Idols of Kanchi temple handed over to icon centre

The idols that were produced before the Judge Ayyappan Pillai, were assessed by the officials. The Somaskanthar idol measured two feet in height and weighed 110 kg, while Yelavarkuzhali idol measured three feet in height and weighed 60 kg. Subsequently, the idols were handed over to the icon centre at Nageswaran temple, in Kumbakonam.

It may be noted that authorities of Kancheepuram Ekambaranathar temple had planned to replace idols of the main deity of Somaskanthar, Lord Shiva, Paravathi and Murugan, weighing around 50 kg and that of Goddess Amman weighing around 65 kg, after getting approval from HR and CE department.

However, the department gave its clearance with a condition that new idols should contain 5 per cent gold of the total weight.

New idols were made, but there were allegations of misappropriation of gold by the makers as the temple authorities had failed to maintain the account of gold donated by devotees.

 

Later, a devotee filed a petition in the Kancheepuram Judicial magistrate court, which ordered the idol wing police to investigate into the allegations. 

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) informed the Madras High Court on Thursday that 630 idols seized by the idol wing of the state police have so far been inspected by it.

Assistant Solicitor General G Karthikeyan submitted a copy of the communication from ASI Regional Director (South) M Nambirajan before Justice R Mahadevan stating that the idols had been inspected.

A memo had earlier been filed by the idol wing seeking a direction from the court to the ASI for determining the age of the seized idols. The court had ordered the completion of the task on or before October 24.

Giving details about the inspections, the ASI said 404 objects were from the Icon Centre, Panthanallur, 25 from Mariamman Temple, Punnainallur, 41 from the Big Temple, Thanjavur, and 160 from Icon Centre, Tiruvarur.

The inspection included physical examination, observation of stylistic features, ornamentation, patination and inscription (if any), comparison with old available records and discussion among experts and scientific analysis. The judge posted the case for further hearing after two weeks.