Source: expressbuzz.com
TIRUPATI, INDIA, May 28, 2010: After the collapse of the Rajagopuram of the revered Shiva temple at Srikalahasti, experts mulled whether it was human negligence that brought it down or was it natural causes such as wear and tear, exposure to the elements and lightning strikes?
“The foundation of the structure weakened due to the sinking of wells, construction of sanitation pits, laying of drainage canals very near the structure. The disaster could have been averted had the officials acted in time and controlled the encroachment on the periphery of the temple,” archaeology professor in SV University Kiran Kranth Chowdary says.
On the other hand, temple executive engineer Vasudevan and Stapati Lakshmi Narayana says that due to natural causes and the materials used, the structure collapsed. “If you see the derbris, you will find that water has seeped into the bricks and the lime used in the mortar is no longer there.
Every structure has an age and the present one which stood for centuries has gone,” Stapati says. However, Chowdary disagreed to it and feels that life of the structure could have been expanded by over another three hundred to five hundred years, if the treatment was given to the structure and proper care was taken during its renovation.
The temple authorities had photographs of every facet, design and figurines of Gods, demigods and other celestial beings on the structure and measurements of the entire structure have been recorded in detail, and many hope for a reconstruction.
Raja Raja Chola founded a big commercial centre near Sri Kalahasti under the name Mummudi Cholapuram. This commercial centre was in existence for more than 500 years and was active even up to 1600 CE – till the decline of the Vijayanagara empire.
To read more about the treasures in need of protection that this temple still holds, read the full article at the source above.