Bumi Puja & Panchasilaanyaasam – October 27, 2010

by Douglas Wilson | Jan 11, 2017

Performed in September 2010, shortly after the Shilpis and Sthapati arrived, this ground-breaking ceremony was followed by the installation of five stones, precious gems, and nine grains as prescribed in Sthapatya Veda. The inscribed stones, gem and grains were placed in the Northeast corner of the Inner Sanctum (Shiva shrine).

There is also a YouTube Video of the Bumi Puja & Panchasilaanyaasam.

Click to view larger images.

The five stones with the sacred inscriptions ready for installation.

Arranging the sacred stones.

Shilpi Kumar Subbiah assisting.

Sthapati SK verifying sacred geometry.

Shilpi Kumar Subbiah reviewing the layout.

Sthapati SK arranging the offerings on the banana leaves.

Jason standing by to film.

Michael Mamas receiving his garland.

The ceremony begins.

The sacred stones with gemplate and garland prior to installation.

Sthapati SK explaining that the perfectly split coconut is very auspicious.

Shiva Kumar, supervising Sthapati, holds the next stone to be placed.

Michael Mamas prepares to set the gemplate in the center of NE corner of the Inner Sanctum.

Four stones and one gemplate installed.

Center gemplate goes in.

Center stone completes the fifth stone installed.

Marcia and Yvonne.

Every devotee offers spices, herbs, milk and honey.

Group photo.

Devotee making offerings.

Sthapati SK accepts dakshina offered in gratitude.

Project supervisor, Sthapati Shiva Kumar, accepts dakshina.

Shilpi Vaithiya Nathan accepts dakshina.

Shilpi Govindhan receiving dakshina.

Shilpi Kumar receiving dakshina.

Shilpi Thamarasu Akambaram accepts dakshina.

Shilpi Subha receiving dakshina.

Shilpi Sridhar receives dakshina offering.

Shilpi Selvaraj receiving dakshina.

Sealing the offering site.

Final step: The cement is prepared to enclose the offering site in the northeast corner of the Inner Sanctum.

Hanging out.

Smoothing out the cement seal.