At the revered Srirangam Temple, the west gopuram bore witness to an egregious act as a lorry, entered the sacred precincts, resulting in damage to the intricate sculptures adorning the towering structure. The Srirangam Temple, renowned for its architectural marvels and divine significance, is now grappling with the aftermath of this sacrilegious event.
The gopurams, or gateways, of the Srirangam Temple are considered not just architectural wonders but symbolic representations of grandeur and beauty. Adorned with meticulously carved sculptures depicting scenes from Hindu mythology, these towering structures have long been hailed as masterpieces of art and design. The intricate postures and symbols portrayed by the idols on the gopurams hold profound spiritual significance, believed to channel specific cosmic energies and blessings.
On 8 December 2023, a lorry, purportedly owned by the Trichy City Corporation, attempted to navigate through one of the gopurams on the western side of the temple.
But due to the width of the lorry, it was unable to enter and got stuck halfway. When the lorry was driven backwards, it scraped through the wall carving leaving it seriously damaged.
It is worth noting that there are numerous exquisite reliefs including a replica of the Ranganathaswamy which has been reportedly damaged.
Outraged devotees have now vociferously called for stricter regulations governing the movement of heavy vehicles through these sacred gateways.
This is not the first time that Srirangam Temple has been in news recently over scant maintenance.
In August 2023, a segment of the eastern entry tower at Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple collapsed.
The plea for enhanced measures to protect the sanctity of the temple premises echoes a sentiment of dismay and concern among the faithful.
(With input from Dinamalar)
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.