A 16th-century bronze idol of Thirumangai Azhwar, originally belonging to Tamil Nadu, has been returned to India by British authorities. The sculpture was held at the Ashmolean Museum of the University of Oxford in London.
Officials said the idol was traced to the Sri Soundararaja Perumal Temple at Thadikombu in Thanjavur district, from where it had gone missing. The Ashmolean Museum had purchased the piece at a Sotheby’s auction in 1967.
In 2019, a researcher brought out photographic evidence taken at the temple in 1957, helping establish that the idol had been stolen and replaced with a modern replica. A subsequent investigation confirmed that it had been illegally trafficked out of India.
Following talks led by the Indian High Commission, UK authorities agreed to hand over the idol. With approval from India’s Ministry of Culture, transfer documents were prepared and the bronze was formally handed over at India House in London.
The idol is expected to be sent to India soon and reinstalled at the temple after traditional rituals. During the handover, four more ancient idols recovered with the support of the Indian government—including two Ganesha idols (one seated under an umbrella and one dancing) and a dancing child Balakrishna—were also returned, officials said.
