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69-Year Stolen Idol Returns Home to Tamil Nadu Temple
18 Aug
Summary
- A 16th-century bronze idol stolen in 1957 has been returned after 69 years.
- The idol was found at the Ashmolean Museum in London, UK.
- Three other stolen idols were located in museums across the United States.
A sacred 16th-century bronze idol, stolen in 1957 from the Soundararaja Perumal Temple near Kumbakonam, has been returned to Tamil Nadu after an absence of 69 years. The idol was formally handed over on August 16, 2026, following years of dedicated investigation and diplomatic engagement.
This precious artifact was one of four valuable idols reported missing between 1957 and 1967. Investigators traced the Thirumangai Alvar bronze idol to the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford University, which had acquired it in 1967. Simultaneously, three other idols were located in museums across the United States.
Through a concerted effort involving multiple Indian ministries and the Indian High Commission in London, the bronze idol was successfully repatriated to India. It was then presented to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and subsequently reinstalled in the Soundararaja Perumal temple with traditional ceremonies, restoring it to public worship.
