Seventy-five-year-old N. Govindarajan of Sripuranthan was almost in tears seeing the ‘panchaloha’ idol of Lord Nataraja. It was after a decade that he was seeing the idol. It was stolen from Sri Brahadeeswarar Temple at Sripuranthan in the district before 2006.
A group of villagers from Sripuranthan also waited patiently for hours to get a glimpse of the idol when it was brought to the Jayamkondam Judicial Magistrate Court on Wednesday.
Led by Mr.Govindarajan, the villagers offered worship to the idol in the court complex.
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The 1,000-year-old idol, which was recently handed over to India by Australia, was brought from Chennai and produced before Magistrate S. Muthumurugan.
The idol, weighing about 150 kg and standing about five feet in height, was neatly packed in a wooden box and brought in a police truck with tight security.
The idol was kept inside the truck and the Magistrate came out of the court hall to inspect it.
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Measurements were taken in the presence of the Magistrate by the personnel of the Idol Wing CID of State police investigating the idols-theft cases at the Sripuranthan and Suthamalli temples.
Upon producing the idol, the Idol Wing police filed a petition seeking the court’s permission to keep it in safe custody at the government Icon Centre in Kumbakonam. After inspecting the idol, the Magistrate issued an order .
The idol was later taken to Kumbakonam with police protection.
The idol of Arthnareeswarar of Vridhagiriswarar Temple at Virdhdhachalam was also taken to the icon centre after being produced at the Judicial Magistrate Court, Vrudhdhaachalam, police sources said.