Aum Namah Sivaya
Here we bring you another fascinating before and after shot of Iraivan Temple’s creation.

In August of 1999 the foundation of Iraivan temple was poured. At the time, the lead engineer exclaimed: “This hasn’t happened for 2,000 years! It’s historic. Not since the Greeks and Romans has such a massive placement of concrete been completed without a single crack. Not even a hairline fissure.” Dr. Mehta’s joy spread throughout Kauai’s Hindu Monastery and the island. The 117′ 6″ by 56′ by 4′ foundation weighs over 4 million pounds and took exactly 108 cement trucks to place. Founder and Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, who had declared it must last 1,000 years, now knew that it would.

This pioneering project was made of a special mix that reduces Portland cement about 40% and replaces it with the pozzelon coal fly ash. Dr. Mehta noted that this makes a superior concrete, stronger, more durable, harder and even cheaper. It’s adoption by nations and industries could radically reduce the greenhouse global warming problem, for which cement production worldwide is responsible for an astonishing six percent.

Aum Namah Sivaya

Today we celebrate the completion of the stone laying for Iraivan Temple's lava rock wall! Jai!
There are still a few finishing touches, primarily the of staining grout joints, but the main wall structure is finished. Umut and his team have set the last stone, relocated the leftover stones, and deconstructed their tenting around the perimeter. Now we can all marvel at this wonderful addition which bring the temple ever closer to its completion. Aum.

Jai Ganesha!

Recently our masonry team, who has been building the lava rock wall around Iraivan Temple, has completed the rock laying on the north side of the foundation. They had already completed the east side which faces Rishi Valley. The North end of the temple faces Dakshinamurti, and with this section completed, the team is focused on completed the west side which is already quite far along. Aum.

Jai Ganesha!

After several weeks of grey cloud-cover and massive amounts of rainfall, today our monks have enjoyed a full day of bright sun and blue, rainless skies. The grounds are already beginning to warm up and the many well-watered plants are bursting at the seams with fruits and new growth. This is a perfect chance to work on the remaining tile-replacement around Kadavul Temple. While the area we'd been working on out front has been finished, the focus now turns to the temple-side path that leads to the small Ganesha shrine. While some tiles are cracked, many can be restored and reset. Aum.

Aum Namah Sivaya

We've recently received this updated and more detailed photo of the bronze tiruvasi for Iraivan Temple's innewr sanctum. This bronze has been made in India and will stand behind the Iraivan Temple's crystal Sivalingam , against polished red granite. At its base are two yallis and above them, two shining hamsas. At the top we have the snarling face of Mahakala "Great Time" who devours all things. Om.

Gurudeva loved the idea of a black lava rock plinth sitting below the almost white granite stones of the temple, making the impression (especially once the landscaping is in place) that the temple sits atop a small mountain. This sense of elevation and color contrast is part of the magic he envisioned.

Yesterday the team (originally from Turkey) removed the tent shelters on the East side of the temple, revealing for the first time the completed plinth. There is more to be done on the other sides in the months ahead. It was last May that this project began, after years of planning and fund-raising. So, ten full months of work, and a few more to go. We took some photos last May when it began and offer today a simple photo-timelapse of the project, including at the end some close-ups of the finished effect. Now you have to imagine bronze panels populating the 14" by 47" frames on the perimeter wall. Elegant is a word that comes to mind.

Aum Namah Sivaya

Recently we took some new aerial photos from our little drone. It was a chance to discover our aadheenam grounds, temples, building and gardens from a new perspective. Our hilly landscape and fascinating species of plants make for quite a picture. It's important to get an overview once in a while to keep the little things in proper perspective. They're just smalls strokes in a grand painting of life. Aum.

Aum Namah Sivaya

Today was the Ardra Nakshatra, a time when our monks perform their monthly abhishekam to Lord Nataraja in Kadavul Temple. After several weeks of perfecting the gold leaf on Yogaswami's statue it was finally complete and this was the day he wanted to move. Yogaswami was brought up to Kadavul Temple and placed before Nataraja for the duration of the puja. Afterwards he was brought through the temple to the Guru Pitam where his small shrine resides and the statue was reinstalled. Aum.

You think that you are the doer and fall into the trap of bondage. But everything was accomplished long ago. Yogaswami