Save your heritage with Temple Cleaners
Pullamangai is nestled amongst 2000 year old temples near Kumbakonam, the city of temples. The members of Ponniyin Selvan Yahoo! Group paid a visit to this lesser known town when one of the group members, J.Chandrasekaran , observed the dilapidated condition of the temples. Here, at the Pullamangai Shiva temple dating back to the ninth century, he saw the mastery of the Chola artisans in ruin. This moved him to search for groups involved in preserving heritage. His search led him to Temple Cleaners , a Yahoo! Group created by Mr. Rajan Ganesh an IT professional. Since then, Chandrasekaran has been moderating this group, which has grown it from 7 to more than 450 members.
According to him, there are more than 40,000 heritage sites in Tamil Nadu and approximately 250,000 heritage sites in India. More than 200,000 inscriptions remain undiscovered containing valuable information about medicine, archaeology and astrophysics in these temples. The single objective of Temple Cleaners is to work towards saving the ancient heritage.
The group’s members have formed a non-profit organization called Reach Foundation, which helps in rural education and conservation of heritage. The members go to villages that have ancient heritage and educate the villagers about it with the help of volunteers from Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI). Many IT professionals join them on weekends for cleaning the temple as this serves as a great stress buster for them. The founder of Reach Foundation is the famous archaeologist Dr. Satyamurthy who has renovated many temples in India. Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, Thanjavur temple and Konark temple are just few of the temples that were renovated with his involvement.
Care for ancient Indian heritage? Join the Temple Cleaners now. If you want to share an interesting story of your Yahoo! Group, please mail it to us at groups@yahoo-inc.com. Stay tuned for our next coverage.
Thanks!
Shefali
Yahoo! Groups India Community Manager
p.vishnu rathan said,
December 12, 2008 @ 5:46 pm
iam very much impressed while read this article.as an art lover i have visited this tempel with my friends.i have delighted by ur dedicated service and also i am willing to join in ur service team.
thanking you
sincerly
p.vishnu rathan
Thanjavur
cell : 9346 – 04955
renuka oke said,
December 12, 2008 @ 5:51 pm
this is a very good news. i m from a religious place Nasik and i have seen many temples convertedinto shelter places for beggers, card players and cheelim smokers.as children, we were discouraged to visit old temples except for few which were popular tourist attractions.unless we respect our own history and culture, we can hardly expect others to do so.
K.Mahalingam said,
December 13, 2008 @ 12:59 am
It was really feeling good to hear that an organisation is working on conserving the Heritage of this nation by maintaining the temples which are considered to be the nerve center of our culture and heritage.
Recently, my mother expired at the age of 102 and we, being the apartment dwellers had to find a Gnana Vapi to perform the APARAKARMAS for the departed soul..since…the hindu society has not been educated to accept such performance to be performed in our own apartment ..the so called brahmins living in the apartment objecting to this….
But it was saddening to see the condition of the place where such performance is being done..I happened to choose one in T’Nagar of Chennai city..While the performance by the priest was more than appreciable..the place needed better maintenace and hence this suggestion..
While it is undisputable that temples need maintenance…may I request this organisation considers keeping a well maintained Gnana vapi and also such fecilities for all the sections of the society..since this is also a vital component of our culture and heritage.
I offer my participation in any way as may be required..for this purpose.
VIJAY MEHTA said,
December 13, 2008 @ 4:32 am
Dear shefali,
thanks
very nice work done by your group,their are so many temples in India,which is were in bad condition,your efford for this work will appriciate,to save our indian heritage.
best wishes
R.Jayaraman said,
December 13, 2008 @ 6:11 am
It is really very heartening that a team of people organise to preserve ancient heritage structure. In a small way I am assocoated with renovating my Village temple in Sanapiratti near Karur. May I seek the help guidance from this organisation if so please let us know the contact person.
I am prepared to do my bit in this endeavour which is laudable
R.Jayaraman
Sompura Ganesh J said,
December 13, 2008 @ 7:24 am
Hello.
I am a Temple Architect.
vishwaksenan said,
December 13, 2008 @ 12:46 pm
A healing touch to the wounded heart.which felt sad when I saw many ruined temples in Thanjavur and around. When I settled near Kumbakonam, took many trips to see the temples nearby and felt miserable by the conditions of the temples. Your attempt brings some happiness. Congrats !
Vishwaksenan
Vala Mitali said,
December 13, 2008 @ 1:56 pm
I would like to help u & if i will find any contact for your help, then i will inform u quickly.
Chandrasekaran J said,
December 14, 2008 @ 6:05 am
Dear All Respondents,
We bow our heads to those who really want to contribute to this greatcause. All can join the yahoo group: temple_cleaners as well as write you intorudction of what you are, name, contact details, how you would contribute to REACH. If you have any temple to be rebuilt or named, please also send us the details with supporting photos etc.
[...] members may log on to http://www.conserveheritage.org for further details
Thanks
Chandrasekaran J
P.R.O
REACH FOUNDATION
aditya dandotia said,
December 14, 2008 @ 6:59 am
good info
Amitabh said,
December 14, 2008 @ 3:17 pm
This is a great effort towards building an atmosphere of looking at our temples being not only places of worship and so called “Karamkand”, but also places of architectural marvels and monuments for preserving our history and the very “Idea of India”.
dr. padmanabha.k said,
December 14, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
Hello,
I am an archaeologist by profession
I offer my participation in any way as may be with Reach Foundation.
pady.
SRIRAMACHANDRA MURTHY AMBATIPUDI said,
December 16, 2008 @ 12:46 am
It is a great thing to know that some one (A Great Soul) has taken over the job of cleaning the Great Temples of this GREAT GREAT contry. Particularly Tamilnadu has got value less grat temples. Really I have astonished to see the marvelous job done our ancient kings to build such aGreat Temples like Tanjavur, Kumbhakonam, Srirangam, Madhurai, REameswaram. We are so lucky that we have born in this country.
Now no one can imagine that any any body can build such a Great Temples.
It is of every Indian Citizen’s duty to safe guard these Great Ancient Constructions.
Hats off to Murthy who have taken up a good task for a GREAT CAUSE.
A.S. Chandra Murthy,
[...]
N A V I M U M B A I – 400 709.
Mob: 09892407271
Harish Capoor said,
December 16, 2008 @ 6:32 am
It is a commendable job that you have embarked upon – renovating/maintaining the Hindu temples. It is unfortunate that the vast majority of Hindu temples in most parts of India are always in a very dirty state at almost all times. This is in sharp contrast with Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi, Jew places of worship which are always very neat and clean. It is said that ‘cleanliness is next to godliness’. There are generally any number of ‘pandas’ and priests at the temples but hardly any to do real ’sewa’ ( serve ) the temple. Whereas it is costly to repair and renovate the temples it does not cost anything to keep them them neat and tidy; it only needs true feeling of service.
Can organisations look into this vital aspect?
S.Manickavasagam said,
December 18, 2008 @ 8:20 am
Sir,
I went through the tasks carried out by your team. First I would like to congradulate you and your team for the invaluable work of renovation of temples and excavation of lost and burried temples which reveals the culture and economic situation prevailed at that period. We people are not worried about past. The most important thing is that we must understand and know about our past civilisation. The temples of the period BC will really depict how our science had flourished at that time. I strongly believe that our ancestors had a good technical knowledge which may not be like the modern physics/engineering. Our ancestors have understood clearly about Eisteins theory and other advanced rocket technologies. These things may be brought to vision only by excavation and study the sculptures and other paintings. May GOD bless this team for their immeasurable and tremendous work. Please inform me as and when new things are found.
Thanking you.
S.Manickavasagam
Jaspreet Singh said,
December 21, 2008 @ 5:48 pm
I would love if by any means I can help in saving our own assests (these historical places). And I do really feel that each and every Indian should wake-up for this activity; I do really feel that these are our assests. But I would like to know that how a common man can help in this revolution. If, anyone can advice that will be most helpful for me and the one who want’s to do something for the Country. Because their are people who want to help; but they don’t know how they can help. So, please guide.
Thanking you.
amit said,
December 22, 2008 @ 11:10 am
nice.
payaldey51 said,
December 22, 2008 @ 3:47 pm
I am from mumbai. In munbai also these type of temple -cleaning is highly required. Is there anything being done in here by this group. Or similar organisation. If anything is being done here, may i know how to join this group.and definitly contribute whichever way i can.
payal dey
Debasis Roy said,
December 24, 2008 @ 5:45 pm
I am from West Bengal. Old buildings, temples, pillers etc. attract me very much. I want to know more about the groups who are engaged in preserving them. But I have a liitle time to act physically, still want to join any of the groups doing the same. However I may be contacted for any help to put in.
Debasis Roy.
Aravind.Annaji.Bhosale said,
December 24, 2008 @ 8:56 pm
I am happy to read this. Please join me as a Member.
Vikram Marathe said,
December 30, 2008 @ 6:20 am
Delighed with your work.Please join me as a Member.
G.Vijayavenugopal said,
December 30, 2008 @ 3:28 pm
I would like to associate myself with temple preservation (not cleaning alone) since I am working on Epigraphy at Ecole Francaise d’extreme Orient at Puducherry.For your kind information: I have copied all the inscriptions (both published and some unnoticed)found in the temple at Pullamankai. The texts and the translation of these (in English) have appeared in BEFEO, Paris.Presently I am engaged in digitising all the Tamil inscriptions found in Karnataka(most of them published in EC volumes) with assistance from ASI,Mysore. I am glad to know that Dr.T.Sathyamurthy is showing interest in these (He knows me very well)
G.Vijayavenugopal
andy appan said,
January 3, 2009 @ 1:03 am
I would like to join group
sanjeevani kher said,
January 8, 2009 @ 5:51 am
Hi friends,
i am sanjeevani from mumbai. i write a column about maharashtra heritage site in mumbai newspaper. i travel a lot . and have the same expierence like others. and strongly feel that citizens have to do something to preserve site.i would like to join your group. do you have any group in mumbai?
sanjeevani
Arun Gavkar said,
January 9, 2009 @ 8:11 am
Hello,
Two week before i am going to SATARA in Maharashtra. So there i heard about temple who created by PANDVA. I go there the condition was temple was very bad. The temple is in Satara, Devur. Public From there they said the temple is devloped by Bheem, ARjun Nakul Sahdev and Youdhistier. Noe a Days the Temple Condition iv very Bad The Temple Created from Big Stones and also they are making design on stone.
If you Go there And look the Temple Ones I dont know it is pandvkalin or not but public say it is very old temple.
anshul kumar said,
January 10, 2009 @ 9:11 am
i am a art iover.iwould like to goin your group
Ravindran Narayanan said,
January 15, 2009 @ 6:53 am
Very good initiative. I am looking forward to such events throughout India which will help people in different paths of life unite together and accomplish one common goal for everyone. Such an initiative can also block terrorism which is a menace facing the world as of now.
Let’s put our thoughts together and do something for the betterment.
Ravi
R.GANESAN said,
January 17, 2009 @ 7:03 am
I am residing in Pammal near Pallavaram in Chennai. I have very much
love in Indian temple arts and its preservation and I would like to
participate in this work. I am 58 years old hale and healthy and working
as stenographer cum computer operator in Sreevatsa Tube Corporation,Chennai.
I am available for service only on Sundays. I would like to be contacted
in 044-25961029 to 25961031 nos.
With best wishes
R.Ganesan
Balaje Thangavel said,
January 18, 2009 @ 1:30 am
hi, i am balaje from tambaram. i would like to join this group what should i do?
pradip choudhury said,
January 21, 2009 @ 5:31 am
Hi I am pradip from silchar Assam .I love in Indian temple and arts and i would like to participate in this work.What should i do ?
I am 51 years old . I am working in ONGC telecom section as E & T eng.I love Indian classical song and sing also.
Dr Shruti mathur said,
January 23, 2009 @ 2:24 am
I am a researcher working in the area of possible prevention of biodeterioration of temples. I would like to join hands with those working in this area.
Ing.R.Gopalakrishnan said,
January 26, 2009 @ 6:47 pm
Dear Uzhavarapadai brothers &sisters.
I am retd project engineer,pioner in inventing and mfgrs of Electric TempleBellsallovewr south(called panchavadyam,had higher studies in France .Now trying to renovate sri Annanthavalli sameda kailasanathar temple at Tharapakkam village which west faced sivalingawith his beautiful sculptured sri Annanthavalli . If any like minded people can join with me to renovate this old temple coming under Kovur temple near kovur ,near Madras.Ineed good donars ,architect,physically well built youngesters can call me at any time Tel:22484215/9840849924/9962418841. I too intrested to join my hand with you all in your task kindly call for a meeting of all likew minded people to come closer and do together which will create greate attention of public well wishers .one hand will not give sound it needs atleast two handsThere are several uzhavarapadi members in so many places in chennai but the result is that it has not gathered butter so I request u all to see that a big meet is organised at a common place discuss all matters and chalkout in planned and phased manner , deputing teams to each place collecting fund under a name of trust mannaged by trusted people so that one day there should not be any temple in south which is not cared. if we care the god he too will care us ever Thank you R.Gopalakrishnan
vaibhav sadavarte said,
January 31, 2009 @ 8:10 am
i also impressed by this very good vision for our cultur.
also our group is working for this type of activity if we get an apportunity to work with u . its plesure for my group
P.Jeya murugan said,
February 2, 2009 @ 4:09 pm
First of all I appreciate the persions mentioned above.Here we are leaving our commands one by one like Tides.In our deep mind we have one Sunami to protect our ancient tembles.Good planning is 50% of completion,for that planning we may arranged the meeting at one public place simply.Iam very much energised by this topic,hence i don’t have any word to entered here.
I request you to kinldly make all over indian team for this work,nowadays any one doesn’t care about this thing,we may change,we may work,we may win.Iam waiting for your reply.Thanking you by 09388057105
Sankar Krisna said,
February 2, 2009 @ 7:05 pm
Very Good, cleansing the temples will not only evolve the soul but also keep you away from heart diseases, related to hypertension etc., as said by sage Agastiyar “AAlayam molihidili, hurudhalayam yegum noiihal vilagum parayn”. Keep going and pull young blood to this group, so that they become the strength of growing and developing India. It is a great boon to do this activity.
Glad to see this.
With regards,
Sankar Krisna
09321925706
Trust in India said,
February 28, 2009 @ 7:55 pm
It is great to know that there is a group called “Temple Cleaners” who are striving towards saving the ancient heritage of the country by reviving the ancient inscriptions in various temples. I would surely like to join such a group and try to contribute in whatever small way that I can…
m.ashokrao said,
March 6, 2009 @ 2:21 am
iaminterestintempleceelening
TS Rajanganesh said,
March 18, 2009 @ 4:06 pm
Dear All Respondents,
We bow our heads to those who really want to contribute to this greatcause. All can join the yahoo group: temple_cleaners as well as write you intorudction of what you are, name, contact details, how you would contribute to REACH. If you have any temple to be rebuilt or named, please also send us the details with supporting photos etc.
[…] members may log on to http://www.conserveheritage.org for further details
TS Rajanganesh
R.E.A..C.H Team
satheesh kumar said,
July 19, 2009 @ 6:05 pm
Very Good Efforts to preserve our heritage…
Thanks to those souls…