Icon that inspired Big temple now in a shambles

Icon that inspired Big temple now in a shambles

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

26.05.2021

The Kailasanathar temple is fading away into the sands of time — or at least it’s murals are. A walk around the 1,300-year-old temple shows figures etched on to the temple walls with disfigured faces and missing embellishments of the thrones that form miniature scenes in alcoves.

Realising that the temple, which is on the tentative list of Unesco’s world heritage sites, is in dire need of attention, the Archaeological Survey of India is planning to rope in experts from the IITs to help preserve one of the oldest temples in TN.

The sandstone and lime mortar structure has been ravaged by time though conservation efforts are made every year.

According to official sources, chemical conservation is not arresting the deterioration. “It is a completely lime plastered structure built using sandstone. Now, it is time to use traditional methods so that the issue is addressed permanently,” said an ASI official. At present, in the Pallava-era temple chemical conservation is done annually at the sanctum sanctorum. On the walls outside, certain sculptures have been destroyed beyond recognition.

Former archaeology officer and secretary of the Madurai-based Pandya Nadu Centre for Historical Research C Santhalingam says Rajaraja Chola was inspired by the Kailasanathar temple to build the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur. “The reason being Kailasanathar temple had all the aspects and features of a Shiva temple.”

Built by Pallava king Rajasimha I (700-728CE) as an edifice to adorn his capital of Kancheepuram, the temple is said to have survived the rivalry between the Pallavas and the Chalukyas of Vatapi. Though the victorious Vikaramaditya destroyed the capital, he was overwhelmed by the lavish beauty of the temple and left the city untouched.

FADED: Many murals on the walls of the Kailashnathar temple are eroded beyond recognition