The Hindu : Front Page : Meenakshi temple's greatness being documented

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 15, 2005

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Meenakshi temple's greatness being documented

R. Krishnamoorthy

National Institute of Technology in Tiruchi has undertaken the initiative

MIGHTY MARVEL: A divine wonder adorning Madurai, which has withstood the onslaughts of time. — PHOTO K. GANESAN.

TIRUCHI: The National Institute of Technology here has undertaken an initiative to document the architectural and cultural richness of Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple for staking its claim as a `Wonder of World.'

Its Heritage Cell is consolidating inputs to make it eligible for the honour by generating insights into architectural designs of the structure that are native to the soil, and specific to the social and cultural diversity of the society over 900 years of its phased construction, perfected by the Nayak dynasty.

So far, the NIT team has gathered basic information to the effect that the carvings on the main gopurams depict different periods and the Lotus Tank symbolises the knowledge of rainwater harvesting system in the ancient days. The sanctum sanctorum was constructed in 1600 BC. Architectural patterns, changing with every passing century during the course of its construction, had been recorded, said P. Subramanian, Director, NIT.

To cull out social and cultural data pertaining to different periods from the texts of ancient Tamil literature, the institute has enlisted the help of `Kavignar' Subbu Arumugam. The poet has accepted to decipher information on the lifestyle of Tamils during the period of construction of the structure from the songs of Sangam literature. The institute would undertake a study of the surroundings of the temple simultaneously to record tangible telltale evidence of history.

A sum of Rs. 50.58 lakhs, a little over one-third of the World Bank's assistance of Rs. 1.5 crores to the institute to take up projects oriented towards the society, would be utilised for undertaking a full-fledged study. Of late, the World Bank has been insisting that the projects undertaken by the NIT should be of direct relevance to the immediate community.

A creditable study

The Heritage Cell has to its credit documenting the Pamban Bridge in Rameswaram and having its finding adjudged as the best by National Architectural Students' Association last year. The nationwide competition was meant to document the structure of a building constructed during industrial revolution in India. Likewise, the cell has undertaken an in-depth study of St. Lourdhe Church on the premises of St. Joseph's College here.

The NIT is in the process of developing a link to its web site containing all information about Tiruchi. The link web site, likely to be ready in a few months, will contain details of newspapers, educational institutions, marriage halls and industries.

Hundreds of students will be involved in gathering the information from various sources.

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