5th century Ganapathy idol discovered in Villupuram dt.

A stone idol of Ganapathy with inscriptions dating back to the 5th century A.D. has been discovered at a temple in Alagramam village in Villupuram district.

A team of epigraphists, who were on a visit to the Yama Dhandeeswarar Temple at Alagramam village near here as part of their study on archaeological structures, discovered the idol in the precincts of the temple.

The idol was found buried near the sanctum sanctorum during renovation work which was under way at the temple.

The workers who were not aware of the importance, removed the idol and placed it in the temple.

Epigraphist C. Veeraraghavan and his wife Mangayarkarasi, who have been studying archaeological structures across the State, examined the idol, and said the idol dated back to the 5th century A.D. “The inscription on the idol is unique and it could be the oldest idol of Ganapathy found in Tamil Nadu. The idol measures 75 cms in height and 40 cms in width.

The inscription found at the base of the idol preceded the inscription found at Kudaivarai temple at Pillayarpatti in Sivaganga district,” Mr. Veeraraghavan told

The Hindu.

The idol was shown with the right hand holding a stick and the left hand with a broken tusk and anklets on the legs.

The inscriptions engraved at the base of the idol were in Tamil brahmi script to Vatteluttu and could be assigned to 4th to 6th century A.D, he said.

It was found buried near sanctum sanctorum of a temple

5th century Ganapathy idol discovered in Villupuram dt.

‘It could be oldest Ganapathy idol found in TN’