Renovation of the central ‘mandapam’ at the Teppakulam here is progressing at a brisk pace.
The renovation, being carried out for the last one year, is nearing completion, according to the Executive Officer of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, N. Natarajan. “The work has been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs. 45 lakh,” he said.
The tower-like structure at the mandapam now wears a colourful look with shades of different colours. “The tower is usually painted in a single colour but now we have decided to give it a multi-coloured coat of paint to make it visually appealing,” an engineer from the temple said.
Apart from getting a fresh coat of paint, the interiors of the ‘mandapam’ are also being renovated. Engineers working on the project said that wooden blocks and beams on the ceilings had got eroded over time and were being replaced.
“The pillars and walls are also cleaned and a chemical wash with a polymer coating will be added to preserve the structure,” they said.
Historical significanceThe Teppakulam, spread over an area of 16 acres, was built in 1635 during the era of King Tirumalai Nayak. At present, it is bone dry due to absence of rains. It has the reputation of being a superior storage structure with various channels bringing water from the Vaigai and other waterbodies.
The central mandapam is used to perform various pujas and rituals for the deities during the annual float festival.
“The mandapams built in temple tanks were usually flat-roofed and traditional in design. Tirumalai Nayak, however, constructed the mandapam with a combination of artisans from Bijapur who also helped construct the Tirumalai Nayak Palace,” said historian R. Venkatraman.
“This is why the mandapam has a tower and defining arches in the interiors which set it apart,” he added.
