Chola era Durga idol unearthed in Tiruchy

It is said that a group of workers involved in digging the ground for drinking water pipeline at Kanthalur near Tiruverumbur, found a stone idol measuring around five feet in height with eight hands along with a deer mount (vaganam). They cleaned the idol and applied sandal paste along with turmeric and kumkum and performed a puja.

Later, they passed on information about the find to the revenue officials and a team, led by the Tahsildhar Rafeek Ahemed, reached the spot, where the work to lay water pipeline was under way and took possession of the idol. Later, the team deposited the idol in the treasury office at Tiruverumbur.

Giving details about the idol, archaeological researcher Manikandan claimed that it was a rare idol of the Goddess Durga and dated back to the Chola era.

Pointing out that the hair of the goddess resembled 10 century style of sculpting, he said that however some features also looked like those belonging to the 12th century. Still, athorough inspection was required to give the exact details and the age to which the idol belonged to.