CHARACTERISATION OF ANCIENT MORTAR AND SIMULATION OF NEW MORTAR AT NAGANATHASWAMY TEMPLE, KUMBAKONAM AND THANJAVUR PALACE FOR RESTORATION Submitted to The Member Secretary State Planning Commission Ezhilagam, Chepauk Chennai – 600005 By Dr. S.K. SEKAR Senior Professor and Dean & Dr. S. THIRUMALINI Associate Professor School of Civil and Chemical Engineering VIT University, Vellore- 632014 July 2016 CONTENT Chapter Description Page No. 1 Introduction 2 2 Methodology 13 3 Results and Discussions 29 4 Conclusions 72 1 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 GENERAL India has a finite number of very rich, and assorted cultural heritage in the form of built structures and architectural monuments. Any structure that is of historical, archaeological or artistic interest and existing for more than 100 years is called as an ancient monument. They include different types of structures such as temples, palaces, domes, forts, ports, aqueducts, prayer halls, cemeteries, step-wells, rock-cut temples and excavation sites. They are the proof of ancient habitation and represent indigenous traditional architecture of India. They not only represents the cultural face and growth but also articulate the knowledge of our ancestors about building design, construction materials, building technology, creative and decoration and artistic capabilities of the craftsmen (Nene2012). Out of 125 heritage sites declared by UNESCO, 29 are in India. Currently, 3650 ancient monuments and archaeological sites have been declared as remains of national importance. In Tamil Nadu alone, there are 248 structures and 163 prehistoric archaeological sites. They are distributed in different geographical locations and belong to different periods, ranging from early historic period to the colonial period. They also contribute to the prosperity and economic wealth of our country. Only a small number of monuments are under the protection of the state and central archeological survey of India and the remaining left unnoticed. As a result of this, finite, non-renewable and irreversible resources of our country are fast disappearing without any record for the posterity. The main factors which lead to the non- existence were lack of fundamental knowledge, understanding of construction of monuments, interest in our past, lack of public awareness, industrial revolution and rapidly transforming lifestyle, etc. 2 1.2 REASONS FOR THEIR NON – EXISTENCE Lack of fundamental knowledge Understanding of construction of monuments Interest in our past, lack of public awareness Industrial revolution Rapidly transforming life style Finite, non-renewable and irreversible resources of our country is fast disappearing without any record for the posterity 1.3 NEED FOR THE STUDY The difficulty in understanding the old mortar could be attributed to the variety of raw materials and organics used for their production and their application techniques. Other parameters include the environmental conditions such as climate, humidity etc which could influence their strength and durability. It is the need of the hour to investigate the traditional construction material characteristics and construction techniques for effective simulation, conservation, protection and to safe guard our ancient monuments. The present study could serve a great source of information regarding the type and proportion of raw materials used (binder, aggregate and organic additives), their application technology, as well as their resistance to ageing and environmental conditions in the temples and also to prepare the compatibility mortar for conservation. 1.4 OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF THE STUDY To identify the technology of production and characterize the raw materials of the mortar used at Naganathaswamy Temple and Thanjavur Palace, Tamil Nadu. To simulate the similar mortar by trial and error in the laboratory. To find out the scientific reason beyond the durability over centuries and to evaluate its compressive strength, water absorption, curing period carbonation and porosity for the preparation of compatibility mortars for repair works. 3 To validate the results of controlled and ancient samples by advanced analytical techniques like X- Ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscope with energy dispersive X- Ray spectroscopy, Thermal Gravimetric Analysis, Fourier Transform- Infra Spectroscopy. 1.5 ABOUT THE NAGANATHASWAMY TEMPLEAND THANJAVUR PALACE 1.5.1 Naganathaswamy Temple The temple (Fig. 1) is 1000 years old is located in Manambadi near Kumbakonam. It is said that the temple was built in tenth century by RajendraChola.The State government has ensured the protection of 1,000-year old Naganathaswamy temple near Kumbakonam. Fig.1 Naganathaswamy Temple 4 1.5.2 Thanjavur Palace Thanjavur Palace (Fig. 2) with its architectural beauty reflects the ‘Marathas’ and ‘Nayaks’ patronage towards art and culture. The tower is currently having seven storeys, but originally it was having many number of storeys, which were damaged by thunder and rain. A research note informs that there was a novel clock of sizable dimensions, forming part of the structure in which the figure of a monkey used to strike the gong every hour. The tower is fashioned in the style of Gingee Nayaks. It’s a protected monument by the State ASI department, located at Thanjavur. It was constructed during the Nayaka and Maratiya periods. Fig.2 Thanjavur Palace 5 DESCRIPTION OF HERITAGE STRUCTURE NAGANATHA SWAMY TEMPLE INTRODUCTION Naganatha swamy temple is a thousand years old temple built by Rajendra chola in Tanjavur District. Rajendra Chola-I, was known as much for building temples as for extending his empire to the banks of the Ganga in the north and to Srilanka and Maldives in the south. One such small temple was the Naganathaswamy temple in Manambadi village near Kumbakonam which has now virtually disappeared. The temple’s main deity is Lord Siva was initially known as Sri Kailasamudaiyar temple. The stone temple was built around 1016 CE, much before the king's masterpiece, the Gangaikondaan temple, was raised. The temple is one of the 88 protected monuments in the state under the control of the state department of archaeology. A sculpture in the Naganathaswamy temple, where the Chola king along with his family is seen worshipping Lord Nataraja, signifies the consecration of the temple during his period. Epigraphist and historian Kudavayil M Balasubramaniam noted the temple has sculptures depicting a story of an elephant and a spider that worships and protects a 'sivalinga' from leaves falling on it. "A sculpture shows the Cauvery as a woman holding a lotus. The temple's flower garden was called Rajendra Cholan. The deities were called Sri Kailasamudiyar, while the village was called Ilachchikudi. The sculptures depict dance dramas that used to be conducted during festivals in the Tamil month of 'Chithirai'. The State government's Archaeology Department declared it a protected monument 30 years ago. The stone structure below the vimana, with intricate sculptures, and the sanctum sanctorum with a Siva lingam are intact. The temple has an entrance without a gopuram. The prahara has flower plants. 6 According to Kudavayil Balasubramanian, epigraphist and historian, this temple was constructed by Rajendra Chola (1012-1044 AD). During Chola rule, the village was called ‘Elaichikudi’, and ‘Veeranarayanapuram’. The temple’s name was ‘Sri Kailasam’. The temple possesses more than ten inscriptions of the Chola period. Some of the sculptures on the walls of the main structure are those of Nataraja, which is an outstanding one. Another sculpture depicting Rajendra Chola worshipping the Lord with his wives is seen. Other sculptures depict Ganapathi, Dakshinamurthy, Ligotpava, Vishnu, Brahma, Gangadharamurthy, Durga and Arthanari. Among Chola sculptures, they are the unique ones. A) THANJAVUR PALACE INTRODUCTION The Thanjavur Maratha Palace Complex, known locally as Aranmanai, is the official residence of the Bhonsle family who ruled over the Tanjore region from 1674 to 1855.The Thanjavur Maratha palace was originally constructed by the rulers of Thanjavur Nayak kingdom. After the fall of the Thanjavur Nayak kingdom, it served as the official residence of the Thanjavur Maratha. When most of the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom was annexed to the British Empire in 1799, the Thanjavur Marathas continued to hold sway over the palace and the surrounding fort. The Bhonsle family continued to hold on to the palace even after the last king Shivaji II was deposed as per the Doctrine of Lapse. The palace complex consists of the Sadar Mahal Palace, the queen's courtyard and the Durbar Hall. The Raja Serfoji Memorial Hall and the Royal Palace Museum are situated in the Sadar Mahal Palace. There is also a small bell tower. The Saraswathi Mahal Library is situated with the Thanjavur palace complex. The original name of Thanjavur Palace is Sivaganga Fort, which is rarely used these days. If you observe carefully, there is even a small moat around it which provided security against enemy access. Often mistakenly called the "Thanjavur Maratha Palace" was not built by Maratha Kings, but by Thanjavur Nayaks. However, the Marathas made some enhancements to suit their needs. 7 Thanjavur, formerly Tanjore, is a city in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Great Living Chola Temples, which are UNESCO World Heritage Monuments, are located in and around Thanjavur. The foremost among these, the Brihadeeswara