It was definitely a day for looking up! Bodhinatha took a rare moment away from his usual busy morning schedule to go out to the temple and watch the glorious morning events….

Dr. Thiaga Rajan and his wife Sudha from Houston. They had a wonderful time touring the grounds and the temple site. They were very fascinated and interested in all the medicinal and sacred plants that line the path to the temple. They’ve been living in the Houston area for over 20 years and have been active in the Meenakshi Temple in Pearland. Sudha is president of the Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana Houston Center (sVYASA-USA)

The gold-leafed capstone of the East Gopuram went up in two pieces today.

The edges are carefully taped to protect the gold leaf work.

Easy.. down….

OK, more, more…

Almost there…

One foot more…

Watching from distance…

Our Kauai members…

Just three more inches..

Larry Conklin on his crane taking signals from Yoginathaswami…

This Hindu couple is overjoyed to have come on a pilgrimage and be here on this auspicious day.

The ground team starts work to rig up the second piece.

Meanwhile, above, the team makes some more adjustments to the first stone which is now sitting on blocks…

But wait… isn’t that Sadhaka Dandapani with the video camera? Who’s behind this camera?

Top-side team takes a break…

Oh, it is Paramacharya Palaniswami, shooting from the east corner and he spies high above him fruits of a giant palm…

We are told some of these may even be edible.

Back to the temple where the second piece is about to go up.

Here it is….

This one is about one third, while the first one was two-thirds of the complete capstone(s).

The capstone was made in two pieces because a single piece would simply been too heavy to handle.

Ok, easy… down…

“Looking good!….”

Moving into place….

“OK, (close hand signal) stop!”

The silpis move the stone which is still hovering.. right into place…and the final one inch lowering is done for final placement.

These pieces will go on top of the gopuram eventually.

Our gold leaf team did a wonderful job!

on-lookers….

A distance shot…

Returning home after witnessing a most mangalam moment!