Jai Ganesha!

Here we see a few inspiring photos from the Bengaluru carving site. In the first photo we can see some of the granite cladding which will grace Kadavul Temple's Nandi Mandapam and Kodimaram base. In the second photo we can see that the remaining red granite pots for Iraivan Temple's perimeter wall are also almost completed. Aum.

A short video showcasing the new concrete path to Iraivan Temple.

Today we share the second chapter in the tale of the trail, the making of the 10-foot-side and 650-foot-long concrete roadway leading to Iraivan Temple. The crew is amazingly hard-working, arriving before 6am and leaving after 5:30pm, and all day dealing with heavy concrete. The last photo is our favorite, relaxing at the end of five days effort. Our drone pilot captured a few overview shots toward the end of the slideshow. This roadway will transform the experience of driving and walking to Iraivan Temple, just as the very land on which our beloved Gurudeva stepped is guiding and transforming lives all over the world. Jai Gurudeva!

We recently installed two new items at the front entrance area. First is a electronic push button lock on the entrance gate. There's a lock on both sides so it can be opened from either side. A neat feature is that the electronics are powered simply from turning the door handle.

Second is large signboard with six panels which consolidates various messages in one place, and includes QR codes for this blog and more.

Aum Namah Sivaya

Recently, sculptor Holly Young created this wax for what will become the future golden-bronze support for the yantra in Iraivan Temple's inner sanctum. The gold yantra will be placed in the center of this lotus, and the lotus will hang upon the back wall of the sanctum aligned behind the tip of the crystal Siva Lingam.

Aum Namah Sivaya

Today we get to see the latest progress on the stairway that leads up to Iraivan Temple. The steps are flanked on either side by garden terraces and will ultimately receive stone cladding and will be accented by thick stone railings. Since our last update the completed concrete steps have doubled in number, the large section around the female stone elephant and her calf has just been finished, and overall we've almost reached the top of the hill. Aum.

Aum Namah Sivaya

Today we bring you the current progress on the entry steps that lead up from near the Wailua River to Iraivan Temple. The first set of steps have been completed, and now the forms will be built for the next. Following the completion of the concrete pouring, a 15"-high lava rock wall will be built on both sides and eventually the steps will be clad with stone. One of the magical things is the three elephants are climbing the stairs along with pilgrims. Aum.

Recently, two of our stone-carved elephant statues have been put into place along that will be the future stairway that pilgrims will walk to reach Iraivan Temple. The stairs will be made from concrete with stone details, paralleled by a 15-inch-tall lava rock-clad railing on either side. The elephants, placed by the silpis before they left, will greet you as you make your ascent. They stand in place of the live, temple elephants we sadly can't get here on Kauai. The male elephant in the lead, holds an intricately carved globe in his trunk, symbolizing the universality of Hinduism and its acceptance of all people, beliefs, and existences in this world. The female leads her child behind her representing Hinduism as a powerful guiding force for all souls of the world.

Aum Namah Sivaya

This week Iraivan Temple has been receiving improved roofing material to help it to better shed water and prevent future leaks between roof stones. Our neighbor Bobby's family profession is roofing, and he's happy to have the job of roofing Iraivan Temple. The work is proceeding quickly and they will likely finish very soon. Aum.

Jai Ganesha!

Recently, thanks to the hard work of our hired workers Doug and Jim, the walkway around the Kadavul Temple Tank has been greatly improved! For some time now the walkway had sported the older painted concrete that lays beneath are other paths. We decided it was finally time to add quartzite as you'll find everywhere else around the temple. After a few weeks of construction the walkway is complete and our visitors can now enjoy a wonderful new temple tank experience! Aum.