Work to replace the damaged pillars in Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple is on in full swing.
Sculptors are busy giving an artistic look to the stones chosen and brought with special care from Karnataka. The project that will take a couple of years to complete began in September 2012 and the temple administration is labouring to ensure that the 72 pillars to be replaced are similar to the pillars built in ancient times.
According to temple authorities, the stone blocks that will form the roof of the corridors surrounding the Golden Lotus Tank will have flowers carved in the stone itself.
“Generally, the roof of modern times has flowers and other decorations on cement over the stone pillars, coated with layers of paint. We have asked the sculptors to carve flowers on the stone itself”, said P. Jayaraman, Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department and Executive Officer of the temple.
The 40 sculptors from Madurai as well as from Panruti in Cuddalore district, in compliance with the instructions, are busy carving flowers on the stones. “To carve one ‘kamalam’ (flower) on the stone it takes at least two months. We use hand tools to retain the old style”, said T. Kanagaraj, a sculptor from Madurai involved in the work.
More than 1000 blocks of stones will be used to complete the works along the South and East Corridors surrounding the Golden Lotus Tank, he added.
