1000-year-old emerald lingam stolen in Nagai

The incident came to light when the temple priest had gone to perform puja on Monday evening and found the lingam, also called as ‘Suyambu lingam’, missing and the box in which it was kept broken, they said.

According to Archaeological experts, the Emerald (Maragatham) Lingam could have been made by King Rajendra Chola from Emerald stone, brought from an East Asian country. Based on a complaint, a case has been registered, police said adding, they suspect the involvement of an international gang in the theft of the Lingam. The seventh century temple is administered by Dharmapura Adheenam Mutt and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. 

It may be recalled that an idol smuggling racket was busted in June in Chennai when idol smuggler Deenadayalan was arrested.