S. M. Ganapathi Sthapathi | |
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| Born | Sattanatha Muthaiya Ganapathi (1931-04-26)26 April 1931 Eluvankottai,Ramanathapuram district,Tamil Nadu, India |
| Died | 7 April 2017(2017-04-07) (aged 85) Chennai,Tamil Nadu, India |
| Other names | S. M. Ganapathi sthapathi |
| Occupation(s) | Traditional architect Sculptor |
| Known for | Hindu temple architecture |
| Spouse | seethai ammal |
| Children | Two sons and five daughters |
| Parent(s) | Muthusthapati Gowri |
| Awards | Padma Shri |
Sattanatha Muthiah Ganapathi, popularly known asS. M. Ganapathi sthapathi, (26 April 1931 – 7 April 2017) was an Indian architect and builder (sthapati) of traditionalHindu temple architecture.[1][2] He was known for his contribution in saving 48 archaeologically important temples near theNagarjun Sagar reservoir from submergence.Orirukkai Manimantapam,[3]Ramalayam andKalyana Mandapam atBhadrachalam and theMahamantapam of theBadrinath Temple are some of his notable creations. TheGovernment of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian award ofPadma Shri in 1990.[4]
Ganapathi Sthapathi was born on 26 April 1931 at a small village named Eluvankottai of theRamanathapuram District, near the temple town ofRameshwaram, in the south Indian state ofTamil Nadu to a traditional architect, Muthu sthapathi, and his wife, Gowri, as one of their six children.[5] 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 theVasantha Mandapam, a work executed for theTirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. This was followed by the construction of theRamalayam andKalyana Mandapam atBhadrachalam Temple.[5] He was the architect of theMahamantapam of theBadrinath Temple when the Government of India underIndira Gandhi decided on the renovation of the temple.[5] WhenNagarjun Sagar dam threatened to inundate 48 temples, all over 1000 years old, Ganapathi was appointed as the head of the rescue project and he dismantled the temples and re-erected them at higher and safer locations.[5]
The Government ofAndhra Pradesh appointed him as the Chief sthapathi of the State under its Endowments Department and he continued his service as a government servant till hissuperannuation as the Superintending Engineer.[5] He completed the design and construction of theManimantapam,[6] with 100 stone pillars,[7] for theKanchi Kamakoti Peetam, as a part of their project for the construction of a temple at Orirukkai, nearKancheepuram, as a memorial to the 68th Sankaracharya, Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal.[8] He has also taught many aspiring sthapathis, including his two sons.[9] The Government of India included him in the 1990Republic Day honours list for the civilian award of thePadma Shri.[4] He has five daughters and two sons, Shankara Stapathy and Jayendra Stapathi, both known sthapathis in their own rights.[5] His younger brother,Muthiah sthapathi, is also a renowned traditional architect and aPadma Shri award winner.[10]
He died on 7 April 2017 inChennai[11]
