Friday, August 29, 2008

Is this the way we care about our Heritage? - (The Big Temple!!)




"Sound of axe" -

this seems to be the gift for the "Uliyin vosai" that reverberated

the Great temple at Tanjore 1000 years ago!

The Grand temple - the Emperor of all temples

which weathered the vagaries of Nature

is helpless in the face of callous attitude of the ASI



The Grand Temple!







What people did.












What Archeological Survey of India did.




















































(Pictures and inputs from Dr S.Kalyanaraman and Mr GP Srinivasan )


E. Hultzsch, Epigraphist, to the Government of Madras from 1886 to 1903, published the monumental three volume book on the Brihadeeswara Temple inscriptions.



SOUTH INDIAN INSCRIPTIONS, three Volumes
Volume two has Parts 1 & 2,
First published by ASI in 1892 Madras
Reprinted by Navrang in 1983.



We referred to the South Indian Inscriptions and identified the inscriptions on the broken pillars as given below. The damaged pillars and the inscriptions found on them are found published in the VOL 2 Parts 1 & 2. I am not going into details of the inscriptions in this report, as these are voluminous. These will be published separately. Some pillars have inscriptions on one side. Some have on two sides; some have inscription on three sides and some on four sides.

1) INSCRIPTION NO 47 - Pillar on three sides ( Page 191-192)

2) INSCRIPTION NO 48 - Pillar B . Has inscriptions on two sides.(PAGE 195 -196)

3) INSCRIPTION NO 51- PILLAR B. INSCRIPTIUONS ON FOUR SIDES . (PAGE 205 207 )

4) INSCRIPTION NO 51 - PILLAR C. INSCRIPTIONS ON FOUR SIDES. (207 – 210).

5) Mahahamandapam- adhistanam- kumadappadi on the outer wall- maximum damage.

6) Maximum vandalism is found inside the hollow of Sree Vimanam. The 1000 year old plaster inside the hollow gpuram has has been removed and seepage is found .


This is considerd to be maximum vandalism as this might have damaged the structural integrity of thge hollow gopuram.Paintings have been damaged . This may result in the damage to the gopuram, and to the damage of the unique Kalasam .”


****************

What we can do.


Sign petition for
"Protection of Brihadisvara Temple, Tanjavur, India"http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/tanjavurtemple?e





4 comments:

Venkatesh said...

Smt Jayasree,,

The pictures told the whole story. Wonderfuly presented. "Uliyin Osai" et al are just to cheat people. I have already signed the petition too.

Hope some sense prevails with our people.

Regards,
Venkatesh

Jayasree Saranathan said...

Thank you Venkatesh.

The Superintending Archaeologist of ASI, Chennai, Mrs Satyabhama has told the Press that conservation is being carried out at the northern cloister mantapa wherein the pillars had developed cracks.
But it is known from the people who visited the temple that the pillars were damaged permanently by inept handling by the men employed by the ASI.

I wonder whether the workforce are trained in conservation of work such as this, or they are un-trained for this work

Venkatesh said...

Smt Jaysree,

You may want to see the archives of Ponniyinselvan regarding the discussions on this. Also some action has been taken. I have already spoken to my uncle who is working in Vikatan Group. He has mobilized the Junior Vikatan team and said that the team had informed him that they will investigate into this.

All these just for the awareness. But what hurts me more are the "Stupid Graffiti(!!)" by the un-realising souls.

Regards,
Venkatesh

Jayasree Saranathan said...

Great efforts by you, Venkatesh.
Thank you.