Nine years after the tsunami severely damaged a shore temple in Tarangambadi in Nagapattinam district, the consecration was performed on Sunday.
Masillanathar temple is one among the very few seashore temples in the state and was built in 1305 AD by King Maravarman Kulasekara Pandiyan. The architectural works in this temple are reportedly based on the Chinese model.
The temple, once a huge structure, fought a losing battle against ferocious tides for more than 20 years and was badly damaged in the December 2004 tsunami.
In 2009, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Board started reconstruction work at a cost of Rs 1.08 crore, utilising funds allotted by the 12th Finance Commission, to restore historic temples.
The work included sea-erosion protection measures after which the temple was reconstructed in about five acres of land. Seven ‘sannathis’ for the deities and a compound wall have also been constructed.