Silpis Chipping Stones
A short introduction to the ancient and astonishing process by which hereditary stone carvers can create beautiful works of architecture—such as Kauai’s Iraivan Temple—out of a simple hammer and chisel. This video will be accessible from the Sipli Pavilion near Iriavan Temple via a QR code which will be decoratively displayed nearby. Aum.
Video edited by Rajkumar Manickam
4 Responses to “Silpis Chipping Stones”
From Our Gurus' Teachings
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March 22nd, 2020 at 7:40 am
Thank you dear Silpis for your dedication all these years (perhaps lifetimes) to this ancient art; for your patience, for putting your prana and creativity into each stone and for honoring God Shiva with the beauty and grandeur of Iraivan.
With gratitude and appreciation,
Aum Namah Sivaya
March 22nd, 2020 at 8:32 am
Driving by a typical construction site, at least on Kauai, first the lot is leveled and the home comes up on a raw flattened red dirt lot. When the home is complete you really can’t celebrate the beauty for a long time as it stands alone like an alien, on a dirt floor aloof from any natural harmony surrounding it. Then, with any money left, there is a mad dash to try and create a hedge, put in a lawn, plant some fruit trees and try and recover the thriving pranas that were bulldozed at inception. It takes a long, long time to maturity.
I couldn’t help noticing in the aerial video that the gardens surrounding Iraivan have reached a high level of maturity that thank God we didn’t wait until completion to start. Our Gurudeva and monks had the foresight to grow both the Temple and Gardens together in one harmonious effort. When the Kumbabhishekam comes, Iraivan won’t be a typical raw construction site surrounded by mud holes and a devastated landscape. It will be in a state of completion on a level that will instill breathtaking wonder, and inspiration that began together the day the first stone was chipped.
March 23rd, 2020 at 2:29 pm
Deva and Amala being in close proximity of Iraivan has commented wisely. I wondered why he was growing a beard, but now realized he is also awaiting the Maha Kumbabishekam, like all of us!!
Om Sivaya
March 24th, 2020 at 3:43 am
The silpis are injecting life into each of these blocks. Aum Namah Shivaya!