In spite of recording our reservation and concern for the rampant mis-handling of the Shiva Temple in Tiruvayaru, to the Head Pontiff Addenam Head, Thambiran Swamigal, the renovation is going hapazardly. Today we got the news from one member who visited the temple, that the Maha mandapa has been sand blasted and the other parts are soon to follow :(
The Main Pontiff has gone abroad to London and will be back on 18th June only and we contacted the P.A of the Adeenam, who maintained a stand saying that various sponsors are handling different project, so one sponsor from erode had undertaken sand blasting. He claimed there is no alternative to sand blasting. Whereas, we from REACH explained that whatever may be the budget the sponsor has for cleaning granite, let it be given to REACH team and we will clean with alternate methods. He signed off saying that the Adeenam pontiff has to decide on stopping or going ahead. Sore point is that there are murals in the inner prahara, which also may vanish in sand blasting.
Members close to this holy place are requested to record their protest at the Adeenam Mutt, in writing and also make the locals be aware of the permanent damage being done to the temple in the name of renovation, and do what best they can, to stop this menace, where ever it may be, be it in HR&CE run temples or Mutt run temples.
My god...temples which were maintained without any problem for thousands of years are being destroyed in just a few decades. Are these the benefits of modern education that we have got?????? I would have preferred to stay uneducated in modern terms rather than having such a destructive modern education and development.