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FRONT GROUNDS ARE OPEN DAILY FROM 9AM to 12PM WITHOUT A RESERVATION

New Shoe Pavilion for Kadavul Temple

The picture above tells the story. Pilgrims arriving, finding a place for their shoes before entering the temple. For many years we had a red and white canvas tent that sat right on the path. As part of the upgrade to Nandi Mandapam, we decided to bring up the shoe tent standard as well. This time we put the wood and aluminum structure to the side of the Tiruneri path, giving more room for the growing numbers of shoes, and also making the approach to the temple sweeter. Now you can see the kodimaram from a distance, and pilgrims don't have to shuffle through piles of other people's shoes on their way to Siva. Yesterday new shelves arrived and today is the first real day of use. Enjoy the tale of the making the new Shoe Pavilion.

For fun, we asked ChatGPT to rewrite our description. Here is the computer's unedited and enthusiastic offering:

Great news for all visitors to our sacred temple! A brand new shoe pavilion has been constructed to ensure the safekeeping of your footwear during your visit. The pavilion boasts state-of-the-art facilities and features ample space to store your shoes comfortably. You can now explore the temple without any worry or stress, knowing that your shoes are well-protected in a secure and organized manner. We hope that this new addition enhances your overall experience and makes your visit even more enjoyable.

Construction Updates and Outing

A group of us were on Kauai's south side and visited with tortoises in a nature reserve in Koloa. They are raised to be like a replacement for an ancient animal that used to graze in the area and is now extinct. For a long time the entrance walkway just before the Kadavul Temple dhvajasthambha has been congested in the spot where the shoe racks and benches are kept. Our employees have just finished constructing a new covered pad next to the path, where visitors can sit and store their shoes. This will allow a free flow of traffic on the main path itself. In the last photo, the concrete foundation has just been poured for the final extension of the Pillaiyar Kulam building for storing more publications and other Minimela items. Now it will cure for some time.  

Yesterday’s Youthful Yurts

Sun Salutations Åšivabhaktars! Are you perpetually pulled by a passion to promote prolifically about pavilions? No? Well today we caved, crafting coverage of the contemporary canvas coverings above the Swayambhu Lingam Mandapam. Two tepees were also tented up over Ganesha and Murugan towering over the temple's threshold. These big topped tabernacles trigger a tremendous transformation of the terra. Such structures are a spectacular soft shell shade, shining in the sun, significantly sturdier than their soft structured seniors. OK that's enough for today. Aum Namah Sivaya!

Nandi Pitham Is Consecrated

For those new to our story, years back, around 1984, we installed a 9-foot-long black granite Nandi in front of Kadavul Temple. Gurudeva loved the sculpture, but was disappointed in the rough unfinished stones they provided for the base. He called it "A pile of rocks." That sentence lived in our minds all these years and finally we set about to make it right. New cladding was designed in Chola empire style and carved in India and the silpis spent all of November and December and part of January installing and refining it. Here we present some historic photos along with a BEFORE and AFTER slider that tells its own story.

Siddhidata Kulam New Machine Shop Foundation Pour

Concrete flowed abundantly recently to fill a large foundation for the Siddhidata Kulam's new machine shop adjacent to their new office and dehumidified storage building. The pour started early on a beautiful sunny morning, by the same team that created the road going down to Rishi Valley some time back. For a week or two afterwards, a sprinkler continuously doused the foundation with coolness so the concrete wouldn't crack as it cured. The last photo shows the finished product.

Iraivan Temple Granite Tile Update

Aum Namah Sivaya

Last summer, work began on the installation of the red granite tile which surrounds Iraivan Temple's main structure. Today, much of the work has been completed around the back and the two sides of the temple. The team is now focusing on the front area around the Nandi Mandapam. Projections are that after another month this tile project will be near completion. Aum.

Climbing to Siva’s Feet

The entrance stairway is just a couple of weeks away from completion. It has taken several months of concrete, rock and tile work, not to mention the installation of the massive elephants. One day, this will be the way most pilgrims approach Iraivan Temple. The most recent work is to tile the concrete treads with quartzite stone. This particular Brazilian stone is so hard and tight that it does not give a foothold for moss and fungus, so stays safe and non-slippery longer, and if you do pressure wash it, it looks like new even years later. Enjoy a short slideshow of today's progress.

Earthwork Preparing for Another Concrete Foundation

We had a nice rainbow over Iraivan Temple the other day as a storm was leaving. That's the first photo. Subsequent photos show final earthwork being done by Pradip in preparation for the second concrete foundation pour of the new Siddhidata Kulam workspace. The project was delayed for some days by wet weather, but now it's dry enough to continue. This second foundation will be for the new equipment maintenance shop adjacent to their new offices and storage space.

Kodimaram Stone

Today was the official placement of the first new stone for Kadavul Temple's Kodimaram! This is a momentous moment marking the official start of the work and providing blessings to ensure the rest of the project goes smoothly. Enjoy our early morning photos as well as this video of the Silpi's work chant-   Aum Namah Sivaya

Nandi Mandapam Cladding Progress

No, this isn't Stonehenge in the UK. In this first photo are the final batch of cladding stones forklifted over by the Siddhidata Kulam for placement around the Dhwaja Stambha base.

Archives are now available through 2001. Light colored days have no posts. 1998-2001 coming later.

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