Jai Ganesha!

This week Umut and his team from Innov8 construction have begin adding the top layer of stones to Iraivan Temple's lava rock wall. The east side of the wall is nearing completion and this is the last layer of added stone upon it. They are able to move quickly, since this part doesn't require large amounts of concrete. It does however need a very strong mix that can withstand the countless years of rains that will fall upon these top pieces. Umut must also go through ever joint while the concrete is wet and make it look more natural and finished. He tells us that once we remove the tarps, to won't take long for the elements to turn all the stones a uniform dark-grey color. It should look striking in juxtaposition to the white granite temple above. Aum Namah Sivaya.

Aum Namah Sivaya

After many years of bright sun and heavy rains, certain ares of slate tile outside of Kadavul Temple have become loose. With water collecting underneath them, the grout was failing and some tiles were even breaking under uneven pressure. In an effort to remedy the issue, Vishvanathaswami and Tejadevanatha spent several days removing large portions of tile and cleaning up the concrete beneath them. They were able to rescue most of the original tiles, meaning we won't have to purchase many replacement pieces. Soon after their work, our hired worker Doug went about placing the tiles with fresh mortar and grout. He made sure to properly slope the tile, which had not been properly done before. This is what was causing a lot of the issues, as rain water would collect rather than flow off of them. After nearly a week of work the job is much closer to completion, with only a few more sections of new tile to lay. Aum.

Jai Ganesha!

Here at the aadheenam, the work on the temple continues. After several weeks break, our lavarock wall team is back on the job and progressing around the northern side of the temple. The silpis are working on the tops of the pillars inside. They are removing calcite buildup and stains while also improving the grout joints. In related news, progress is being made on the planning for the granite tiles which will reside atop the temple's outer plinth. Aum Namah Sivaya

Aum Namah Sivaya

Currently, the siplis are working on several smaller projects in and around the main temple structure. Near the entrance, Adaikalam is carving flowers into the small square portions at the base of the pillars. On the outside of the temple, around the alcoves that surround the inner sanctum, Manikandan and Murugesan are working to fill some small wall sections where certain stones meet in the corners. Aum.

Aum Namah Sivaya

Today we bring you quick update on the status of Iraivan Temple's Lavarock wall, which encircles the temple's concrete foundation. This week Umut and his team have made steady progress along the eastern side of the wall, bringing the whole southeast corner to near-completion. At a distance and as you approach the entryway steps, it looks complete. Theres just a little row of rocks to set on top. Much of this side of the temple has reached this point. Aum.

Jai Ganesha!

Recently we have begun what will eventually lead to the tiling of Iraivan Temple's foundation plinth. Currently the entire plinth around the temple is bare concrete, but when complete, it will be topped with red granite tiles, accenting the white granite Temple and walls and continuing with the South Indian Temple theme of representing Siva and Shakti with whites and reds. White as the unmanifest and red as the manifest Universe. It's a process that requires a great deal of thought and careful calculation in order for us to be efficient and to produce the best result that we can. Click through the slideshow to learn a little more. It's wonderful to see yet another big part of the temple project begin to move. Aum Namah Sivaya.

Aum Namah Sivaya

While the Siplis are busy working on some smaller, detailed projects within the temple, the lavarock wall that surrounds the temple foundation continues its steady progression. The stones on either side of the entry staircase are beginning to look complete on the southern side. The stones along the entire east side of the temple are almost fully in place with the edge along their top almost complete. All the small stones acquired for the very top of the wall have been collected. The West side of the temple is also much further along with an entire row of stone having been added. Aum.

Recently our monks have made a few fantastic HDR photos of Iraivan temple using photos from an iPhone. For those that don't know, these photos are made by combining three photos at different exposures allowing detail and color to be preserved in the shadows and highlights. Sometimes a little extra digital magic is added for fun, to make some outstanding visual experiences. Aum.

Recently our monks and siplis took time from their work in order to offer blessings to the tools with which we are able to do all that we do. Ayudha puja is a traditional day of blessings when we give thanks to our tools and equipment. This is especially important in the sipli tradition. Satguru and some of our monks joined the siplis at Iraivan Temple for a short puja to Ganesha and Saraswati, an arati was passed over the many tools which have built this temple. Following a ceremonial stone-chipping, Satguru presented each sipli with dakshina and everyone then enjoyed some wonderful prasadam prepared by Chinnu. Aum.

Aum Namah Sivaya

Today we talked with Umut and his team from Innov8 Construction about their progress on Iraivan Temple's lava rock wall, which clads the temple's 4-foot-high concrete foundation. They are making steady progress to bring the wall to height an all sides. Currently the east side is furthest along, with the rock reaching the top guide-string on about one-third of its length. The north and west sides are coming along as well, growing higher every week. At the temple entrance on the south side, the team has begun a push to build up the stones around the entry stairway. This type of lava rock construction requires massive attention to detail, as each stone must be fit perfectly with minimal chipping and no small stones stuck in between. If chipped too much to fit, the team risks exposing too much of the lava rock's blue interior, which will be noticeable in the final result.