A 60-year-old watchman of Sri Sundareswara Swamy temple at Koranattu Karuppur near here was murdered on Monday night.
Ancient granite and panchaloha idols and temple hundis remain intact and safe. The assailants could not lay their hands on temple jewellery which were kept in a different place.
When the Sivacharya came to the temple early on Tuesday morning for routine pooja, he found the main doors shut.
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After trying in vain to connect with the night watchman Somasundaram of the same village, the priest along with other people of the village scaled the 20-foot tall temple compound to find Somasundaram gagged and murdered.
The police were alerted and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department officials who all rushed to the temple.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the murderers had entered the temple precincts through a big tree near the temple compound wall with the help of a rope tethered to its branch, gagged, and murdered Somasundaram before they opened a sacred box containing the idol of Goddess Sundara Makali or Petti Kali, which deity is a speciality of this Chola-era shrine.
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The criminals could not find any ornaments or precious items other than the sudhai idol as also gold and silver mangalasutra of the deity in the box. The Sundara Makali idol is scarcely brought out for public darshan and special pujas are usually offered on specific days in a month for the box containing the idol.
Last time, the idol was brought out for public darshan was May 29, sources in the temple said.
The intruders left behind four crowbars, a big screw driver and two big billhooks and they clearly revealed their game plan of looting the temple.
It stumped the investigators as to why they never touched any other idol or statue though there existed emergency alarm. Similarly, the miscreants did not disturb the hundis as well.
The slain Somadundaram, who had been in service for 35 years, leaves behind his wife Shenbagavalli, two sons, and three daughters. His body was removed to the Kumbakonam Government Hospital for post mortem examination. M.N. Mayilvahanan, Superintendent of Police, Thanjavur, and Gajendran, Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, visited the spot and conducted inquiries. Investigation was under way.
The assailants could not lay their hands on jewellery
The ‘Petti kali’ deity is rarely taken out; it was taken out last on May 29