Seminar to commemorate 1000th year of Big Temple

January 20, 2010 03:40 pm | Updated November 17, 2021 07:10 am IST - Thanjavur

A view of the Big Temple in Thanjavur. Photo: M.Srinath

A view of the Big Temple in Thanjavur. Photo: M.Srinath

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is organising a two day seminar to commemorate the 1000th year of the Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur on January 21 and 22 (Thursday and Friday), according to Sathyabhama Bhadrinath, Superintending Achaeologist, Chenna Circle, ASI.

She told presspersons here on Wednesday that the theme of the seminar is “Brihadisvara temple, the monument and its symbolism”. The seminar to be held at the South Zone Cultural Centre will be inaugurated by Thangam Tennarasu, State Minister for School Education and Archaeology. National and international scholars will be attending this seminar to discuss on varied subjects relating to the temple.

The Brihadisvara Temple is one among the four all stone temples built by the Chola Kings. The other three are the temples at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Darasuram and Thirubuvanam. Epigraphy, engineering aspects, inscription evidence of the temple among others will be discussed during the two-day seminar.

The aim of the seminar is to create awareness about the world heritage monument among the wider public about this greatest creation and also to promote the issue of its preservation, Bhadrinath said.

Mr. Nagasamy, Former director of State Archaeology, Ms. Champakalakshmi, former history professor of the Jawaharlal Nehru Unversity, Dr. Subbaryalu, former professor of the Tamil University and professors from Anna University will participate in the seminar.

Conservation work taken up inside the temple is in its final stage and will be completed in a month in time for the Kumbhabhishekam, Bhadrinath said. Kumbabishekams were held earlier in 1975 and 1998. A touch screen will be provided giving details of the monument. Appropriate signs will also be put up. A restroom —which even the physically challenged will find user-friendly — built to international standards has already been put to use.

The ASI is planning to create a new shoe repository on the right side of Keralandhagan gopuram at the entrance of the temple. A cloak room, a handicrafts centre and an eatery are also on the anvil.

Bhadrinath also said that the ASI has agreed in principle for allowing a sound and light programme in the temple. It is waiting for the feasibility report to give its approval. She said that the moat around Big Temple has not yet been handed over to the ASI by the Thanjavur Municipality.

PTI adds:

National and international scholars will attend a two day seminar on Brahadeeswara temple (Big temple) temple — the monument and its symbolism’ here from Thursday to raise awareness about the rich national cultural heritage, a top official of the Archaelogical Survey of India said on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters here, Sathyabama Badrinath, Superintending Archaeologist of ASI, which is organising the event as part of its cultural awareness programme, said the aim of the seminar is to make known various facets of the temple and elicit their opinions.

The seminar, being held at the south zone cultural centre here, was also meant to promote the issue of their preservation and incorporation to modern social and cultural life, she said.

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