The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has taken up a beautification programme on the campus of the sprawling fort at Tirumayam located on the Pudukottai – Karaikudi segment.
The ASI has been renovating the fort in a phased manner. Though the fort is noted mainly for two rock-cut temples dedicated to Sri Sathyamurthy Perumal and Sri Sathyagiriswarar, it has small shrines located all around its premises.
Two temples, dedicated to Karuppar and Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar, have been renovated and the work which was taken up last year was completed last month, according to R. Mani, Conservation Assistant, ASI, Tirumayam. He said the design and renovation were carried out in consultation with a team of officials led by K. Lourdesamy, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI.
Both the shrines, built during the Nayak era, are located on the eastern side of the octagonal tank of the Sri Sathyamurthy Perumal temple. The Karuppar shine was covered by a large volume of silt and was almost buried. The ASI cleared the silt only to find that the temple was built in a square-shaped ‘mandapadm’ with a compound running all around it.
“We cleared the silt to locate the original ‘adhishtanam’ or base of the temple and restored the compound too,” Mr. Mani said adding that each and every stone was carefully dismantled and numbered. “We used the conventional materials of jaggery, lime mortar and gall nut for the restoration,” he said.
The shrine dedicated to Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar is located near the Karuppar Temple.
Although the Karuppar Temple has a small door, the idol of Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar is kept in the open. Goddess Lakshmi is seen seated on the left lap of Sri Narasimhar.
“Although the idol is mutilated, the ASI had preserved it, as part of conservation of Tirumayam fort which is spread over a sprawling area of 40 acres,” says Mr. Mani.
The ASI has planned to execute beautification programme at the fort.
A park has been planned to be developed near the Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar shrine.
To prevent misuse by anti-social elements, the ASI has set up iron gates all around the zone from the temple tank to the entrance of the temple to prevent trespassing.
