Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Big temple safe under ASI care

By G. Srinivasan

THANJAVUR Nov. 16. In the context of the controversy and litigation over the Archaeological Survey of India takeover of the Arunachaleswarar temple at Tiruvannamalai, the experience of the various institutions and agencies managing the Brahadeeswarar shrine at Thanjavur may offer quite a few lessons.

The Big Temple was taken over by the ASI in 1952 and declared a World Heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. Till then it was managed entirely by the Palace Devasthanam of the Maratta Kings, which controls nearly 40 temples in the Thanjavur region. The Devasthanam takes care of pujas and other rituals. With the ASI takeover, the Thanjavur temple came under the control of the ASI, the temple devasthanam and the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. The ASI takes complete care of the maintenance and preservation of the `monument'.

Devasthanam sources say the ASI has been maintaining the temple ``neatly'', with periodic chemical cleaning of all architectural marvels on stone, built by Raja Raja Cholan. The basic condition remains that no change on the premises be made without ASI permission. ``Even if we want to raise some flowering plants for puja, we cannot do it on our own. The ASI has been growing only crotons and some ornamental plants. We have asked them to grow some flowering plants in the ``Nandavanam''. They have assured us it can be done. But, if we get used to getting permission and doing things and get to work as a team, there will be no problem'', the sources explained.

What is important, they say, is the maintenance and protection of the temple. And the ASI takes care of this. Funds have been no constraint all these five decades.

At the time of the 1997 kumbabishekam, the sanctum sanctorum was renovated only in keeping with the instructions of the ASI. It even put to use the old drainage system for channelling water, especially for `Nandhi', say the sources. The ASI did not allow construction of a new drain.

Similarly, the ASI is particular about lighting arrangements. Focus lights were fixed on the ground, to throw light on the majestic gopuram and the grandeur of the `Vimana' at night. Only one mercury lamp was allowed at the top.

Statue controversy

Local politicians and even the then HR and CE Minister, M. Kannappan, in the DMK regime (he is now with the MDMK), harp on the controversy over installation of a statue for Raja Raja Cholan in 1972. The then Government was keen on installing the statue inside the temple— as a tribute to the king, who built the monument. But the ASI put its foot down and said any new structure could come up only outside the premises. So the statue was constructed outside the Big Temple.

The ASI argument was that if permission was given for putting up the statue of a builder on the premises of one monument, similar demands would crop up from other places.

As its job was not only `maintenance' but also `protection', the ASI could not allow any new construction or change to the existing, historic structure.

Along with the Brahadeeswarar temple, the ASI maintains two temples in this region, all built by Chola kings. One is the temple at Gangaikondacholapuram in Perambalur district, built by King Rajendra Cholan, son of Raja Raja Cholan. The other, a miniature of the Big Temple, is at Darasuram, near Kumbakonam.

There, encroachments posed a challenge and spoilt the environment— the entrance itself was encroached upon and there was stagnant water around the temple.

The ASI is now restoring the entrance of a Mandapam, to its original structure, and trying to improve the environment.

As a senior, visiting ASI official from New Delhi once said, "We have restored and maintained the Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia for a few years under a UNESCO project.

It is our duty to protect and preserve such heritage sites and constructions for posterity.

The focus must be on preservation— preservation of the original structure and architecture''.

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