Srikaalahasti, also known as Dakshinakaasi is a very important Siva temple in Andhra Pradesh. Andhra is in fact Trilingadesam, which means the land of three lingas - Srisailam, Draakshaaraamam and Srikaalahasti.
The 500-year old rajagopuram of this temple, constructed by Sri Krishna Deva Raya collapsed recently. Why? A vertical crack appeared in it (a photo was published in The Hindu) apparently because of excessive drilling of borewells in the area. The authorities have said a new one will be constructed by 2012. Do they not get the point? I was outraged when I read the article. It is a part of our heritage and they calmly assure us that it will be reconstructed? Will they make it in the same shape and size? Will it be architecturally the same or as significant? What ever happened to the responsibility of these authorities to maintain the sanctity, devotional and physical, of such a place?
This is similar to authorities saying that there are digital copies of inscriptions that experts say will be harmed by the proposed gold plating of the sanctum sanctorum of the Venkateswara temple in Tirupati (refer to this and this.) When will we learn to truly respect our holy places and just let them be.
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