A major part of renovation of the Rockfort Sri Thayumanaswamy Temple, known as Sri Uchipillaiyar Koil, has been completed. Previously, the temple was renovated in 2000.
Major works included painting the ‘vimanams’ using water emulsion colours. While the painting had been completed in a majority of shrines, it was in progress at the Sri Manicka Vinayagar shrine and the ‘mani mandapam’ (bell tower). The compound behind the sanctum sanctorum is being renovated using bricks, said N. Suresh, Executive Officer of the temple. The ‘vimanam’ of Sri Uchipillaiyar has been covered with ‘gold kavacham.’ Gold weighing 5,340 grams has been used for making the ‘gold kavacham’ in accordance with ‘agama’ rituals. About 60 per cent of the work had been completed so far
It has also been planned to take up renovation of electrical circuits all over the temple. The old fittings would be replaced by fresh ones at all shrines at an estimate of about Rs.50 lakh. He urged donors to take up a shrine of their choice for electrification.
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The temple has shrines dedicated to Sri Uchipillaiyar, Sri Thayumanaswamy, Sri Mattuvarkuzhalammai, Sri Manicka Vinayagar. Besides, the mandapams including the 100-pillar mandapam, 16-pillar mandapam, Sri Meenakshi Sundaraswarar mandapam needed electrification.
A new ‘kodi maram,’ 33 feet in height, is being built at the temple and the old one will be replaced shortly.
He said the work on water wash would be taken up at all ‘mandapams’ in order to clear the dust, soot and smoke which had deposited on them over the years. Soap oil and some bio-chemical would be utilised for restoring the original texture of stones and pillars. The work on water wash would be executed close to the ‘kumbabhabhishekam’ period.
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The ‘balalayam’ for the current renovation was performed on June 12, 2013, he added.