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Today was another small but historic day at the Aadheenam, because the last two pillars of the main Iraivan mandapam were put in place.

Bodhinatha presides over the event at Iraivan this morning.

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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, Saturday, June 9th.

We take a few pictures of Bodhinatha and Iraivan as the team sets up to raise pillars.

The silpis greet Bodhinatha as the ceremony for the "Gurudeva" pillar on the Southeast corner are about to begin. It is an important milestone for the Iraivan Temple this morning as the last two Chitra pillars honoring the Founder, Sat Siva Guru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami "Gurudeva," are ceremoniously placed permanently on their bases just inside the temple entrance.

The navaratna or nine gems are put in place underneath the pillar.

There are four images of Gurudeva on the upper panels of this pillar.

Larry Conklin takes a break as the silpis work to position the pillar.

Rajan watching it all

A plumb line is dropped to make sure the pillar is perfectly vertical.

And now, the final and last pillar on the Southwest corner

Tada Astu! Iraivan's last pillar is in!

Manikandan and Pandi perch high atop the entrance Yalli pillar and Gurudeva's pillar carefully measuring to make sure they are in complete alignment.

The silpis continue to make minute adjustments. It is very important that every aspect of pillar placement be performed with great precision, patience, and care otherwise misalignment could cause some serious difficulties. Here are Rajendran and Vellaiasamy are shimming up the base to bring the pillar in to a perfectly vertical position.

Bal Krishnan and his wife Neelami arrived today from Edmonton, Canada. Bal Krishnan was present when H.H. Bodhinatha Veylanswami visited Edmonton about two years ago.

He was amazed at the exquisitely handcarved granite pillars detailing the worlds greatest religion, Hinduism, and immediately sponsored a Padma (lotus) Rail Stone.

Also present were Demo and Genevieve Dimartile from Irvington, NY. Demo was present when the Spatika Lingam first arrived on Kauai in 1987. "Its just wonderful to see Gurudeva's vision manifesting like this" he said after touring the Iraivan Temple. "Its truly wonderful!" Genevieve was honored on the Opray Show last April for her work in providing pajamas for needy children around the globe.

Prior to his departure, Bal Krishnan stated that he and his wife would be back for the Maha Kumbha Abhishekam.