SARAPALLAM - from where the SLOPE for supposedly given to big temple top gained prominence. National Geography has even a demonstrated something similar using elephants - roller logs for moving heavy stone blocks over a slope...
This has been found incorrect. The Heavy stones were supposedly taken to top by spiral path filled with stand (like cone ice cream) and the sand was subsequently removed after the object moved to top !
Dr. Kudavoil Balasubamanian and Prof Deyvanayagam confirmed that the Sigaram was not of single stone.
But Dr. Kalaikkovan has already brought out the fact in www.varalaaru.com that the Stone is made of eight similar modular pieces - joined with special mortar - with photographic evidence. Some of Our Group members (Ram - Kamal .. and others) also have ascended to the Sigaram - when the renovation was going on !
I am sure we cn get more details from our archieves as well.
During recent renovation of northern corridar of bigtemple, the mortar was seen clearly in certain pieces..