Chennai: The temple managed by the Department of Religion Endowment and Hindu charities will now be measured not only based on income, but at the location, age, history, religion, inscription, aspects of inheritance and architecture.
About 20 retired archaeologists have roamed the 41.825 temple class.
While this step will help renovate several dilapidated heritage temples, it will also allow departments to improve infrastructure and facilities in other temples to get them on a spiritual tourism map.
It will also open the way to study inscriptions and scripts.
Former Indian Archaeological Survey Officer (ASI) and the State Archaeological Department will assess the temples in 20 regions based on location, age, history, religion, worship methods, materials used for construction, whether sung by saints, unique and literary, Availability of aspects of inscriptions, inheritance and architecture, worship methods.
They will also carry out conditional documentation and mapping from dilapidated temples to prepare detailed project reports for conservation and maintenance.
Advisers will also help preserve the antique idols and registration of relics with breast milk.
Registration is very important to prevent smuggling of artifacts and extraction from abroad.
So far, the temple has been rated only based on income.
Of the 41,825 temples managed by the HR and CE departments, at least 8,000 are inheritance structures over 100 years old.
Commissioner HR and CE J Kumaraguraran said it was time for archeologists was part of the conservation wing.
“So far, 100 employees are all technical and construction experts.” C Santhalingam, a former archaeological official at the State Archaeological Department now made an advisor for the Madurai region, the word inscription would be studied to ensure temples of age.
“We will also suggest this type of modern material that should not be used in heritage structures such as ceramic tiles on the floor.” V K Balan, the President Association of Tamil Nadu Nadu Nadu Association, said 75% of all domestic and international tourists who visited TN came for spiritual tourism.
“TN must include historical temples, those who have archaeological relevance and habits in places of worship in the district tourism area.”