GC3BWFM Rudraksha Forest (Traditional Cache) in Hawaii, United States created by A-Ohana

This cache has been archived.

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This cache page has been archived due to the lack of a timely response to a prior Reviewer Note and/or because the Cache Owner has not been online for at least several months. If the owner would like to have it reinstated, please contact me through my profile as soon as possible before another cache gets placed nearby.

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GC3BWFM ▼

A cache by A-Ohana Message this owner

Hidden : 1/31/2012

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is located in the Rudraksha Forest in Upper Wailua. This place is a great place to enjoy the calm serenity, and perhaps meditate, as this is a Hindu sacred site. It is part of the Kauai Hindu Monastery, whose visitor center and main temple is located down the road just 1/2 mile.

Rudraksha beads are the material from which malas (108 beads in number) are made. The term is used both for the berries themselves and as a term for the type of mala made from them. In this sense, a rudraksha is a rosary, used for repetitive prayer (japa), a common aid to worship in Hinduism. Rudraksha is also used for treatment of various diseases in traditional Indian medicine.
The seeds show variation in the number of grooves on their surface, and are classified on the basis of the number of divisions that they have. Different qualities are attributed to the rudraksha based on the number of grooves, or 'faces' that it has. A common type has five divisions, and these are considered to be symbolic of the five faces of Shiva. It can only be worn with red string or a gold chain.
Rudraksha Mala has been used by Hindus (as well as Sikhs and Buddhists) as rosary at least from the 10th century onwards for meditation purposes and to sanctify the mind, body and soul. The word Rudraksha is derived from Rudra (Shiva—the Hindu God of all living creatures) and aksha (eyes). One Hindu legend says that once Lord Shiva opened His eyes after a long period yogic meditation, because of extreme fulfillment. He shed out a tear. This single tear from Shiva’s eye grew into the Rudraksha tree. Rudraksha fruit is blue in color but turns black when dried. The central hard Rudraksha uni-seed has 1 to 108 faces and 2 to 21 faces Rudraksha are available, 1 faced Rudraksha is scarcely available, Rudraksha having 22 to 108 are almost extinct, there are claims that 22 to 108 faced Rudraksha plants still survive at the foot hills of the Himalayas and Mansarovar regions, but man is yet to see them.

This particular forest is claimed to be the ONLY Rudraksha Forest in the U.S. It was planted in the 1980's by the founder of this Monastery, Gurudeva. This is a great place to sit in the shade or just walk around. Hindus regard rudrakshas as sacred so please respect the trees and the shrine. If you have the time, visit the Monastery itself located 1/2 mile down the highway, and 1/4 mile down Kaholalele Rd. Visitors are welcome. Wear respectable clothing. If you come in shorts use one of the wraparound sarongs they have in the entrance. You can take the self-guided tour through the grounds. A large temple is being constructed off the main grounds. Although you can't go there on your own,frequent tours are available. If you have the time, please stop by here and enjoy this wonder of Kauai!

Remember to watch out for muggles, and as this is a wet climate, close the cache completely.