Centre to hand over 10 stolen antiquities, idols to Tamil Nadu govt

Subject: History

Section: Art and Culture

Context:

Centre to hand over 10 stolen antiquities, idols to Tamil Nadu govt

Among the 10 stolen antiquities are four objects retrieved from Australia in 2020-2022, and six from the US last year.
Once the state receives the idols, they will be installed at their original locations.
Significant among these idols is the Dvārapāla, a stone sculpture retrieved in 2020 from Australia, which belongs to the Vijayanagar dynasty dating to 15th-16th century, burgled from Moondreeswaramudayar Temple, Tirunelveli, in 1994.
There is also a sculpture of the Natarāja retrieved in 2021 from the US, stolen from the strong room of Punnainallur Arulmigu Mariamman Temple in Thanjavur.
There is a sculpture of Kankālamurti, also retrieved in 2021 from the US, which was stolen from Narasinganadhar Swamy Temple, Tirunelveli, in 1985.
Other notable works include sculptures of Nandikeshvara (13th century), the four-armed Vishnu (11th-12th century), Goddess Pārvati (11th-12th century), Siva and Pārvati (12th century) and Sambandar (11th century).
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been effectively pursuing the process of retrieval of antiquities from foreign lands, in conjunction with various missions abroad.
Between 2014 and 2021, more than 200 stolen antiquities have been returned, or are in the process of being returned, to India, as per ASI, which is the custodian of these objects once they return to India.