Abathsahayeswarar Temple gets UNESCO Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation

Why in the news?

• Recently Abathsahayeswarar Temple was selected for the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
• Abathsahayeswarar Temple has been given this award for preserving the heritage of the temple while keeping it intact.

Abathsahayeswarar Temple:

• It is located in Thukkachi in Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu.
• This temple is dedicated to Lord Dakshinamurthy (Lord Shiva).
• It is about 1,300 years old.
• This temple was built by King Vikrama Chola and Kulothunga Chola.
• Earlier there used to be five prakarams in this temple.
• The temple has many shrines for deities, including Soundaryanayaki Ambal, Ashtabhuja Durga Parameshwari, Aadhi Sarabeswarar, Pillayar, Murugan, Chandikeshwara, two Bhairavas, two Suryas and two Nagars.

UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation:

• The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation was initiated by UNESCO in the year 2000.
• This award recognizes efforts by individuals and organizations in Asia and the Pacific region to preserve and transform structures and buildings.

UNESCO:

• Full name- United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization.
• UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations whose objective is to promote world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, science and culture.
• UNESCO was established in the year 1945.
• Headquarters- Paris
• It is a world-class educational, scientific and cultural organization of the United Nations.
• Currently it includes about 195 member countries and 8 associate member countries.