Height of Madhya Kailas temple being increased-OxBig News Network

In a few months, devotees visiting the Madhya Kailas Temple will be able to walk into the shrine instead of descending the steps. Work is under way to increase the height of 12 structures that form the temple, including raja gopuram and sanctum sanctorums, by around 6 feet.

Surender Kumar, managing director, Mamchand House Uplifting Pvt. Ltd., said even the kitchen and office would be jacked up and raised above the road level. “There is constant vibration due to the proximity of roads. We have added a cement concrete beam below the structure. Another will be added to prevent it from sinking or tilting,” he said.

Since the walls of the temple are three-foot-wide and the structure quite heavy, more jacks are being used. “We are using three rows of jacks. At some places, a few of them are sinking, which is why load testing is being done to ensure the safety of the structure. Since the temple is close to the Buckingham Canal, waterproofing is also carried out,” Mr. Surender Kumar added.

Davinder Kumar, also of Mamchand, said they had so far raised the height of 15 temples in the State, and were also working on five temples, including the Raveeshwarar temple in Vyasarpadi, which is under the purview of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. “We will ensure that the sunlight continues to fall on the Shiva Lingam even after increasing the height of the structures,” he said.

A spokesperson of the Sri Anandha Vinayakar Charitable Foundation, which manages the temple, said devotees had to descend eight steps to enter the temple as the road level had been raised.

Small cavity-like structures formed under the granite flooring due to the high moisture level of the soil and rats are being removed, and the floor being reinforced, he said.

“Since a new flyover was being built, we wanted the temple to have a better look and devotees to have a better experience,” he added.

Every year, around 13,000 shraddha (associated with death anniversaries) take place in the temple, with the main deity, Ganesha, believed to perform the ceremonies. The temple was built as per the guidance of the Maha Periyava Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Swamigal.