Iraivan's Bronze Panels

Bronze panels have been a vision in the making for years, mostly hidden from curious TAKA eyes. We did see Holly Young at work on the bas-relief sculptures during the last year or two, but then it all disappeared into the metal workshops in Loveland, Colorado. Recently we reported on the arrival of two crates holding 20 of the finished works of art.

They are now being installed on the perimeter wall, 35 of them in all, measuring 14" by 47." Gurudeva envisioned them as a library in bronze, just as the granite pillars were called by him "A library in stone." The panels contain the basic information a future pilgrim (or team of archeologists) would like to know: the history of the temple, from vision to chisel; the founder and architect; the simple technology used; the story of Mahalingesvara, the holy swayambhu spatika lingam; the monastery and its Satguru and monks; the philosophy of Saiva Siddhanta represented by the temple; the scriptures and beliefs in multiple languages, and more.

It is immensely rewarding after so much effort to see the panels in place, adding another layer of grace and meaningfulness to Iraivan's already infinite goodness. There are more panels to be installed in the days ahead as an unusually competent team drills and installs the bronzes. Today's slideshow shows the process in detail. Jai Gurudeva!

Three panels show the contrast of color, the earthy warm dark copper against the nearly white granite.

The crates holding the panels to be installed.

Thoughtfully packed and shipped, acknowledging their value.

The A Team unpacks them and puts in the six bolts that will provide the support.

They make plywood templates, since there are small (1\/8\") differences in the bolt position, which will make sure the bolts go easily into the holes they will later drill into the granite.

The bolts will fit into 3\" deep drilled holes which are filled with anchoring cement, a rock-hard adhesive used for such installations.

Drilling the template.

Testing that all 6 holes align with the bolts.

Using the template, he marks on the stone for the precision drilling.

They are so careful. They know how much work lies in each stone and do not want to make any mistakes.

The adhesive, the consistency of thick paint, is placed in the holes, and then the panel with its bolts is pressed into the wall before it dries (they have to move adeptly as drying is in just a few minutes).

The final result!

For the panel about the monks, Holly did this bas-relief of a Pada Puja for Gurudeva.

So graceful.

This panel is about the Saiva Siddhanta philosophy of God Siva within.

Nandi reigns on the panel about the Saivite Creed of fundamental beliefs.

The creed in Tamil

Belief Number 10 in Tamil.

Belief Number 10 in English. One panel has it in Sanskrit.

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