A total of 14 ancient temples — six in Thanjavur district and nine in Tiruvarur district — are being renovated at an estimated cost of Rs. 3.33 crore. “Works are going on a war footing and they will be completed by July. The ‘kumbabishekam' will be performed by July-end,” said S. Ilango, Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Thanjavur.
Located in rural areas, these shrines are famous, attracting devotees from far and near. The civil work on the Rajagopuram at the 2,200 year old- temple with two ‘praharas' dedicated to Sri Egowriyamman at Vallam near Thanjavur has been completed and would be painted shortly.
Work on the ‘vimana' would start soon. According to D. Govindaraj, Executive Officer, the Goddess took the form of Egowriyamman to slain Thanjasuran who harassed saints. Sri Amman has two faces- one in a ferocious mood to slain asuras with a 'trisool' in Her arm and another with an all-pervading blessing to protect the devotees. With six hands, the deity is flanked by Raghu and Kethu. The Trisool in one of her hand slains. Chandi Homam is performed at the temple. renovation has been taken up on an outlay of Rs. 25 lakh. The temple at Thittai dedicated to Sri Sukantha Kundaleswari Sametha Sri c is more popular as the seat for Sri Guru Bhagawan at a shrine at this all-stone shrine. Currently, ‘laksharchana' is being performed, marking the recent 'Guru peyarchi' festival.
Renovation of the Rajagopuram of Vasishteswaraswamyis at Thittai is in progress. “Plastering will be done to the walls of the temple and tiles fitted on the roof. Paver blocks will be put up in the ‘prahara' to help devotees,” Mr. Govindaraj said. Renovation had been taken up at a cost of Rs. 20 lakh. A unique feature of the temple was that water molecules fall on Sri Vasishteswaraswamy from the roof every few seconds, believed to be the absorption effect of moisture or water by a special type of stone, ‘Chandrakantha.'
Mr. Ilango said that works had also been taken up at Sri Vilaketriyamman Temple at Panayakottai and Sri Shankaranathaswamy temple at Shankaranathar Kudikadu, both near Orathanadu, at an estimated cost of Rs. 20 lakh each. Works on Sri Vajragandeeswaraswamy Temple at Veeramangudi near Papanasam (Rs. 19.95 lakh) and Sri Divyagnaneswaraswamy Temple at Koviladi near Thiruvaiyaru taluk (Rs.17.83 lakh) were also in progress.
Tiruvarur district
In Tiruvarur, work had been taken up at Sri Thyagarajaswamy Temple (Rs. 46.40 lakh); Sri Jadayupureeswaraswamy Temple at Keluvathur (Rs. 25 lakh); Sri Veezhinathaswamy Temple at Thiruveezhimizhalai (Rs. 22 lakh); Sri Kailasanathar Temple at Koilpattu (Rs. 20 lakh); Vanmeeganathaswamy Temple at Thiruneiper (Rs. 19.70 lakh); Piplikadeeswarar Temple at Alathur (Rs. 20 lakh); Sri Deepanayagaswamy Temple at Deepankudi (Rs. 19.75 lakh); Sri Kailasanathaswamy Temple at Thannerkulam (Rs. 20 lakh); and Sri Niruthipureeswarar Temple at Pulavarnatham (Rs. 18 lakh).
The State has sanctioned the renovation works from the XIII Finance Commission Fund.
