introduced to Hinduism by a family friend who had spent time in India and who raised him after his parents’ deaths.
In 1947, Guredeva renounced the world and sailed to India to find Absolute Truth. While fasting and meditating in Sri Lanka, he found “enlightenment,” met holy man Siva Yogaswana and was initiated into Hindu monasticism.
Under his new religious name, Subramuniya, he taught the truths of Hinduism and wrote three books in English (more than 3,000 words) explaining the faith. Eventually he helped to establish 37 temples on several continents.
Visitors to the Kauai Hindu Monastery are able to enter the Kadavul Hindu Temple, guarded over by a 16-ton black granite statue of Nandi the bull. Inside the temple are statues of other gods: the dancing Siva, the elephant Ganesha and Lord Kattikeya, the god of the spiritual discipline of yoga. Along the walls are another 108 statues of Siva (also spelled “Shiva”).
Several hundred yards farther along a winding, scenic path through an abundance of tropical flowers and trees stands the unfinished Iraivan Temple. Six stone carvers are engaged in putting together massive white blocks of granite which were rough-cut in Southern India and shipped here for finishing. These stonemasons use the ancient skills and tools traditional to their craft (except for a forklift truck, which they call “an American elephant”).
Work began on this massive building in 1990; expected completion date is sometime in 2012. Crowning the 3,000 blocks of stone is a magnificent golden dome.
Hinduism is a religion developed over several thousand years in India. It emphasizes right-living (dharma). An important belief is “reincarnation,” the process of birth and rebirth continuing from one life to the next. The circumstances of rebirth are based on “karma,” the idea that consequences of actions within one life are carried over into the next. “One lifetime is not enough” to reach “atman” and release the soul from this endless cycle.
Besides guiding visitors through the monastery’s beautiful grounds with ponds, waterfalls, groves, and gardens, the monks are engaged in other tasks:
– Supervising the purchase, planting and care of tropical plants from around the world,
– Creating and publishing “Hinduism Today,” a quarterly journal with 100,000 readers,
– Broadcasting a daily news feed called Hindu Press International to writers around the word,
– Publishing original books and translations about Hinduism,
– Meditating, praying and engaging in other spiritual practices.
The Kauai Hindu Monastery and temples are open 365 days a year. Free tours are scheduled on a monthly basis; call (808) 822-3012 or visit www.himalayanacademy.com for more information. Note: Visitors (male or female) who wear “immodest clothing” will be asked to don a sari before joining the tour.
