The Department of Archaeology and Museums (DAM) has roped in Endowments Department (ED) officials to ensure that the State’s rich temple heritage spanning more than 1,000 years is protected. “We wanted an integrated approach. One way to aid the ED officials in doing their job would be to enlighten them about temple architecture and maintenance. What better way than roping an authority on the conservation of heritage as well as Agama shastras ?” Director Department of Archaeology and Museums N.R. Visalatchy said about a two-day workshop conducted for ED officials starting Wednesday.
Dozens of ED officials listened to the finer points of Hindu temple architecture, maintenance and restoration, as archaeologist and epigraphist R. Nagaswamy gave a power point presentation dealing with various aspects of temples.
Speaking on the sidelines of the workshop, Mr. Nagaswamy said: “The Agamas are a comprehensive guide to deal with temple architecture, upkeep and deal with all aspects of worship. The Marichi Samhita was first published in Telugu in Tirupati and later it was codified in Sanskrit. The origin of Shaivite Agama shastras is in Manthana Kaleeshwaram. If we follow the principles codified in these treatises we will not go wrong. Some temples are over 1,000 years old and they are still intact.” Mr. Nagaswamy blamed the contractor-donor nexus for causing the ruin of countless temples in Tamil Nadu. “I don’t know about Telangana, but in Tamil Nadu many temples have been ruined due to the unseemly haste in adding new structures to old temples,” he said. According to him, in one of the temples, a concrete flooring has been added that has half-buried the feet of Ganesha. Even the patron of the temple — Achuyuta Raya — carved by the builder has been half-buried. Other temples have been broken down without adhering to Agama shastra principles.
Telangana’s temple legacy includes the Sri Raja Rajeswara temple in Vemulawada from the Chola era to Ramappa temple built in the Kakatiya era, and Bhadrachalam temple built by the Qutb Shahis. While the bigger temples have higher footfalls and better maintenance, it is the smaller temples where the ED officials need to focus on. As many temples are being modernised by adding more facilities, or torn down to be rebuilt or modified, Mr. Nagaswamy has a simple mantra about them. “ Agamas are very clear about intervention. Small flaws in idols and other structures of the temple can be overlooked. If there is a minor damage don’t do anything. There should be no unnecessary intervention.”
