Shoddy renovation of ancient Shiva temple at Kiliyanallur raises hackles of conservationists

The renovation of an ancient Shiva temple at Kiliyanallur near Tiruchi has drawn the ire of conservationists as a new shrine has been built replacing an old stone structure.

Situated along the Tiruchi-Namakkal Highway, the Thirubhuvaneswarar Temple is a sub-temple of the Sri Maatrurai Varadeeswarar Temple at Thiruvasi near Tiruchi and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department.

Though there is no clear record to indicate the exact period of its construction, some archaeologists believe that the temple could date back to the later Chola period.

A stone inscription found at Thirubuvaneswarar Temple at Kiliyanallur near Tiruchi.
| Photo Credit:
M. MOORTHY

However, but for a small sub-shrine (of Lord Muruga) and a majestic stone entrance arch, nothing much of the old temple complex remains now. The Murugan shrine, a brick and mortar structure without any idol, is dilapidated. However, the entrance arch is intact.

Several idols of the temple, but for the Shivalingam, Nandi, and a few other navagraha idols, were reported stolen several years ago, say the local people.

Three new shrines are under construction, including the main shrine which will house the Shivalingam. The other two shrines would be for Amman and Vinayakar. A major part of the brick and cement structures have already been completed, though the idols are yet to installed.

Scaffoldings put up around the structure as part of the renovation of Thirubuvaneswarar Temple at Kiliyanallur near Tiruchi.
| Photo Credit:
M. MOORTHY

Lying alongside the newly built shrines are several huge stone pillars, which were apparently part of a mandapam in front of the main shrine of the old temple.

ASI’s concern

Expressing concern over the construction of the new concrete shrine where an ancient structure existed, a senior officer of the Archaeological Survey of India said the temple probably belonged to the later Chola period and could have been renovated by later rulers. “Such historic structures should not be dismantled and need to be preserved. The huge stone pillars have not been numbered. The renovation does not seem to have been done as per the established norms — there seems to be no proper documentation and any attempt to preserve the ancient structure,” the officer regretted, emphasising the need for raising awareness on preserving such ancient structures.

However, a senior HR&CE officer of the Thiruvasi Temple said the old structures were dilapidated and crumbling. As they were in irreparable condition, the new shrines were built as per the agama sastra. “The renovation of the temple is being done at a cost of ₹15 lakh with the support of donors in a phased manner. All due procedures have been followed. Condition mapping was done before taking up the renovation and approvals obtained from the regional and State-level expert committees as per norms,” the officer said.

According to sources, the archaeological advisor of the HR&CE Department had advised against the demolition of the Murugan shrine and recommended its preservation. The renovation was apparently initiated by a village resident and devotee, P.Manikandan, a clerk employed in a cooperative society in Tiruchi, with the support of an administrator of the society and its members. In the absence of an archarkar for the temple, he had been performing puja at the temple. “I started frequenting the temple during the COVID-19 pandemic. As I was a regular, villagers suggested that I perform the puja too,” he said.

Mr. Manikandan said the temple complex was dilapidated and the attempts by the local people to renovate it on a couple of occasions proved futile. “Following my persistent requests, the Thiruvasi temple authorities got the (sanction) order for renovation a few years ago,” he said.