A precious slice of history is in danger of being lost, as murals Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam that are over 400 years old, have begun fading away.

Almost half of the murals were painted during the time of the Nayaka rulers of the Vijayanagar Empire, according to The New Indian Express.

The paintings can be seen around the sanctum sanctorum of the Ranganayaki shrine, and on the ceilings and left-hand walls of the Serthi, Vasantha and Oonjal Mandapams.

The paintings depict the literature, daily rituals of the temple and the grand receptions of Vijayanagara kings and the Nayaks. These murals have been painted with natural dyes.

Archaelogical enthusiasts have asked the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department to restore the remaining murals.

H Sudarshan, a representative of the Tamil Nadu Heritage Forum in Srirangam told TNIE that the murals depict the Bhagavtham, one of the greatest Hindu tests and also deal with various Vaishnavite belief, including incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

TNIE quoted official sources in the HR & CE as saying, ““Temple authorities are technically and financially prepared to do the refurbishment works. Even HR&CE has constituted a separate committee to look after the centuries-old murals, but we have a few legal constraints in beginning the renovation. It will be undertaken at the earliest.”