Satguru Siva Yogaswami Jaffna, Sri Lanka		Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami Kauai's Hindu Monastery, USA
	August 21, 1999 - Shubha
GOD POURED CONCRETE TODAY! What a joyous day of fulfillment. Most auspicious as Gurudeva and all the pilgrims paraded early at 6:00 AM to the temple site to await the first cement trucks. It was a perfect day as the night had been absolutely clear and dry. Arriving at the temple site a small homa was lit by Gurudeva and Swami Buaji Maharaj and this was kept burning all day long, by two pilgrims who took turns feeding the sacred fire to keep up the positive vibrations for an auspicious day. The early dawn was quiet and cool and full of excited anticipation as we awaited the arrival of the first cement truck. As the sun ros in the east it threw a pinkish hue across the south western horizon. Here the forms have been removed on the north end of the site to allow the trucks to enter. A Hawaiian priestess came to bless the site and the event, walking around the site with Ti leaves, inviting the local spirits and devas to participate and assist in the event. Continuous drumming and chanting and blowing of conch shells were in progress to welcome the first truck on the scene. The sun began to break fully onto the site. Just as the first truck is pulling up, a small puja is performed right at the center of the temple on the spot where the main shrine will be later. It was indeed a joyous moment when the first concrete came down the shoot. We were so fortunate to have Mr. Mehta from Berkeley on hand to quide everything along, The world's foremost expert on concrete he was "right in the middle of it." and testing by hand the very first concrete to land on the ground. Hale Kauai's bright yellow trucks were uplifting and pilgrims commented "Even the trucks are colored in the most auspicious manner!" Steel Tech workers have the incredibly tough job of shoveling forward concrete by hand to bring it up to the necessary levels. What a great and tireless team they were! AS the concrete began to fill the end of the forms and after being brought up to level grade, the electronic screeds began their work slowly moving forward, vibrating, settling and smoothing down the surface. After the first few trucks were unloaded the pilgrims paraded back to the monastery. Then, later in the morning a large contingent of local island guests arrived and we paraded them out later in the morning for another tour and to witness the work in progress. From above the temple site, under a "quicktent" guests and pilgrims could observe the progress which was really great. The day went without a hitch. Later in the morning the monastery made presentations to the guest. Swami Buaji Maharaj was on had to demonstrate his hale 110-year-old spirit and wisdom. Larry Rivera played the Aloha song and a Hawaiian Hula performance was offered by one of Kauai finest dancers. It was a really bright an joyous international crowd. What a wonderful day of fellowship and aloha spirit and a new beginning for the Iraivan temple. The Hawaiian priestess walked to all the corners of the site and called the local spirits in the Hawaiin language. As the day came to a close.
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