Study on extension and construction surrounding existing hindu temples in Varanasi Old City , India

Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd., M.Eng. Yamamoto Architecture Design Of ce, M.Eng. This paper discusses the outline and the background of the phenomenon named "merged temple", a composite building occurred by extension covering or wrapping an existing Hindu temple, frequently observed in the Old City of Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh, India), revealing their number and distribution, morphological variations, forming process

29 ─ 901 ─ tenant - The process is unknown.Two main-temples were occupied by the lessee about 20 years ago and since then have been subleased as shops.One of main-temples is empty, because its linga was broken and owed to the Ganges river. It Photo 1,

Fig. 2
Fig.2 Distribution of Temples in Center of Varanasi Old City

Table 2
Temple Form and Change Ratio

Table 3
Abstract of Interview for Residents of Merged TemplesBuildings have been this form since early stage.The third oor of sub-building was expanded afterward.Main-temple and sub-building are "not overlapping, only being in contact".Main-temple was probably built by Maharaja of somewhere.His grandfather bought this land with the temple circa 1950 and then added surrounding land.Sub-building built 80-90 years ago has been extended several times.It is unknown when the part covering mandapa was extended.Main-temple and sub-building, originally separate, were built at the same time by his ancestor.His grandfather renovated and built extension in piloti form over mandapa.Buying this land with the temple and building, he extended it covering a part of the temple as they are today.Garbhagriha is used as a part of shop and the inside of shikhara as storage.Temple, established hundreds years ago, is one of important pilgrimage sites.Moving to this place in 1978, he built roofs and oors in the blank spaces between 5 garbhagrihas and walls, and made them indoor.Toilet was set up in the south part, which was early extension, where a Brahmin taking care of the temple lived.
Main-temple, originally sitting in the courtyard isolatedly, has been half covered by extension of sub-building about 10 years ago.The outside of the temple was covered with fence to keep the temple visible.There is no problem with stairs slightly overlapping shikhara.Extension over mandapa is also ok because it's a kitchen.When his father bought this land in 1984, main-temple and sub-building had been in this form and very dilapidated.Main-temple, originally owned by maharaja of somewhere, has been lent, against his will, as shop to an acquaintance in need.Main-temple is one of important pilgrimage sites.Aside the expansion of sub-building overhanging above main-temple in circa 1990, other process is unknown.Tiling the inner wall, changing the wooden door to iron, and repainting of outer wall are done.Main-temple was remodeled along with the extension and renovation of sub-building circa 2010.As the temple wall had been heavily damaged, keeping only shikhara and linga, garbhagriha was rebuilt as a part of sub-building.Main-temple was originally built at the 2nd oor level on the high platform (1st oor) and there was no oor above it.When the owner was a child, her father built the 3rd and 4th oor over the temple.He built the 5th oor afterward.His great-grandfather bought buildings that had been originally house for Brahmin attached to a temple.Main-temple and sub-building were separate at that time.Through repeated extensions main-temple became completely wrapped.One of the posts of mandapa was removed as it disturbs traf c.Main-temple originally built isolated had been wrapped by sub-building before he purchased them in 2008.The former owner sought to remove the temple secretly, but abandoned it because of pressure from neighboring residents.Shikhara still remains.)Yanagisawa, K.: What is "Merged Temple", Religion and Culture in Multiethnic Society 19, pp.3-18, 2016 (in Japanese) Ohara, R., Yanagisawa, K.: Study on Extension and Construction Surrounding Existing Hindu Temple in Varanasi, INDIA, Summaries of Technical Papers of Annual Meeting, Architectural Institute of Japan, F-1, pp.989-990, 2014.9 (in The Jainist owner bought the land with a building and 2 temples, and rebuilt subbuilding covering both main-temples 6 years ago.In consultation with an architect familiar with Vastu, 2 new shikharas were built on the rooftop of sub-building instead of covering the original shikharas with buildings.He had thought of demolishing the temples, but abandoned it because of pressure from neighboring residents.*1)Ownership of the main-temple and the sub-building / [P] Private, [C] Company.*2)Period when his/her family reside that place / [2(3) gener.]sinceat least his/her (grand)fathers generation.*3)Person who perform daily puja and maintenance.*4)Accessibility to the main-temple / [ ] Basically accessible, [ ] Accessible if demanded, [ ] Inaccessible, [ ] With window through which one can pray from street.*5)Period when the main-temple is covered with construction of the sub-building.1