BANGALORE: Declared as a protected ancient monument by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums in Karnataka under Section 3 of the Karnataka Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1961, the Kadu Malleswara Temple at Sampige Road, Malleswaram is getting a modern makeover. Destroying the stone pillar beams bearing ancient inscriptions and iron grills, the Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments has marked and drilled holes for putting up aluminium ducts for coolers in the stone beams. This has been a strong violation of the Act, spoiling the sanctity of the temple as well. Speaking to City Express, B K Shivram, President, Kadu Malleswara Geleyara Balaga (KMGB) and local resident of Malleswaram said, “The ducts, about one foot high and one-and-a-half feet wide are being put up here. Thankfully when they were drilling, the beams did not fall off. The structure is very old.”However, according to Section 26 of the Karnataka Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1961, whoever destroys, removes, injures, alters, defaces, imperils or misuses this protected monument shall be punishable with imprisonment extending upto three months or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or with both. Kadu Malleswara, a Shiva temple, is the only temple in Bangalore which has been declared as a protected ancient monument. According to the Kannada inscriptions on a rock enclosed to the right of the temple, the temple dates back to 1668-69 built by Shivaji’s father Shahji. “It is also the only temple where Gods Shiva and Vishnu are being worshipped in the same temple premises. Besides, there is a shree chakra in front of God Bramaramba that is rarely found in any temple,” said Shivram. “We want to protect the temple’s sanctity from any kind of modernisation and preserve it as a heritage. The Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments is violating the Act. The coolers are not at all required in the temple. It gets natural air. It is only during the Shivratri festival when the temple receives about two lakhs devotees does it get heated up,” he added. 52-year-old, Gangadhar Dixit, the temple priest who has been serving in the Kadu Malleswara temple for the past 30 years says the cooler is not necessary. “For the past eight generations, our ancestors have been working here. The temple itself is very cool with its stone structure, it does not require coolers. It will only spoil the ancient heritage tag of the temple.”Besides, sacred plants like bilwa pathre (whose leaves are used to perform puja for lord Shiva), parijata, sandalwood, panch mukhi rudraksha, nagalinga puspha, a peepal tree that is about 400-500 years old, other flowering and decorative plants are also planted in the temple premises by the members of KMGB.Meanwhile, speaking to City Express, Siddhana Gowdar, Deputy Director, Department of Archaeology and Museums, Bangalore, said, “We have already called up the Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments and ordered them to stop the work.”When contacted, the Executive Officer, Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments said, “Objecting the putting up of coolers inside the temple premises, the local residents had gone to the Commissioner of Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment. But we are only working according to the Commissioner’s instruction and removing the cooler ducts.”
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