Work to conserve and restore the Sri Parthasarathy Swami Temple in Triplicane is expected to be completed by this month-end. White marble stones inside the temple and cement flooring in the 18th-century Dhavana Utsava bungalow are being removed and replaced with granite stones. Old stones that can be reused are being laid as flooring in the Dhavana Utsava bungalow.
Inscriptions
Everything is being done keeping the heritage in mind, as it contains really ancient inscriptions, including from 700 A.D.
“Each and every stone removed from the floor of the temple has been accounted for and the inscription-carrying stones will be displayed on the temple premises. They are part of the temple’s history and will be preserved. The inscriptions have been deciphered,” explained R. Kannan, conservation expert, and secretary, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments department.
The works that are being done at a cost of over Rs. 5 crore are being carried out under the supervision of the HR&CE department and the State Archaeology Department. K.T. Narasimhan, the expert appointed by the State government to oversee such conservation efforts, is regularly visiting the temple along with Mr. Kannan.
The Dhavana Utsava bungalow hosts the utsava deities during the Dhavana Utsavam festival that is held in the month of Masi (January-February).
“We are using ancient and traditional techniques for conservation. Even anti-termite treatment is being done for wooden beams and rafters using natural compounds,” he explained.
The Anandha Vimana (pyramidal tower above the sanctum sanctorum) of Sri Venkatakrishnan (moolavar) is being restored using a new teak wood frame and brass bolts.
These will hold the ornamental golden encasing in place. Moisture from the Vimana, which was fixed in the 1930s, has been removed using de-humidifiers.
Another structure that will be revamped is the Andal neeraattu Mandapam where the utsava idol of Andal is taken during Margazhi.
So far, at least six layers of old slate lime have been removed from the mandapam whose pillars and walls have a lot of ornamental works. The mandapam is situated on the eastern side of the temple.
