A mere two-tenths of a mile from my home lies one of the most beautiful and spiritual places I have ever visited, and I’m very disappointed that it took me 13 months to discover it.
The hidden treasure I am referring to is Kaua‘i’s Hindu Monastery.
With Mount Wai‘ale‘ale as its backdrop, the monastery sits on 376 sprawling acres of tropical land. The site is home to lush landscaped gardens, an ancient forest, numerous statues of Hindu figures, sacred waterways, two temples and a publishing company.
The monastery was founded in 1970 by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927—2001) as a place for meditation, worship and training.
Currently, more than 20 monks from around the world live, work and worship at the monastery under the guidance of Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, who was handpicked by Subramuniyaswami as his successor.
And if you think I memorized those spellings, think again.
The residents of the monastery are incredibly tech-savvy, as they provide up-to-date information about the monastery through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and its website. They even publish their own quarterly magazine, Hinduism Today.
Visitors who wish to tour the monastery’s grounds can do so from 9 a.m. to noon daily.
Those who wish for a more in-depth tour can arrange to take a 90-minute guided tour, which runs about once a week, depending on the phases of the moon.
The tours are free, but donations are appreciated.
I opted for the self-guided tour, and it didn’t disappoint.
The tour begins at a small pavilion facing a statue of Ganesha.
Here, visitors are encouraged to write down their problems and burn them in a pot of ashes.
Following up a stone pathway, the first detour is to a giant banyan tree, which houses a statue of the six-faced god, Lord Shanmuga.
A small gallery gives a brief overview of Hinduism and the lineage of the monastery’s gurus.
From there, I peered into the Kadavul Temple, where a worship ceremony (which I learned is called puja) was in progress.
The highlight of the tour was a glimpse at Iraivan Temple. From a lookout, visitors can see the Wailua River as it cuts through a small valley. Next to the river sits the Iraivan Temple, which is currently under construction. The temple is made entirely out of hand-carved, white granite imported from India. No machinery will be used to construct the temple, and it’s estimated to be completed by 2017. The temple is funded entirely by donations.
There’s little doubt this monastery is a special place, and you don’t need to be Hindu to appreciate its beauty.
Kaua‘i’s Hindu Monastery is located at 107 Kaholalele Rd. in Wailua Homesteads, off Kuamo‘o Road. For more information, call toll-free 1-888-735-1619.
