The protected site at Manambadi village of Thanjavur District, for a layman, might just amount to little more than a few mounds of rocks with weeds growing all over. But for SAV Elanchezian, an artist, art historian and professor, the site represents a thousand years of architectural splendour turning to dust.
To study aspects of Dravidian temple architecture, Elanchezian is presenting a new compilation titled Art and Architectural Glory of Chola and Pandiya Region, of four articles discussing the Manambadi temple ruins, the Thanjavur Big Temple, the Alagar Temple in Madurai and the unfinished plans of the Tirumalai Nayakar to make the Meenakshi temple the biggest structure of its kind in the world. In an email interaction, Elanchezian speaks about his research, and the hardships he encountered.
Why and how did you narrow your final choices down to four temples?
The idea was to make a compact book with four different aspects of art from different forums, which are glorious in their own ways. I kept the count to four because I didn’t want the readers to break from eading, because of the length of the articles. I have written them in a way that each article can be read in a go. This makes reading and absorbing information easy.
The Manambadi temple was in ruins when it came to light. What challenges did you face interpreting the architecture and motifs in the temple?
I first visited the temple in 2010 and 2011, and it was nothing but a mound of ruins. Ignored by the authorities, the vimana part has tumbled down, the brick work and granite structures were almost competing to be the first ones to fall into ruin. After a lot of struggle, I eventually gathered a lot of notes regarding the making of the bricks.In fact, in some places, the bricks themselves form a sculpture.
But sadly, all the notes and measurements were lost during the floods of 2015.
There is ample research on the Thanjavur Big Temple. How do you distinguish your research from the existing ones?
According to me, earlier studies on the Thanjavur Big Temple were macro studies made on the architecture. But mine is a micro study, which scrutinises and reveals its technical brilliance
and aesthetic greatness.
Many myths are attached to the temples, which you discuss in the book. Do you make any attempts to bust or support them?
Myths are often ancient incidents that were passed on orally, and are often exaggerated and blurry. According to me, they should not be sidelined. Indian myths hold a considerable amount of
historical facts represented in the art and architecture. The artists led the mission with the aid of
religious scholars, but excelled independently with interpretations in three-dimensional arenas. The artists tried to portray the myths aesthetically to onlookers, to give those myths validation.
Are you intent on deconstructing the complexity of the architecture?
Yes, of course, I’m bridging the art and architectural glories of India and South India. My service is a special one, as my writings are featured both in Tamil and English. It can be useful in an academic capacity as a part of a syllabus, or can be useful for people with minimum knowledge of art. If they read my books, they will get sound knowledge. I also plan to write many more books on Indian art and architecture. The Thirukkural was not written only for aristocrats, it was and is for one and all. In the same way, my writings will stand for everyone.
Do you have any personal opinions about the ASI’s methods of maintenance? Could they do any better?
The security personnel of the Archaeological Survey of India, and the temple priests, often pose hindrances to the research process. They make it tough for researchers like me to sketch the sculptures, and take photographs. It would help scholars like me of the officials were a lot more cooperative.
The ASI’s efforts cannot be completely discounted at the same time, as they are not absolutely perfect. For example, the Mamandur caves of Pallavas is a haven for many miscreants, and you can often find litters of condoms and alcohol bottles.
Art and Architectural Glory of Chola and Pandiya Region by Prof SAV Elanchezian, Notion Press, 300.