Australia announced the repatriation of
three antiquities linked to temples in Tamil Nadu
¨
Australia announced the
repatriation of three antiquities linked to temples in Tamil Nadu.
¨
The artefacts include:
¨
An 11th-century Chola-era
bronze trident of Goddess Bhadrakali.
¨
An 11th–12th century
granite Nandi idol.
¨
A 12th-century basalt
sculpture of the six-headed Karthikeya.
¨
The Bhadrakali trident
and Nandi idol are believed to have originated from the Sri Kasiviswanathaswamy
Temple, Kollumangudi, Thiruvarur district.
¨
The Karthikeya sculpture
is associated with the Naganatha Swamy Temple at Manambadi village, Thanjavur
district.
¨
These objects are part of
South Indian temple bronzes and stone sculptures, representing the region's
rich religious art.
¨
The repatriation is being
carried out under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) between India and
Australia.
¨
The Tamil Nadu Idol Wing
CID established that the artefacts had been illegally removed from India and
trafficked overseas.
¨
A provenance review by
former High Court Justice Susan Crennan AC found significant gaps in the
ownership history of the objects.
¨
The review concluded that
lawful export from India could not be established for two of the idols.
¨
The Chola dynasty ruled
large parts of South India from the 9th to the 13th century.
¨ Chola bronzes are renowned for their religious iconography, exceptional metal craftsmanship, and use in temple worship.
¨ The Tamil Nadu Idol Wing CID is a specialised police unit responsible for investigating the theft, smuggling, and recovery of temple idols and antiquities.