PHASE ONE, 1975: Gurudeva’s vision of Lord Siva births the temple. Project begins, raising $400,000 for purchase and clearing of land, building access roads and creating the San Marga straight path to the stone that Siva sat upon in the vision.
1979: Rudraksha forest and fruit orchards are planted, fences and a parking lot added. Architectural plans are acquired from India.
1985: Two four-foot-long sandalwood scale models of Iraivan are carved in India.
1987: Extraordinary 700-pound crystal Sivalingam arrives on Kauai in August.
PHASE TWO, 1989: New US$16 million fund-raising drive begins. Each US$5 contribution sponsors one pound of granite–3.2 million pounds–including an endowment.
PHASE THREE, 1990: December 21, Gurudeva chips the first stone in Bangalore with the patronage of Sri la Sri Trichiswami and blessings of Goddess Rajarajeshwari. Sri Sri Sri Balagangadharanathaswami grants use of 11 acres of land. A village and workshops are built for craftsmen and families.
1991-92: Seventy artisans begin carving full time on blocks quarried from Bangalore’s mountains. Excavators clear along the Wailua River on Kauai, creating Wailua Botanical Gardens, with ponds and paths.
1992: September 11, hurricane Iniki hits, delaying the Kauai efforts. Relief funds pour in from thousands of supporters. Work in India continues uninterrupted.
PHASE FOUR, 1995: Foundation design is gifted by Honolulu engineer James Adams in consultation with V. G. Sthapati. County of Kauai issues foundation permit. Ground-breaking ceremony conducted April 4-5 by Sri Sambamurthi Sivacharya from India.
1995-6: The foundation base, 187 feet long by 82 feet wide, 3 feet deep, is filled with compacted gravel at a cost of $230,000.
1997: First container of 43 stones arrives from India, with Kauai press coverage.
1998: Bangalore Gallery, a display of completed stones, is inaugurated on Kauai. Island Temple is published in Hinduism Today. Exquisite art and Indian sacred plants are gifted to San Marga Sanctuary.
PHASE FIVE, 1999: (projection) Monolithic 3-foot-thick concrete plinth is poured, requiring 100+ cement trucks working 24 hours. The pad is “surcharged” for six months with earth equalling the full weight of the temple.
2000-2010: (projection) Over 100 containers of stones arrive at the Iraivan site, along with Indian artisans who fit and assemble the 4,000-stone monument and sculpt final details. Temple is consecrated.