Ayudha Puja at the Iraivan Temple Carving Site
December 5, 2012November Ayudhya Puja at the Iraivan Temple Carving Site
Ayudha Puja is an important event for all stone works. We have special prayers for the tools, machinery and vehicles. It is also a joyous day for all the silpis because they receive their dakshina (bonus) and a set of new clothing as gifts. Here is a cut stone for the perimeter wall. All markings have been done and are ready to start the new phase. Traditionally, the first stone for a new project is blessed on this day.
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All tools are blessed: chisels, hammers and other tools.
This is Sundaramachari, our retired supervisor (he was with the first batch of silpis who came to Kauai) performing the puja for the blacksmith section.
The blacksmith forge is then lit after the puja.
This is a new CNC 3-axis machine purchased to do some intricate work, such as signage and murals.
This is our 66 KV generator, which helps us to work continuously even if there is an outage. Arati is shown to the generator. On the left is Sockalingam who is an all-rounder; he drives the forklift, polishes, carves, does maintenance and gardening. He sees only with one eye. An excellent worker.
Puja is performed on the compressor and small generators.
This is our new borewell.
All the hand power tools are blessed.
Arati is shown to the big gangsaw. All the perimeter wall stones are cut by this machine. It can cut 2.5 feet deep and 15 feet in length.
After the puja, the machine is cutting the perimeter wall pillar stones.
Puja is done on the new stone of the perimeter wall.
The new stone is marked using a string dipped in iron oxide solution.
It is a tradition that the senior silpi does the first chipping. U. Manikandan, our supervisor, has been working for Iraivan for the past 22 years.
After the puja the ashgourd lit with camphor is taken around the stone and is broken.
This is the much-awaited moment. Lots of coins are placed inside the ashgourd. Once it is broken, a few silpis rush to pick up the coins. All are happy even if they get 2 or 3 coins.
The cars, forklift and the cranes are blessed.
The ayudha puja ends with the giving of a bonus to the silpis.
Sockalingam receiving the gift from Senthilathiban. That is a picture story of our Ayudha Puja at the Bangalore worksite.
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