Karnataka - Mysore   

Expert criticises method adopted to restore Narayanaswamy temple

According to N.S. Rangaraju of the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Mysore, the ‘adhistana' of the temple has been completely covered using modern bricks and cement.

MYSORE: The technique used by a private company to restore an old temple atop Chamundi Hills has drawn flak.

The Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Karnataka, permitted the TVS Group to take up restoration of the dilapidated Narayanaswamy temple. However, to his dismay, N.S. Rangaraju of the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Mysore, found that the structural profile of the temple was being altered.

Prof. Rangaraju told The Hindu that the temple was constructed in the Dravidian style, using brick and lime mortar. However, workers on site were seen liberally using cement and placing stone slabs, and scraping away the lime mortar.

The temple is reckoned to be at least 250 years old and was built by the Wadiyars. However, the origin of the idol is rooted in mythology. Though not as popular as the Chamundi temple and the Mahabala temple, it is reckoned to be an important monument of local importance.

Dravidian style

“The Narayanaswamy temple reflects the Dravidian style of architecture. It has an open ‘mukhamantapa' and a ‘prakara' in the interiors. The ‘adhistana' of the temple, which is the base of the temple, has been completely covered using modern bricks and cement. The profile of the outer wall of the ‘navaranga' has also been altered,” Prof. Rangaraju said.

While welcoming corporate participation in restoration and conservation, Prof. Rangaraju said the engineering team could have approached experts in conservation techniques.

“There are manuals on conservation, including the one authored by Sir John Marshall. They should have also apprised themselves of the conservation of Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion,” he said.

The huge mansion with 125 rooms and more than 250 carved windows and doors, was restored without altering the profile of the structure.

The temple, in contrast, was small and was a standalone monument. It could have lent itself to the use of lime mortar without any difficulty, Prof. Rangaraju said.

He appealed for the immediate suspension of work and suggested a consultation with conservation experts.

Department's reaction

Meanwhile, R. Gopal, Director, Department of Archaeology and Museums, said he would instruct the company to suspend the use of cement and other modern material and instead use only lime mortar and follow the conservation manual.

Mr. Gopal said the department had permitted the TVS Group to take up restoration of the temple as they had earlier restored a portion of the Mahabala temple. The Mahabala temple was the oldest temple in Mysore region, reckoned to be over 1,000 years old. The engineers had used only lime mortar then, he said.

“I do not know why it was not followed in this case. But we will ask them to adhere to the principles of conservation and suspend the use of cement,” Mr. Gopal said.

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