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Visit of Swamis from
Kauai's Hindu Monastery, Hawaii, U.S.A., 
to Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas,
from 19th to 21st March 2010

Those were very special days, when the Successor of Satguru Sivaya Subramunyaswami, Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan Swami, the Chief Editor of the internationally reputed magazine "Hinduism Today", Acharya Arumugaswami, along with Brahmachari Nandi Natha and Shri Rajeev Malik, Principal Correspondent, "Hinduism Today", New Delhi, arrived on 19th March 2010 in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan Swami and Acharya Arumugaswami belong to the most important monastic disciples of Sivaya Subramunya­swami, who has founded and established one of the finest Hindu monasteries in the world, the Kauai's Hindu Monastery, Hawaii, U.S.A.

The Saints, wearing typical Sannyasi dresses, were received with traditional Purnakumbha in front of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir. Kumari Somashekhari, General Secretary, Swami Omkarananda Saraswati Charitable Trust, guided the honourable guests to the Temple for Darshan of the Divinities.

Somashekhari is receiving H.H. Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan Swami, Acharya Arumugaswami, Brahmachari Nandi Natha and Shri Rajeev Malik	The Swamis were received with Purnakumbha in front of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir

Darshan of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir

The next morning, 20th March 2010, the Swamis were received in Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam Inter-College by the honourable Principal Col. Sachdeva. Students, standing in two lines on both sides, showered a rain of flowers upon the guests and garlanded them with malas. In spite of heavy and important examinations going on, the Principal managed a nice function in honour of these holy guests. Music Teacher, Mrs. Banerjee and her student-team, filled the hearts of the Swamis with many beautiful, spiritual songs. Selected students, with brilliant English, introduced the guests to the audience. Shri Bodhinatha Veylan Swami blessed the students, and Mr. Malik spoke about his own experience of earlier visits in Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam. Swami Vishveshwarananda highlighted the great works of Satguru Sivaya Subramunyaswami and appreciated the dedication of his disciples Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan Swami and Acharya Arumugaswami, who are now representing the Ashram. Col. Sachdeva expressed a warm welcome to his guests and requested them to come again and again.

The Principal of Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam, Col. Sachdeva, receiving the Dignitaries

Special Reception by the Students of Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam	H.H. Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan Swami is addressing the students.

Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda introduces the Swamis from Kauai's Hindu Monastery to the students.	Shri Rajeev Malik inspires the students with his dynamic talk.

The journey went from Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam to Omkarananda Institute of Management & Technology, where the students received the Swamis with a big multimedia projector beaming a photo of Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan Swami and welcome wishes for him and the other honourable guests, on the wall. No doubt it was a wonderful gesture, appreciated by the Swamis. After introduction, both the Swamis were requested to bless the students and the teachers. Shri M.S. Negi, President, OIMT, offered beautiful malas and flower-bouquets to both the Swamis as gratitude for their arrival. After conclusion of addresses of many important speakers, lecture halls, computer rooms, libraries, etc. were shown to the holy guests from Hawaii.
In the afternoon the Swamis were invited to see the documentary film of the Inauguration of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, which impressed them most.

Arrival in Omkarananda Institute of Management & Technology	Multimedia Reception for the Swamis

Shri M.S. Negi, President, OIMT, welcomes Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan Swami with a flower bouquet.	Acharya Arumugaswamiji speaks to the students

Shri Rajeev Malik introduces the Swamijis to the OIMT-Management	Visit to one of the Libraries of OIMT

In the evening of 20th March Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan Swami and Acharya Arumugaswami joined a Yajna in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir and offered the Purnahuti.

After Devi Arati Kumari Somashekhari gave an excellent dance performance alone, and also with her students. In the end the dancers offered Aratis to the Devi while a lot of gathering was watching the function. The Chief Editor of Hinduism Today magazine, Acharya Arumugaswami, expressed praise to Somashekhari. He observed that her dance is always in the direction of the Divine Mother. Like a Pujari faces the Divinity and the people around can look at the Priest, Soma is facing the Divine Mother, dances in front of Her and the people can watch her, were his special remarks.

The day ended with Prasadam and interesting talks with the Swamis in Omkarananda Ashram about researches in Vedic Culture, ancient Indian History and other related subjects.

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan Swami performs Hawana in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir	Acharya Arumugaswami prepares for Purnahuti

Kumari Somashekhari explains the essence of the Temple Dances, which are going to be performed	Kumari Somashekhari performs Indian Classical Dance in front of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi.

Devi-Arati-Dance as an offering to the Divine Mother	Prasad Distribution

On 21st March, in the early morning, the Chief Managing Editor of the internationally renowned Magazine "Hinduism Today", Shri Arumugaswami, unannounced took a surprise interview with the President of Omkarananda Ashram, Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati. Shri Arumugaswami, a highly learned Scholar and Intellectual, put very interesting questions concerning different forms of Yoga, specially Karma-Yoga, and he also wanted to know an answer from Swami Vishveshwarananda concerning a prediction for the year 2012.
In spite of being totally unprepared for this interview, Swami Vishveshwarananda gave, without hesitation, on the spot most inspiring, brilliant answers. The content of this interview is published separately here.

The holy guests from Kauai's Monastery of the tropical isle Hawaii, took leave from Omkarananda Ashram after the interview and a breakfast, because they had appointments in other places.

It was a great honour for Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas to host such wonderful Saints and Vedic Scholars like Satguru Bodhinatha Veylan Swami, Acharya Arumugaswami and Shri Nandi Nathaji. Swami Vishveshwaranandaji requested them to make Omkarananda Ashram their home-base, whenever they are in India.

It has to be mentioned here that Shri Satguru Sivaya Subramunyaswami, Shri Arumugaswami and others from Kauai's Hindu Monastery, Hawaii, were in close contact with Gurudev Paramahamsa Shri Swami Omkarananda. Their lives are of extremely pure and exemplary nature. Their excellent magazine "Hinduism Today", in which the essence of Vedic and Hindu Philosophy and life is taught and published since many years, has become one of the very rare and valuable magazines for spiritual seekers all over the world.