For those new to our story, years back, around 1984, we installed a 9-foot-long black granite Nandi in front of Kadavul Temple. Gurudeva loved the sculpture, but was disappointed in the rough unfinished stones they provided for the base. He called it "A pile of rocks." That sentence lived in our minds all these years and finally we set about to make it right. New cladding was designed in Chola empire style and carved in India and the silpis spent all of November and December and part of January installing and refining it. Here we present some historic photos along with a BEFORE and AFTER slider that tells its own story.

Concrete flowed abundantly recently to fill a large foundation for the Siddhidata Kulam's new machine shop adjacent to their new office and dehumidified storage building. The pour started early on a beautiful sunny morning, by the same team that created the road going down to Rishi Valley some time back. For a week or two afterwards, a sprinkler continuously doused the foundation with coolness so the concrete wouldn't crack as it cured. The last photo shows the finished product.

Aum Namah Sivaya

Last summer, work began on the installation of the red granite tile which surrounds Iraivan Temple's main structure. Today, much of the work has been completed around the back and the two sides of the temple. The team is now focusing on the front area around the Nandi Mandapam. Projections are that after another month this tile project will be near completion. Aum.

The entrance stairway is just a couple of weeks away from completion. It has taken several months of concrete, rock and tile work, not to mention the installation of the massive elephants. One day, this will be the way most pilgrims approach Iraivan Temple. The most recent work is to tile the concrete treads with quartzite stone. This particular Brazilian stone is so hard and tight that it does not give a foothold for moss and fungus, so stays safe and non-slippery longer, and if you do pressure wash it, it looks like new even years later. Enjoy a short slideshow of today's progress.

We had a nice rainbow over Iraivan Temple the other day as a storm was leaving. That's the first photo. Subsequent photos show final earthwork being done by Pradip in preparation for the second concrete foundation pour of the new Siddhidata Kulam workspace. The project was delayed for some days by wet weather, but now it's dry enough to continue. This second foundation will be for the new equipment maintenance shop adjacent to their new offices and storage space.

Today was the official placement of the first new stone for Kadavul Temple's Kodimaram! This is a momentous moment marking the official start of the work and providing blessings to ensure the rest of the project goes smoothly. Enjoy our early morning photos as well as this video of the Silpi's work chant-   Aum Namah Sivaya

No, this isn't Stonehenge in the UK. In this first photo are the final batch of cladding stones forklifted over by the Siddhidata Kulam for placement around the Dhwaja Stambha base.

Multiple concrete trucks arrived in the early morning and Ryan's team went about vigorously guiding the concrete pump and smoothing it out. After the concrete cooled for several days, the team returned to lay a cement block partial wall (see last photo), which they did quickly with a couple days. The next stage is to level adjacent ground and pour a concrete foundation for the new machinery maintenance shop.

The team installing the Iraivan floor in the second prakaram is gaining momentum. It has taken weeks to map out the puzzle (65 different sizes of tile) and prepare the surfaces. And now tiles are going down. Even today, which is Saturday, the team is on the job, pushing hard, arriving at 6:30am in the dark to get a quick start on the day. See a retro slideshow that goes back to tile arrival and floor prep.

Aum Aum, As you know the Silpis have been hard at work preparing the Nandi Mandapam for the installation of the new stone bases. Well, yesterday, the Silipis along with support from the Siddhidhata kulam moved the stones into place along the Mandapam where they will soon be installed in their final resting place! Look forward to the updates! Jai Ganesha!