A Lecture at Fourth Training Course (Kathmandu Section): Rits –DMUCH 7 September 2009

Discovering ConservationAiming at Cultural Continuity &

longevity• 491 CE, Jayalambha donates a land in perpetuity

(dattamakshyayaniyam bhumi) for ritual worship of Jayesvora.

• 513 CE, King Basantadev grants use of annual state tax locally for repair of a water conduit set up by his sister Jayasundari. Jayasundari sought to enhance the merit of their father through her pious act.

• 533 CE, Dhruvasangha donates land and its proceeds for ritual worship and occasional repair of several linga set up by himself. He places the grant in care of Svajana Gosthi. (a charity board composed of own relations/members of own community)!

• Continuity of the public service outcome of acts of piety.

• Maintenance and Care of the Utility

A Lecture at Fourth Training Course (Kathmandu Section): Rits –DMUCH 7 September 2009

• Urge to take one’s acts of piety into future

– Perpetuity of action: self triggering agenda based on a seasonal ID date (cf. Versabardhan day)

– Annual agricultural yield from land grants offered a ‘perennial source’ of fund – Akshyanibi

– Perpetuity of institution through membership drawn from the community, relations- Gosthi, Svajana Gosthi, Gosthika etc.

• Objective to care for one’s roots from the past, place, people and practice (and carry it into the future)

Managing ConservationPerpetuity of action, fund and

organization

A Lecture at Fourth Training Course (Kathmandu Section): Rits –DMUCH 7 September 2009

Principles for Conservation

‘pratisamskara’tradition• ‘Pratisamskara’: (Keeping) ‘near to’ (perfect) as

created – like the original– (cf. samskaran = edition, not reprint)– Seem to be authorizing/accepting

additions/embellishments!

• Some inscriptions mention ‘Khandafutta’ partisamskara – repair of partial deterioration (chipping of stone/loss of polish?

• Others talk of pratisamskara of ‘kalkramena vishirna, bhagna’ images – natural wear through passage of time

• Still others mention pratisamskarascha kalanatikramenaiba karya or ravaged by time (over use, aggression of time?)

• Lichchavi inscriptions distinguish construction from repair or restitution with specific terminologies– cf. sthapana. Samsthapana with pratisamskara

A Lecture at Fourth Training Course (Kathmandu Section): Rits –DMUCH 7 September 2009

Principles for Conservation

‘pratisamskara’tradition objective outcome• Two inscriptions of Amshuverma are instructive

– On 607 AD, Amshuverma, having observed that the coat of arms was worn out from the top (to bottom) by time, restored it taking cue from the outline then existing – authenticity ? (Kalenasirnam abalokya .. tasmannidarshanamvapya.. kritavan puna)

– On 610 AD, Amshuverma declares, in another inscription‘having repaired carefully so as to keep it in good condition for longer into future’ (Yatnata pratisamskarya … dirgatara Paschatkala sausthitya nimittam) …

These clarify– Long term objective of Conservation– Principle of Design, Style and Material as per original

A Lecture at Fourth Training Course (Kathmandu Section): Rits –DMUCH 7 September 2009

Conservation Practice Malla period Changing Needs New

Responses• Lichchhavi idea of conservation was initiated with stone images

and buildings• Further development appeared to have been caused by demands of

brick and wood buildings, water canals and terracotta images• Standards and processes of conservation of buildings, urban

utility and services in the Malla period largely related to brick and wood architecture, their methods of construction and their susceptibility to earthquakes and fires

– By 15th Cent CE, new term had come into use for conservation, maintenance, repair and renovation eg. Jirnoddhar (lhongn in Newari) where as term for new construction remained the same eg. Sthapana (dayaka in Newari)

– This no doubt tells about the serious deterioration that can set in wood and brick building and standards developed for stone and metal images were simply impractical

– Ravages of EARTHQUAKE and FIRE, agents more destructive than natural wear and tear, sought drastic reconstructions based on fallen or charred buildings!

A Lecture at Fourth Training Course (Kathmandu Section): Rits –DMUCH 7 September 2009

Conservation Practice Recent Responses on Actual Cases

• The Case of Chabel Chaitya Jirnoddar

• The Case of Reconstruction of Pratappur Temple of Svoyambhu

• The Case of Conservation of 55 Window Palace– Principle, process, funding– Problems and Issues of authenticity

A Lecture at Fourth Training Course (Kathmandu Section): Rits –DMUCH 7 September 2009

Conservation Practice Recent Responses on Actual Cases

• The Case of Chabel Chaitya Jirnoddar

A Lecture at Fourth Training Course (Kathmandu Section): Rits –DMUCH 7 September 2009

Conservation Practice Recent Responses on Actual Cases

• The Case of Reconstruction of Pratappur Temple of Svoyambhu

A Lecture at Fourth Training Course (Kathmandu Section): Rits –DMUCH 7 September 2009

Conservation Practice Recent Responses on Actual Cases

• The Case of Conservation of 55 Window Palace