S. M. Ganapathy

Sattanatha Muthiah Ganapathi, popularly known as S. M. Ganapathi sthapathi, (26 April 1931 – 7 April 2017) was an Indian architect and builder (sthapati) of traditional Hindu temple architecture. He was known for his contribution in saving 48 archaeologically important temples near the Nagarjun Sagar reservoir from submergence. Orirukkai Manimantapam, Ramalayam and Kalyana Mandapam at Bhadrachalam and the Mahamantapam of the Badrinath Temple are some of his notable creations. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri in 1990.

Biography

Ganapathi Sthapathi was born on 26 April 1931 at a small village named Eluvankottai of the Ramanathapuram District, near the temple town of Rameshwaram, in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu to a traditional architect, Muthu sthapathi, and his wife, Gowri, as one of their six children. Coming from a family of Vishwakarma Brahmin Sthapathis. he learned the art in the traditional way from his peers for 17 years before he took up his initial venture which was the dismantling and reconstruction of the Vasantha Mandapam, a work executed for the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. This was followed by the construction of the Ramalayam and Kalyana Mandapam at Bhadrachalam Temple. with 100 stone pillars, for the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, as a part of their project for the construction of a temple at Orirukkai, near Kancheepuram, as a memorial to the 68th Sankaracharya, Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal. He has also taught many aspiring sthapathis, including his two sons. The Government of India included him in the 1990 Republic Day honours list for the civilian award of the Padma Shri.

Death He died on 7 April 2017 in Chennai