The discovery of three idols made of semiprecious metals submerged in the temple pond at the Patteeswarar temple in Coimbatore has caused quite a stir. This temple is present in the Perur locality of the district.
The pond belonging to this temple is usually found to be brimming with water. Due to the lack of precipitation in the area, there was very little water in the pond. On what seemed like a usual day, devotees had visited the pond to wash their legs before entering the temple. To their surprise, they had discovered three idols made of semiprecious metals in the pond. They immediately notified the temple authorities.
The local police have now recovered the idols and are investigating whether the three idols belong to the Perur Patteeswarar temple or looted from another temple and thrown into the pond here.
A Perur police official said the idol was recovered from the temple pond and was being investigated by the police. It will be sent for archeological research and carbon dating to find how old the idols are. Religious activists fear that burglaries from temples over the last few months have led to an increase in the number of people stealing idols thinking they are gold and smuggling them for artistic value, and are demanding that security provided to the temples be increased.
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