A major conservation effort at a 12th-century Jain temple in the Shimoga district of Karnataka has led to a remarkable discovery: several of the internal structural pillars were found to have a core made of fossilized sandalwood. The temple, built by the Santara dynasty, was undergoing routine structural stabilization when restorers noticed a distinct aromatic scent emanating from cracks in the granite casing. Careful endoscopic investigation revealed that the stone was essentially a protective sheath for high-grade wood, a technique previously unrecorded in the region's architectural history.
Heritage experts suggest that this 'composite pillar' technique may have been employed for its ritual significance or to provide a degree of flexibility against seismic shifts. The restoration team is now using non-invasive sonic imaging to map the internal composition of the remaining structure. The discovery has sparked a new debate among historians regarding the innovative use of organic materials within the predominantly stone-based Vesara architectural tradition of medieval South India.