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| Darshan of Arunachala from Surya Shrine, Girivalam Roadway |
Surya Lingam is located after Gautama Ashram and before Varuna Lingam on the leftside of the Girivalam Roadway. In 2016 the first phase of renovation work financed by a family in Chennai, was completed at the Lingam.
Looking through my archives I found photographs of Surya Lingam before renovation which may be of interest and enable a comparision of before and after.
The work has obviously been neatly and professionally undertaken, but a pity the use of traditional materials was not observed. It might be just that I am old fashioned, but would have preferred materials other than alumininum roofing, patterned tiles and overly colourful paint.
Nonetheless the Surya Lingam is definitely looking tidier and neater and gratitude and thanks to the Chennai family who have graciously funded the work.
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| Entrance to Surya Lingam before renovation |
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| Entering Surya Lingam on the girivalam roadway |
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| Lingam on girivalam roadway |
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| Carvings on inside doorway entrance |
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| Surya Lingam with Nandi |
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| Adjacent building connected with Temple priests |
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| Stone Shrine of the Surya Linam |
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| From back of Shrine looking towards entry gateway |
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Devotees in line for Prasad
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Photographs of Surya Lingam Shrine after Renovation
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| Entrance to Shrine from Girivalam Roadawy |
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| Carvings on Wall Under the Entrance Doorway |
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| More Painted Carvings on Wall |
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| Shrine Compound Renovated, Painted, with New Floors and Canopy Cover |
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| Surya Shrine |
What a very valuable historical archive you are creating, documenting so much! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi Divya:
ReplyDeleteYes I do think its important to have a record of the development of Arunachala over the years. Its changing so quickly that pictorial archives might be all we have left of much of Tiruvannamalai. As to the Surya photographs . . . its strange the way renovaters don't seem to pay any attention to maintaining the tradition of these lovely little shrines.