A centuries-old Shivalinga, believed to date back 1,400 years, was recently discovered at the Karunkuttai crematorium in Uthiramerur, located along the road to Kanchipuram.
Though the idol had reportedly been present at the site for many years, it had largely gone unnoticed by the local community. The structure came into the spotlight only after a video surfaced online, showing the ancient Shivalinga within the crematorium grounds. The video quickly caught the attention of devotees and heritage enthusiasts.
Upon visiting the site, several Shaivite devotees identified the structure as an 8-foot-tall Shivalinga, surrounded by more than 10 stone pillars many of which are partially buried in the soil. These features suggested the remains of a mandapa (temple hall), indicating that a significant temple might have once stood at the location.
The devotees then cleaned the statue and offered worship at the site. Kanchi Sivabalan Sivanadiyar, a local Shaivite devotee, commented that the design and craftsmanship of the Shivalinga align with Pallava-era temple architecture. He added that the buried pillars near the statue further support the theory that a Shiva temple once existed at the crematorium.
Sivanadiyar urged the Tamil Nadu government to take immediate steps to protect and relocate the ancient statue to a more appropriate and accessible place where it can be preserved and worshipped properly by the public.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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