Panchaloka idol stolen from Thuraiyur temple

It is said, the locks on the grill gate of the centuries old temple located at Thuraiyur village near Peravurani was found broken. The theft came to light when Vijaya, wife of Packirisamy, staff of the village temple went to open the temple in the early hours on January 26. A shocked Vijaya informed her husband who in turn informed the police and the villagers.  

When the villagers went inside the temple they found the steel box which contained the panchaloka idol of the Amman, which used to be carried out in procession during festivals, was missing. It is said that the idol weighing 20 kg is worth several lakhs of rupees. 

The villagers said that the idol was actually kept at the Sivan temple at Marungapallm village till 1974. But, after noticing the inscription saying “Thuraiyur Muthumariamman,” elders of Thuraiyur village got back the idol and kept in the Thuraiyur Muthumariamman temple.  Based on a complaint by M Ayyadurai, the temple priest, the Sethubavachathiram police registered a case.