Preparing Final Large Shipments to Kauai

Lots of lumber and labor go into preparing Iraivan Temple's completed stones for their journey to Kauai. In the past few days two more containers are being readied in Bengaluru (we think they are the last). Teams of carpenters and silpis are joining in the effort to be sure the precious cargo arrived unscathed after its 8,000-mile voyage. In this slideshow we get a glimpse of what it takes, even after years of carving complete, to safely crate the stones. They know what they are doing, having sent almost 100 containers to Hawaii in the last 23 years. Good job, everyone!

Lorries of lumber, Silver Oak, arrive for assembly.

These crates hold the highly-polished Rose granite pots that will adorn the tops of the perimeter wall.

Nandi is taking in a little Subcontinent sun before his voyage. The orange plastic ring is part of a plan to have a gold earring made for him.

Cleaning Nandi for his trip.

The pots are such works of art, and the design is pure Chola Empire. Each weights 200 pounds and is mirror polished.

There are 45 pots in all. Six of them are already here on the island.

It\

s warm under these sheds, 92-95 in March and April.'

Finished crates await the containers\

arrival. In the background, the many other creative projects that Artha Enterprises is working on. '

Pots, and more pots.

The wood is quite hard, not easy to drive a nail into.

Gurudeva was never fully content with the base of Kadavul Temple\

s 9-foot-long Nandi. He always wanted something more elegant and ornate, something showing the Chola way of doing things. This simple base will be completely re-clad and the stones are part of this final shipment. '

This is what it will look like next year, with Nandi seated royally on the new base.

And this sorry balipitham base...

will be upgraded to this, the single stone in the middle of this photo. What a difference!

Corner pieces.

And side slabs.

That should give them some protection.

Also, two beautiful murtis are coming. Ganesha and Muruga in black polished granite, standing on a raw rock.

Ganesha will cruise to Hawaii on His back.

With His brother Murugan as a traveling companion.

And finally, two fins recarved for the Honu, the Hawaiian turtle. Thought to live between 60 and 80 years, the Honu is a symbol of longevity, safety, and mana (spiritual energy) in Hawaiian culture and their presence brings good luck and peace. The Honu (Chelonia mydas) is considered a form of aumakua or ancestral spirit offering lifelong protection, wisdom and guidance. Honu are depicted in ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs, artwork and mythology and represent the eternal link between man, land and sea. See you soon,, Honu.

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