In August of 1999 the foundation of Iraivan temple was poured. At the time, the lead engineer exclaimed: “This hasn’t happened for 2,000 years! It’s historic. Not since the Greeks and Romans has such a massive placement of concrete been completed without a single crack. Not even a hairline fissure.” Dr. Mehta’s joy spread throughout Kauai’s Hindu Monastery and the island. The 117′ 6″ by 56′ by 4′ foundation weighs over 4 million pounds and took exactly 108 cement trucks to place. Founder and Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, who had declared it must last 1,000 years, now knew that it would.

This pioneering project was made of a special mix that reduces Portland cement about 40% and replaces it with the pozzelon coal fly ash. Dr. Mehta noted that this makes a superior concrete, stronger, more durable, harder and even cheaper. It’s adoption by nations and industries could radically reduce the greenhouse global warming problem, for which cement production worldwide is responsible for an astonishing six percent.

3 Responses to “Foundation Pour Then and Now”

1. deva says:
   May 8th, 2021 at 7:44 am

   Miracles don’t just happen within the inner currents of these humble monks as “pure life force explodes into an avalanche of light and then detonates into the void and everything and nothing is ‘experienced’ in a heartbeat at the core of Being and Non-Being”. Miracles also manifest as their visions become physical structures – these miracles manifest with a rock-hard density in the visible world we can see and touch and then linger for centuries. We can only stop and wonder and by doing so we catch a little of that magic, catch a little more spirit to keep trying.

2. Rajendra Giri says:
   May 10th, 2021 at 4:53 am

   Thanks for sharing.

   Aum Namah Shivay!

3. Pethuraja says:
   May 16th, 2021 at 8:23 pm

   “AUM”!.

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