Architecture Conservation

AR 751
Year Iv Part Ii

Sanjaya Maharjan

Lecture 10: Pujari Math

 Background

• Situated at Tachapal Tole in Bhaktapur

• Evidence indicates that it was built as a residence- cum-office for
the priest, or Mahanta of the famous Dattatreya temple
• Oldest and the most beautiful Math of the valley built during the
15th century
• Considered as founder Math, popularly known as Pir Math
• Has branches at Anekakot. In Panchkhal, the Kavre district,
Panauti, Chaling (Bhaktapur) and at Jitpur in the Kathmandu
district- all managed & controlled by the Pujari Math
• Tradition of construction along with temples was initiated in India,
by Adi Sankaracharya in the 8th Century
• Founder of Pujari Math, Gurubaksha Giri, might be one of the
disciples of the Sankaracharya schools of thoughts, in India
 Religious Significance
• Primary duty of Mahanta to take care and provide all necessary
materials for worship of Dattatreya and other surrounding temples,
also has to perform various religious and social functions annually
(Kumar Sasthi, Sithi Nakha)
• On this Dewali, all the Mahantas come to Pujari Math to worship the
Kuldevi Durga.
• It is said that there was a beautiful bronze image of Durga in Pujari
Math which was stolen during its renovation in 1972.
• On the month of Falgun, the Math has to perform Gota Puja
(worshipping a heap of ash) which is kept in the throne room of Guru
Dattatreya at Pujari Math
• On the day of full moon , the Math has to feed Bandara ( a simple
rice dinner, pulse soup and vegetables) to saints and the poor people
• During Siva Ratri, Mahanta arranges the board lodging and firewood
for the hordes of pilgrims
 Architectural Features
• 4 storeyed, perimeter :NS direction - 34m; EW - 23m
• Height-11m; (only the tower like Pagoda roof rises to 15m ht.)
• 3 courtyards- decorated with richly carved windows, pillars, etc.
• Main doorway at the NE side displays perfection in the art of
ornamental and figure carving
• has a tiny Siva seated on the throne at its center, Garuda,holding two
Nagas in his claws, at the top of Shiva
• Below it there are, Astamangalas (8 auspicious signs) flanked on both
sides by the figures of sun and moon, followed by two figures of
Vishnu along with Ganga and Yamuna and on the bottom are two
Bhairabs on both sides.
• Windows look like original balconies, inside which are comfortable
benches to sit on
• Eastern side of the Math which runs along a narrow lane, is decorated
with various types of peacock windows
• These windows executes the finest examples of Medieval art in Nepal
and are one of the main attraction of Bhaktapur
 Reconstruction….

• Badly damaged during a severe earthquake and was reconstructed

during the reign of Viswa Malla (1548-1560A.D)
• Evidence shows that in every century a thorough renovation of
the existing structure took place
• The stone inscriptions installed in the 1763 in the middle
courtyard of the Math, during the reign of the last Malla King of
Bhaktapur, refer to the restoration being done in the 18th Century.

• 1934 earthquake caused extensive damage – wall fall apart,

drainage system was blocked
• Original shape of the Math has changed a lot in time.
• The wood carvings – carved windows, doorways pillar,
sculptures, etc seen at present, belonged to the 18th century,
during the reign of the last Malla ruler, Ranjit Malla
Restoration
• With the assistance of the Department of Archaeology, GON, 4
experts, German architects of the Technical University worked for
the restoration of Pujari Math

• The restoration completed in May 1972 and was the first

Nepalese- German restoration campaign

• The architecture of the Pujari Math have inspired the German

architects not only to contribute more but to work substantial
harder at Bhaktapur-leading to the foundation of Bhaktapur
Development Project in 1973/74.

• The restoration and conservation activities started in 1975 and

Pujari Math has been used not only as the headquarter but also as
office premises.
“ thank you”