TEMPLES REVIVAL

Puliyur village located on the banks of Amaravati River is an ancient settlement of Vedic Scholars and the Cholas made many grants for the maintenance of Siva temple and the community. The Varadaraja temple in the Village could have been the contribution of the late Vijayanagara Kings probably constructed towards the later part of the 16^th Century. The temple in dilapidated condition to day was originally a Garbhagriha, Ardhamandapa, mukhamandapa and a Mahamandapa.

The Tayar Sannadhi towards the south of the main shrine could have been added little later.

The Garbhagriha proper is simple ekatala Vimana of Nagara style and the Ardhamandapa resembles the Kadambanagara Variety. A close examination of inner brick corbels make us to find a striking similarity with that of the Orrissa architecture. The mahamandapa in all respects is a copy of Jaganmohan of orrissa temples. The front stone mandapa is simple prototype open hall but a very imposing structure. Probably the temple dedicated to Vishnu was constructed after the Pattern’s pilgrimage to Puri the great temple of Jagannath.

The Tayar Sannadi is a square sanctum, but completely dilapidated and the super structure is now missing. The stone walls are out of plumb and many stone slabs are found to be pilferaged from the site. It also has a simple front stone mandapa, but completely fallen in debris.

The site was thoroughly inspected and the following conservation measures are suggested.

1. Due to vegetation growth, and non maintenance, the roots of trees have made gap in the superstructure and the walls. The door lintels of both garbhagriha and jaganmonan had cracked. However the is no damage to the plinth and the foundation. This can be set right by underpinning the gaps and resorting to grouting wherever necessary.
2. Deplastering of the entire roof including the Vimana, Ardhamandapa and jaganmohan and watertighteneing is necessary.
3. The front stone mandapa requires reconstruction. It should be dismantled carefully after documentation and reset with new foundation base. All the existing stones should be reused and missing slabs should be replaced with new ones .Jajja should be provided with the available members and missing Jajja can be replaced with new ones.
4. The Roof of the Tayar Sannadi and the stone walls have collapsed. The remaining architectural members should be documented and dismantled carefully and reconstructed with the same stones. A simple ekatala Vimana similar to that of the main shrine.
5. The front stone mandapa of the Tayar sannadi should be reconstructed worth the same available slabs.
6. Both the shrines should be provided with stone flooring.
7. The Vimana and the galadevatas should be done with lime mortar and no separate coloring is necessary and the color should be added to the lime mortar itself.
8. The works can be finished with a period of five to eight months depending on the availability of correct granite stones and lime in time.
9. The Prakara wall may be done separately.

In all respects it should be re-conjectured to be temple of 450 years old.

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