History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v1.c19.s10.19

v1.c19.s10.19

A large portion of the innermost area, which is historically the most important, has of recent years been undergoing elaborate restoration and important additions at the hands of the Nâthukottai Chettis, that unfortunately will quite obliterate much that is most important for archæology. They are adding a wide cloister intended to run all round the enclosure, but the Vaishnava Amman temple stands in the way of this, and the Chettis have been interdicted from removing it. This court contains also the Chita-sabhâ or central shrine—a plain wooden building, as already mentioned, on a stone platform. In it Siva is represented as Natarâja or Natesa. Behind is the bedroom for the idol—a new structure of polished black stone.