A Place of celeBratioN hall from Them a danagopalaswamy Temple in madurai, circa 1560, wiTh graniTe figure pillars, lion capiTals, and carvings of hindu Tales
in Madurai dedicated to Vishnu and his avatar Krishna. Moreover, Mason’s research has also shown how the temple fragments needed reinstallation in order to be restored to its original intended architectural plan of 450 years ago.
In October 2016, the Philadelphia Museum of Art gave this impressive Temple Hall its newest avatar by restoring it to its original glory with plenty of light and a bright and festive atmosphere. Once rubble in Madurai, the Madana Gopala Swamy Temple Hall now stands as the stunning centrepiece of the South Asian galleries. It is the only pre-modern temple mandap to exist outside of India. OLD ROOTS, NEW HOME Along with the reinstallation of the Temple Hall, The Philadelphia Museum undertook an ambitious $2.7 million project to reinterpret and renovate its 7000 square feet South Asian galleries, showcasing the richness and diversity of artistic expression across 2000 years. This includes massive stone sculptures, intricate