Chola-era Murugan idol unearthed in Tiruvarur district

Trichy: A Chola-era Murugan idol was discovered in Kariamangalam village, Kottur block, Tiruvarur district, by a team of archaeology enthusiasts. The idol, determined to dates back to the 11th-century Chola kingdom based on its sculpting, was found near an old, partially damaged temple structure.The discovery followed a tip-off from Charulatha, a resident of Kariamangalam. Historian Mani Maran, a Tamil scholar from the Thanjavur Sarasvati Mahal Library, and his team, including Thillai Govindarajan and K Jayalakshmi, inspected the site. Alongside the Murugan idol, they found sculptures of Sanakathi sages and a stone kalasam.The idols were uncovered during the construction of a new temple in the area. Speaking to TOI, Mani Maran explained, "The idols were found about half a kilometre from the Harichandra River, a tributary of the Vennar. Based on the artistic style, the stone kalasam dates back to the 9th century, while the sages' sculptures and Murugan idol are from the 11th century."He noted that the locality was under Chola rule until the 11th century before coming under the Pandyas and Nayakars. "We also found black-and-red ware potteries from the 9th and 10th centuries. The nearby village of Vikramapandiyam, located just 1 km away, is named after the son of Pandya king Veerapandian, further confirming this area was later under Pandya rule," he added.MSID:: 116012186 413 |
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.