Sad Condition of South Indian Temples

[skganji]

Originally Posted by Marathaman

^The mandapam at Kanchipuram that was demolished was infact discussed here. You can probably search a bit and find the original news article in this forum, but there's no evidence to suggest that Karunanidhi himself had anything to do with it. I fail to see what political purpose it would serve. Besides, that's a (pretty biased) blog.

There is no political purpose. Politicians should keep out of Hindu temples just as they don't interfere in the matters of Muslims and Christians. This is what we need in India.
"What is happening now is total destruction. They are not dismantling it. They are smashing it with a bulldozer".
This statement is by a former director of Archeological Survey of Tamil Nadu. His statement carries some weight.
I have seen even one temple near Hyderabad which had to fight back fiercely to remain out of endowment board of A.P.

[Fusionist]

Originally Posted by skganji

I just want to clarify some thing. Negligence is different and delibarate vandalism of these temples is different. What is happening to lot of temples in India is of second category. In TamilNadu , recent incidents to some temples clearly indicate that this is a deliberate attempt to ruin these structures. I don't remember that temple,but I vaguely remember it was the nataraja temple in Madurai or somewhere they dismantled a thousand year old temple and they are clueless on how to assemble it back.

um, you better prove this. Otherwise it can be seen as a very prejudiced statement.

[The Mentalist]

Really sad condition of temples in Tamilnadu. looks like Karunanidhi is a real son of a lets say witch with a B.

For someone's comments about condition of temples in karnataka: I don't know about Himachal but here in karnataka its much better. This thread itself is a proof of that.

[Marathaman]

Originally Posted by The Mentalist

Really sad condition of temples in Tamilnadu. looks like Karunanidhi is a real son of a lets say witch with a B.

For someone's comments about condition of temples in karnataka: I don't know about Himachal but here in karnataka its much better. This thread itself is a proof of that.

I don't think its better in Karnataka at all. Just take Udupi as an example.

[skganji]

Originally Posted by Fusionist

um, you better prove this. Otherwise it can be seen as a very prejudiced statement.

Whatever proof you want is already provided here. Further more, it is the politicians who need to be careful with what they are doing . I am not prejudiced against Tamil Nadu or ordinary Tamilians. I appreciate the temples of Tamil Nadu and I don't see any thing wrong with my comments.

[Fusionist]

Originally Posted by skganji

Whatever proof you want is already provided here. Further more, it is the politicians who need to be careful with what they are doing . I am not prejudiced against Tamil Nadu or ordinary Tamilians. I appreciate the temples of Tamil Nadu and I don't see any thing wrong with my comments.

the prolem is with temple management, who are not properly otivated nor trained to handle management properly. Also the average person in India is hadly concerned about conservation or heritage.

If you do think twice, the DMK has been in power only every alternatie terms. Other times its always been ADMK, who are considered more 'spiritual'. Still the same problem.

Its the system and people's mind set, thats to blame. Not any politial party as such.

[skganji]

"If you do think twice, the DMK has been in power only every alternatie terms. Other times its always been ADMK, who are considered more 'spiritual'. Still the same problem. ".

Irrespective of who is in power, every party and every politician needs to be careful about these monuments and temples which are passed to them by the previous generations . It is every body's responsibility to preserve them, protect them and maintaining them properly so that the future generations can enjoy it and take a pride in their history and culture.

I recently visited my home town and saw the renovation work on the local Shiva temple ( Panagal temple near Nalgonda) which was built during the Kakatiya period in 13th century. They gave a contract to some fellow who removed all the sculpted rocks from the garba gudi( inner sanctum of the temple) and he started using cement pillars and tried to put some design on it. He couldn't get it right and he left it in the middle. They dismantled the three other temples in the same complex and didn't number them properly and now they are having hard time to put it back.

[Arul Murugan]

Cracks on Kalahasthi temple gopuram



DKN

It was small crack few months ago, which was not attended and now big crack looks the gopuram is in two pieces now.

[Anniyan]

Originally Posted by Arul Murugan

It was small crack few months ago, which was not attended and now big crack looks the gopuram is in two pieces now.

The crack first appeared in 1988 itseems.

[Fusionist]

Originally Posted by skganji

"If you do think twice, the DMK has been in power only every alternatie terms. Other times its always been ADMK, who are considered more 'spiritual'. Still the same problem. ".

Irrespective of who is in power, every party and every politician needs to be careful about these monuments and temples which are passed to them by the previous generations . It is every body's responsibility to preserve them, protect them and maintaining them properly so that the future generations can enjoy it and take a pride in their history and culture.

I recently visited my home town and saw the renovation work on the local Shiva temple ( Panagal temple near Nalgonda) which was built during the Kakatiya period in 13th century. They gave a contract to some fellow who removed all the sculpted rocks from the garba gudi( inner sanctum of the temple) and he started using cement pillars and tried to put some design on it. He couldn't get it right and he left it in the middle. They dismantled the three other temples in the same complex and didn't number them properly and now they are having hard time to put it back.

well yes, temple preservation is important indeed and we need better quality management of such structures. I dont think it all has to be brought down to govt. and politicians though.

[skganji]

Originally Posted by Fusionist

well yes, temple preservation is important indeed and we need better quality management of such structures. I dont think it all has to be brought down to govt. and politicians though.

The endownment board is responsible for the maintenance and development of the temples atleast in A.P and I think it is same in T.N. I have already given you an example where the Chilukuri Balaji temple near Hyderabad had fiercely fought against joining endownment board. Endownment board is nothing but politics and making money rather than development and preseving the temples.

[Fusionist]

Originally Posted by skganji

The endownment board is responsible for the maintenance and development of the temples atleast in A.P and I think it is same in T.N. I have already given you an example where the Chilukuri Balaji temple near Hyderabad had fiercely fought against joining endownment board. Endownment board is nothing but politics and making money rather than development and preseving the temples.

I think different temples have differnt trusts. Some get fundings from different sources. Yes the govt. is responsible for the temples in its territory but what really the country needs is more active involvement, interest etc from the public to thier temples. How many graduates seriously study temple architecture ? How many temple goers actually do appreciate architecture etc ? Unless the public mood changes there is no solution.

The moods a bit different in Sri Lanka if I might say. There is still a sense of piosness, and people appreciate temples more. Having said that it also means the people are more symbolic but lets not get into that, give nthat this is an architectural discussion thread.

For example here are a few pics of Sri Lankan temples..



No posters
No ugly signboards
No shops along temple walls
No tubelights
No concrete structures
No wires and ugly lamposts

Decorative grill work
Clean walls and painting
Natural sweaped ground, where grass is cut regularly
Decorative lantern etc

Well the parking of cycle along the fence, etc could have been avoided, but atleast you can see there is a better sense of respect to the termple space, which is brought about by the people and management, not the govt etc.

More examples..







[IMG]http://i49.************/1zohu7o.jpg[/IMG]

However the temples in inner city are a bit crowded and has got the poor grills and tubelights. Also the temples are a lot smaller than the ones in South India.

But overall they have carefully avoided shops, posters, wires, ugly signboards, concrete structures etc giving a more authentic and spiritual look to temples. Simple but better maintained mostly because of the people's involvement I think.

[satishanu]

Originally Posted by Arul Murugan

Cracks on Kalahasthi temple gopuram

It was small crack few months ago, which was not attended and now big crack looks the gopuram is in two pieces now.

This temple completely broke down into pieces. Seems it was build in 1510 by krishna deva raya.

http://www.dinamalar.com/more_picture_html.asp?Nid=7043

[sudharshan]

It is indeed really sad to see the detruction of such a beautiful temple with such a long and interesting history. It should be an eye opener to us all. Urgent work is needed to preserve these temples. Tomorrow might just be too late.

[Marathaman]

More tin sheds at Arunachaleshwara. Just look how those magnificent pillars are being marred by ugly metal sheets


http://www.flickr.com/photos/ghostfa...ha/4442424881/

[Fusionist]

those tin shed and bars are indeed horrible

dont they consult architects before messing up with temple buildings ?

[Marathaman]

Arunachaleshwara is such a gem of architecture. They really ought to do a better job of maintaining it. Still, its at least kept clean and relatively well maintained compared to the horror stories that a lot of other temples are.

I can't understand why they don't make stone additions. Its understandable that they need those additional structures for some purpose, but the least they can do is employ some traditional architect and stone-masons to construct them. What is the problem? Is it paucity of funds?

[Arasu]

Originally Posted by Arul Murugan

Cracks on Kalahasthi temple gopuram



DKN

It was small crack few months ago, which was not attended and now big crack looks the gopuram is in two pieces now.

It is sad that such a beautiful and historic temple fell to the ground in a short span of time after it developed a crack.

I can not help wondering after going through some of the comments in this thread.that if the same thing had happened in TN, Karunanidhi would have been blamed for this debacle and may even as the reason behind it.

Not much of a whimper when it is another state.

[Marathaman]

Apparently the digging of borwells in the vicinity led to the collapse.

[Leo_r]

I wonder how a Gopuram made out of Clay,survived so long?