Retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Ponn Manickavel, who was also the former Inspector General of the Idol Wing, has filed a complaint with the Baluchettichattiram police, alleging that an ancient Perumal temple near Kanchipuram, has gone missing.
Ponn Manickavel stated in his complaint that there was a 1,071-year-old Nindru Arulina Uyya Konda Azhwar Perumal Temple between Govindawadi and Tirumalpur which apparently disappeared 40 years ago. It was reportedly kept off the radar of the government for more than 30-40 years after the idols were stolen. According to Ponn Manickavel’s complaint, no information about the temple theft was reported to the police as well.
Addressing reporters after filing the complaint, Ponn Manickavel said that this temple was not even known to the Archeology Survey of India. He said that 40 years ago people of Govindawadi area used to worship in this temple everyday. It is regrettable that the temple was completely stolen and disappeared without the knowledge of even the Vaishnava Archakas, he said.
He further said, “Nindru Arulina Perumal Uyya Konda Azhwar temple was extensively built during the reign of Parantaka Chozhan as evidenced by the temple inscription. In 1906, European epigraphists discovered and documented the inscriptions related to this temple. The inscription also stated that the lamp was donated by one Amanima Deviyaar, a Chozha queen who hailed from the Pandyan nation. This culturally significant inscription has now vanished.”
Another Chozha empress hailing from Kunnathur had also donated a lamp to the temple. Four inscriptions about Rajaraja Chozhan and his brother Aditha Karikalan is said to have been there.
He stated that at the time when the Manikandeswarar Temple in Tirumalpur area was renovated by the Nattukottai Chettiars, this Azhwar Perumal temple here in Kanchipuram was also renovated. It is also stated that this temple received a donation of Hanuman idol and for singing Nammalwar Prabandham by then kings. The Hanuman idol that was given has also vanished Ponn Manickavel said.
Highlighting the government’s laxity, he said “For 40 years, no First Information Report (FIR) was made regarding the stolen information. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department has acted in favour of the perpetrators by not punishing the true criminals in accordance with the law.”
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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