Today the two aluminum green vents arrived for the media studio's entryway. They sit on either side of the door for natural ventilation. A big thanks to Kanda Alahan for his work in fabricating these quarter inch pieces. The Indian tribal designs were etched with high-pressure water jets and then powder coated green

Here are some more recent photos from Jiva in Bengaluru, depicting the hand carving that is nearing completion. These are some of the final hand carved pieces of the main temple structure. Any surrounding work, such as the perimeter wall, is including machine carved work, making for a much faster process.

There begins the work of making the outside of the Media Studio more in tandem with the inside. As part of the landscaping, Holika and his team of Tongans have been working on repainting a large wall on the South side. They are painting it with two shades of green, the lighter of which is a pattern taken from nature, the amazing leaf of the tropical plant Monstera deliciosia. This giant vine has a 34-inch leaf with deep lobes and holes in the leaves. A native of south Mexico and Panama, it produces an edible fruit that tastes just like a pineapple, hence it's common name, Fruit Salad Tree. The wall will soon be planted with the vine and in five years all of the paint will be covered by the living plant itself.

Meantime the Tongans also poured concrete for the entry path to the Media Studio portico, using the same quartzite as the other paths have and creating an inviting entry access.

The final photo here is Jeff working on one of the massive rock doors.

Of the few larger projects left to be done in the Media Studio, the washroom has been the main focus over the last few weeks. Acharya Kumarnathaswami and our hired master-carpenter Jeff, have been working hard to instal the room's vinyl and finish the stone and grout work. The large mirror has also been installed and the ceiling has received its moulding and been painted with a final coat. All that is left is to finish the grout, install the fixtures, and hang the door. Progress is also being made in the entry hall way and elsewhere.

Jive recently sent us these images from the Bangaluru carving site, where the stones for Iraivan have been cleaned and crated for their long journey to Kauai.

After over a year of having their morning meetings outside in the Banyon Mandapam, the Ganapati Kulam has officially had their first full phase of meetings in the Media Studio. Thought the studio is not fully completed, it is far enough along to have a comfortable, element-free discussion.

We recently recently received these photos from Jiva at the Bangaluru carving site. These are some of the stones which are to be crated and shipped to Kauai. They are set to arrive in the coming weeks.

Today we received these photos from Jiva Rajasankara in Bengaluru, India. He shares good news that the last of the eight larger-than-life black granite murthis of our Kailasa Paramparai are being crated up for shipping to Hawaii. This has been a marvelous project and the quality of craftsmanship is a wonder to behold. Here is Jiva's note:

"Paramacharya, vanakkam!

Gurudeva, Bodhinathaswami and Tirumular will be leaving India to Kauai in a week's time. The container is expected to come in 2 hours time and we will load the items and the container should leave tomorrow to Chennai port.

We will only have 2 special yestis left to complete Iraivan Temple which comprises of the main temple sanctum and the Nandi Mandapam.

The Iraivan perimeter wall is in progress."


Jiva

Last week Acharya Kumarnathaswami with the help of Kulapati Durvasa Alahan completed the intricate work of installing the new vinyl floor in the media studio. Designed by Sadasivanathaswami... how beautiful it is! Brahmanathaswami was determined to make the move, so he brought in all the table/desk bases in and the table tops so that the innersearch team could come right in and start working when they return tomorrow. And he himself moved in and is fully functional now in the new space.

The important water stream that comes all the way from Wailua Reservoir to San Marga finally reaches Kauai Aadheenam, passing under the road in two places. At this location near the carpentry shop the edge of the road is dangerously close to the stream. We recently had a minor accident where someone backed up and the vehicle tipped sideways into the stream. No one was hurt, but it was a wake-up call. Sadhaka Adinatha built forms and today he and Sadhaka Nilakanthanatha mixed cement and poured the forms.