Today the Kodi Maram was removed completely from its crate and prepared for Larry Conklin, our crane operator, to place it in the Nandi Mandapam. The bottom of the Kodi Maram is wrapped with lead sheets to preserve the wood. Brass screws are used to secure to lead sheets to the Kodi Maram.

Aum Namah Sivaya

Today we look at the progress being made to place the initial layer of stones for Iraivan's Perimeter Wall. These are the sections and interlocking tower pieces which will display bronze panels that will offer pilgrims the temple's history, words of wisdom and scriptural verses. Today, Sannyasin Yoginathaswami and Natyam Dayanatha are working with the silpis to place more sections upon the foundation. Currently, just under half of these stones have been moved into location. They must be carefully adjusted and leveled in order to support the top sections which will eventually line the wall. Underneath the wall will be a section of lava rock which will slope down to the ground.

Our January 2019 news video covers events in December 2018, including: recent progress on Iraivan Temple; our change of seasons; and the aadheenam's celebration of Ardra Darshanam.

Yesterday the Silpis (with the help of Yoginathswami and a fork lift) moved many of the main portions of Iriavan Temple's perimeter wall into place along the east side of the foundation. As seen in the final photo, the finished wall will have a center section, small pillars on either side, top pieces and red granite pots to adorn tops of the pillars.

With the shiplis here on Kauai, work on Iraivan Temple is continuously moving forward. On Thai Pongal we took a short tour of everything that has been happening this week.

Aum Namaha Sivaya

Here follows quick update on the work taking place at Iraivan Temple. Click through the slideshow to see what's happening.

Two projects making great strides this week are the installation of the last section on Iraivan Temple's hand-railing and the placing of the top of the "Na," "Ma," "Si," "Va," "Ya" steps which leads into the sanctum.

During the monastery's weekly tour days, guests are given an introduction before walking out to see Iraivan Temple. In an effort to supplement that experience, we've created this short video to be shown to our visitors each week in the Banayan Mandapam.

Work continues on Iraivan Temple's Nandi Mandapam. Several weeks ago we lifted the most recent layer of stones onto the structure. Having placed the stones the silpis are working now on small refinements in parallel with the Mukha Mandapam's Floor installation.

Today the silpis are nearly finished laying the heavy stone tiles that make up the floor of the mukha mandapam, leading to Iraivan Temple's inner sanctum. Beneath the stone tiles is a layer of sand which is added or subtracted to level each piece just right.