Aum Namah Sivaya,

Today, our taskforcer Yajatadeva brings us some photos of Iraivan Temple's current progress. The siplis have finished the detail work on the yalli handrails and are now engaged in the joining work for the wall section that was above the recently removed earthen ramp. While that is taking place, some of the siplis are working on the details for the front steps which will go between the yallis. A new foundation piece has been poured in front of the temple to support the steps and the drain pipes along the outside of the foundation are being completed, which will allow for the lavarock wall to move forward. Aum.

Aum Namah Sivaya

Recently, machine operator Pradeep, removed the dirt ramp which has long served as the route up to the Temple's foundation. With the front steps being worked on and the wall being completed where this ramp had been, we were finally able to dig it out. Now this area of the wall is open to its future lava rock cladding and the temple feels another step closer to its final form. Aum.

Aum Namah Sivaya!

Recently or Lava Rock wall team completed the sample section of Iraivan Temple's lava rock incline which encircles the Temple's foundation. For those who know lava rock, you'll know that this is excellent work, each stone fitted flawlessly with minimum shaping done to each piece.

Recently the monks of the Siddhidatta Kulam assembled scaffolding around Iraivan Temple's kodimaram. This will allow easy access for any and all work related to the temple flagpole. For example, now the temple's flag pieces can be added. These are three horizontal decorative pieces that point towards the temple's vimanam (central tower). Also, recent storms had blown off some of the protective covering, which needed to be replaced.

Aum Namah Sivaya

After testing several configurations of lava rock the wall test-section is now moving forward with a simple but elegant sloped design. This spot on the foundation gives us a sample of how both an inner and an outer corner will look in the final wall.

Yesterday, the island team that will be building Iraivan's lava rock wall began their work. the project is to create a cascading lava rock finish around the entire foundation. Here you can see green forms that show the shape of the work to come. Strings are tied between them as a guide, block is formed underneath and then the lava rock coats the block in this tiered pattern. The company's name is Innov8. Their current plan is to fully build out this section. If we're happy with the results, they will continue around the whole temple.

Aum Namah Sivaya

Today we received these photos from Jiva at the carving site in Bengaluru. The initial carving of our new Nandi has been completed. Next, the team plans to do some more finishing work, after which Nandi will make his way to Kauai.

As you'll recall from earlier posts, while Aditya and Jnanideva were at the aadheenam, they did some extensive work on a nutrient storage shed for our greenhouses. They brought the project most of the way, and after returning home, the monks of the siddhidatta kulam and our current taskforcers helped bring the project to completion. Aum.

Jai Ganesha!

With the help from Aditya and Jnanideva, who are both here on taskforce, the Siddhidatta Kulam was able to make progress on a "head house" for the greenhouse. This small building will act as a storage shed and more, for things like plant nutrients, which would get too hot inside the greenhouse itself. In other news, progress has also been made on a new electrical line which will allow us to abandon a much older line that runs through our cow pasture. This line feeds the Noni Building, the Greenhouse and another building. Our monks have long learned to never underestimate the amount of work it takes to pull a bundle of wire through a pipe.

Part 2 of the Renovation Bodhinatha's Ryokan - Painting and Trim