Iraivan Kodimaram Installation Puja

Aum Namah Sivaya!

Today we witnessed the blessing for Iraivan Temple's flagpole. Satguru, the monks, the silpis and several devotees arrived at the Temple's Nandi Mandapam to observe a short puja and then carefully position the teak wood pole prefectly upright. With that, we were then able to fill the base around it with compacted sand. In a delightful twist, the Inner Sanctum's teak wood doors from India arrived at the monastery just hours before this event. Photos coming soon. Another historic day at Kauai Aadheenam!

Satguru offers flowers during the puja

Larry is here with his crane to support the Kodimaram during the micro adjustments

As a nice surprise, the stairs leading into the mandapam are placed and usable, though not fully installed

Larry is at the ready

more monks arrive for the event

The kodimaram is currently blocked in place. It must be lifted, unblocked, adjusted, lowered and surrounded by sand

It rests on a stone deep in the foundation

This is one of the many metal pieces that will cover the pole. They will all be covered in gold leaf

Easy to get distracted by the mandapam\

s beauty'

Yoginathaswami explains a little about the order of the puja and blessings before the Ganesha puja begins

Jai Gurudeva!

The wind blew Larry\

s classic rainbow umbrella inside out'

He has to sit in the sun for over and hour while everything takes place

looking up through the roof

Many little offerings that must be placed under the kodimaram

Here\

s the sand that will be buried here for a thousand years'

Satguru places gems and other items in a tube leading under the kodimaram

The tube is then removed and the pole is lowered

Many small adjustments take place

such a mezmerising umbrella...

Everyone present then comes and adds some sand

Gifts for the siplis for their amazing work

And prasad!

All made by Chinnu of course

The final step is to unharness the Kodimaram

Aum Namah Sivaya. Sivaya Namah Aum.

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