Villagers take reconstruction initiative

Tirupati: In a laudable gesture, the people in the villages around the ruined ancient Thimmappa temple near Thondavada village, 8 km from here formed into society to take up the reconstruction of the shrine which was destroyed by Muslim invaders.

The villagers were stirred into action after some vested interests tried to take over the land where the remnants of the once magnificent temple still remaining and also some of stone structures.

Sadly, the temple remnants including the stone pillars with enchanting sculptures were taken away leaving only the Galigopuram, huge gateway and only some of the stone structures lying here and there in the field where the temple ruin is located on Tirupati-Chandragiri road, even as the concerned government department cogitating on taking up its reconstruction.

When contacted, an official of state Archaeology department informed that the department also submitted a report two years back stressing on preserving and protecting the monument, as it is a rich treasure of our ancient heritage but there is no orders so far for taking up the works, hinting that the government is not interested in this matter.

Against the backdrop, some concerned citizens in the pilgrim city and the people in the villagers petitioned to the District Collector and other authorities including TTD for the reconstruction of the temple but in vain, forcing them at last taking up the reconstruction of the temple themselves.

Prachina Thimmappa Devalayala Punarudharna Samithi (PTDPS) was formed and got registered in May this year under the Societies Act heralding a new era in the annals of the temple built during Vijayanagara Empire.

As a build up to the reconstruction of the temple, Samithi conducted Sankalpa Pooja and other rituals gathering about a thousand people from the villages including Thondavada, Chandragiri, Tirupati and other places at the temple site after clearing the bushes and wild growth, giving a new look to the giant Galigopuram.

Speaking to The Hans India, PTDPS secretary Dhanajay Reddy said that as the government and the TTD had failed to respond, they formed Samithi to see the temple is reconstructed to bring back its past glory. The entire 18-acre land except 22 cents where temple is located including ‘Pushkarini (temple tank)’ passed into the hands of individuals making the temple reconstruction very difficult.

Samithi, however, succeeded in taking back 22 cents of the actual land where the Galigopuram stands from the land owner Jyothi, who was magnanimous to give away the land to the Samithi laying the path for the reconstruction of the land, he averred.

Reddy said that the Samithi roped in many organisations keen on the rejuavenation of the ancient shrine through public contribution and exuded confident that the reconstruction works would soon start after finalising the official formalities.