The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Stolen Jaina image recovered

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Stolen Jaina image recovered

By Our Special Correspondent

A Mahavira sculpture of 12th century AD recovered by the Idol Wing of the CID police on Sunday.

CHENNAI, OCT. 12. A Jaina sculpture of Mahavira, stolen two months ago from a temple premises in Pudukottai district, was recovered on Sunday by a quick piece of detective work by the Idol Wing of the Criminal Investigation Department police.

Carved out of grey granite, the high-relief sculpture depicts a seated Mahavira in meditating pose (dhyana mudra). It is datable to 12th century A.D and belonged to the Agatheeswarar temple, dedicated to Siva, at Alathur, Kulathur taluk, Pudukottai district. The temple is a protected monument of the Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI), Chennai Circle.

A gang of three men stole the free-standing sculpture, which was in an open place in front of the temple, on August 17. They put it in a van and drove away. The Idol Wing received ``definite information'' on October 10 that a van was ferrying the sculpture.

A team headed by the Inspector of Police, Idol Wing, P. Manivannan, and three police personnel, K. Muthusamy, R. Moulana and B. Gopal, started checking the vehicles at Kumbakonam. In one of the vans, they found the sculpture wrapped in a big gunny bag. The team arrested S. Kaniarasan (42) of Bodinaickanur, Theni district. While Chinaan, another accused in the case, is absconding, the third accused, Raja, is dead. The police team took to disguises around Alathur to get the leads on the theft.

According T. Satyamurthy, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, Chennai Circle, the image showed Mahavira seated on a padmapita (lotus pedestal), attended by chowrie-bearers (fan-waving) on either side. A ``mukkudai'', a triple umbrella, protects the Mahavira. There are two yalis, one each, on either side of the pedestal.

Dr. Satyamurthy praised the good work done by the Idol Wing police in recovering the sculpture.

C. R. Gayathri, Assistant Archaeologist, ASI, called the sculpture ``very beautiful and invaluable.'' It portrayed the 24th Tirthankara, the Mahavira. There were scroll-designs on the crown of the sculpture. The image belonged to the 12th century A.D. of the late-Chola period.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu