Feature Image Credits: Dinamani
A thousand-year-old idol of an ancient Goddess was found on Thursday during the construction of a canal on Kulambeeswarar Temple Street in Uttaramerur near Kanchipuram.
There has been work going on in this area to construct a drainage canal on Kulambeeswarar Temple Street in Uttaramerur near Kanchipuram. An ancient idol of the Goddess was discovered by workers who were involved in this task. Upon finding the idol, the public of the area together poured water, cleaned and worshipped the idol. This information came to the notice of the Uttaramerur Historical Research Center who visited the statue and confirmed that it was an idol of the elder sister of Goddess Lakshmi belonging to the Pallava period.
According to the Heritage Center belonging to the temple, the idol is 4 feet high and 2 feet wide. The deity is seated with a white crown under the umbrella and adorned in earrings, chest ornaments, and a dress at the waist. On the right is the figure of a crow, and beneath it is their son in the shape of a cow. On the left are her daughter Manthi and a lady-in-waiting under her feet with a treasure-chest on her head.
It is believed to be the idol of the elder sister of Goddess Lakshmi. Thiruvalluvar, Avvaiyar and Sangam literature also contains references to her. She was the kuladeivam (ancestral deity) of Nandivarman Pallavan, the ancient Pallava ruler. This deity had been worshipped in the Chola period and is revered as a symbol of prosperity.
It is to be noted that a box full of gold ornaments was found at the base of the temple when work began on the consecration of the Kulambeeswarar temple recently.
(With inputs from Dinamani)
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