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Bodhinatha meets with pilgrims: Madan Chatterji and his wife Tanushree Chatterji, from Indiana, Rup Chatterji and Indira Chatterji, from Los Angeles. All were originally from Calcutta, India.

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END OF PHASE
Today is the last day of our phase.
This edition of TAKA will remain posted
over our coming two-day retreat,
until Dasami Tithi, Sun One, Tuesday, November 14th.

Samir Pandya and his wife Sujata Pandya are members of the Swaminarayan Fellowship. They told Bodhinatha they are building a 50 Million dollar new temple in the Los Angeles area. They were originally from Gujarat.

And another lady from Canada (left).

The big news was the arrival of containers. These pictures taken yesteraday afternoon. Yoginathaswami inspects the area. It looks like the ground is a bit too low and the edge of the container will not meet the edge of the concrete slab.

No problem. Sadhaka Tejadeva brings in more dirt to raise up the edge of the container.

Stones are packed in very tight! This is a section of the hand railing.

Almost there....

"OK, looking good, back it up!"

That's it, perfect fit, edge to edge.

More pillars arriving, revealing their lovely carved symbols

Off to the side, one of the silpis keeps on with the chipping.

Now we are back to today.

One of our island's orchid societies came today on a special visit. They brought with them some remarkable flowers, plus some jars of home-made jam.

After their temple visit, Palaniswami took them through the gardens. Amazingly, their questions were not about flowers and plants at all, but about the soul, about the differences between Hinduism and Buddhism, about the role of women in Hinduism.

They all stopped at the blossoming Bat Ears aroid, with its long whiskers. Many had never seen one. In fact, few people have. It's quite uncommon.

At the Iraivan site our visitors were able to watch the unloading of our next containers, which arrived yesterday afternoon.

This shipment is four containers. This one is almost completely unloaded today.

In each one are massive stones, like this crate which holds two giant Stone Windows, called Jalokoms.

They are single stones, one foot thick and 11 feet long and seven feet wide. These will be installed in the walls at the entrance, windows you can see through.

Not shown here but to surprise you next phase: Yalli pillars which Yoginathaswami says are "the most beautiful stones we have seen here since the beginning of the temple." Stay tuned...

We get a peek inside one crate, which holds the capstone for the Raja Gopuram entry gate. This series of photos is by Teja (Scott Falzone).

Another view of the jalokoms, with the temple tower behind.

Lots of handrail stones arrived too.

It take all day just to empty the containers.

Gurudeva supervises from the sanctum nearby.

More hand-railings which will surround the perimeter defining the first prakaram

Fortunately, the Nandi Mandapam foundation, built in August, provides plenty of space for stockpiling the stones until they are installed.

Pillars arrive as well. This one has a carving of the Simhasanam in the Guru Peedam, the spiritual seat of authority for the Kailasa Paramparai.

These pillars are being prepared for lifting.

A many-armed Lord Siva.

The Satguru's rudraksha pendant.

Lions watch the jungle behind.

The pathways back to the monastery.

And the Rishi Valley Pond.

The giant jalokom stone.