THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The restoration work of the main deity at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple has begun. The ritual is carried out with an ayurvedic mixture of herbs and jaggery, known as ‘kadusharkarayogam’, and is done to strengthen the structure.

Jewellery adorning the deity – including the crown – will be removed, cleaned and polished on September 11 and will be placed back. The work will be complete by the end of the month.

In view of the restoration works, there will be a change in the time schedule for devotees visiting the temple. The entry gates will be closed from 11am to 5pm. The darshan timings will be from 6.15am-7am, 8am-10.30am, then sheeveli and later deeparadhana, after which the gates will be closed. In the evening, the darshan timings will be from 5pm-6.15 pm, 6.45pm-7.15pm, sheeveli and then from 8pm-8.30pm.

The preparation of Kadusharkarayogam began on June 25 by a team led by Kanipayyur Krishnan Namboodiri and Pradeep Thekkumon Namboodiri.

Kadusharkarayogam contains herbal compositions including ‘nalpamara kashayam’, ‘triphala kashayam’ and ‘kaippu kashayam’ and is prepared by a team of experts in the temple complex. Each preparation takes about eight days. It is mixed with clay and applied on the deity, said temple executive officer K N Satheesh.

Temple officials said that over the years, cracks and fissures have developed on the main deity which is Lord Vishnu in a reclining position ‘anantha sayanam’ or eternal cosmic pose in the sanctum sanctorum and other deities including Viswaksena on the northern side. It is learnt that the main deity was created using 12,000 Shalagrama silas or black stones chosen from the banks of sacred river Gandaki and Muktinath in Nepal. The silas at this temple is then covered with kadusharkarayogam, a paste to bolster it.

