ASI Helping Preserve Heritage Treasures At Talpagiri Temple
This followed a request from temple executive officer Alla Sreenivasa Reddy for expert assistance in preserving the valuable artefacts: Reports
NELLORE: A heritage conservation initiative has gained momentum with a team from the Archaeological Survey of India visiting the historic Sri Talpagiri Ranganathaswamy Temple with a view to preserving the shrine’s artefacts.
This followed a request from temple executive officer Alla Sreenivasa Reddy for expert assistance in preserving the valuable artefacts.
There’s growing concern over the deteriorating condition of the temple’s rare Tanjore-style murals and sacred silk textiles, considered important elements of Nellore’s cultural heritage.
The issue came upfront after Deccan Chronicle highlighted the damage caused to the artefacts by age, neglect and environmental factors. Following the news report, the temple administration approached the ASI seeking scientific conservation support.
Following this, ASI deputy superintending archaeological chemist K. Kotayya Vinjamuri visited the temple and carried out a detailed inspection of the artefacts housed in the famed Addala Mandapam. After the inspection, he said the damaged Tanjore paintings and sacred silk textiles could be restored through scientific conservation methods.
The ASI team examined the Hall of Mirrors, known for its imported Belgian mirrors and Tanjore murals depicting Lord Krishna as Vatapatra Sai, the Dashavatara of Lord Vishnu and Vaishnava saints. The paintings have suffered extensive damage due to water seepage from the ceiling, resulting in peeling, fading and loss of their original appearance.
The team also inspected a rare five-metre-long silk cloth woven with the Vishnu Sahasranamam in gold zari. The cloth, fashioned so by nearly 20 Kanchipuram weaving families over about eight years during the 1920s, was damaged during floods in the Penna River in the 1940s and has continued to deteriorate over time.
Another major concern is the centuries-old Rajagopuram on the western side of the temple, which remains in a dilapidated condition. Kotayya said the ASI could take up its conservation under the category of unprotected monuments, potentially addressing long-standing concerns that have hindered restoration efforts.
Believed to have been built during the reigns of Rajaraja Narendra and Ubhayakulotthunga Chola in the 12th Century, the temple is distinguished by its rare west-facing reclining deity, Lord Ranganadha. Heritage enthusiasts expressed hope that the ASI’s intervention would lead to a comprehensive conservation programme to safeguard the shrine’s artistic and architectural legacy.