Idol, trishul missing from Tiruvannamalai temple

According to sources, a 9-inch tall bronze idol of Lord Muruga and a 1.5-foot long trishul have been found missing during an audit of temple articles in Tiruvannamalai. 

Following this, temple officials have lodged a complaint with the Tiruvannamalai town police. R Gananasekaran, who took over as the new joint commissioner of the temple three months ago, initiated various measures to ensure the safety of all the idols and other antique articles of the shrine and its sub-temples. As part of the measures, Gnanasekaran undertook an audit of all idols and artefacts belonging to the temple. 

All were measured and weighed in the presence of the public and officials, a month ago. During the audit it came to light that a processional deity of Lord Muruga made of bronze and a trishul were missing. Both the pieces have been recorded in the previous audit undertaken in 1959. Temple officials said nobody knew when the artefacts went missing as no audit was conducted between 1959 and 2018. 

Following information from the joint commissioner of the temple to Superintendent of Police R Ponni, Tiruavannamalai town police visited the temple and inspected the vaults from where the artefacts went missing. 

Officials said that the temple had a total of 164 idols, including 30 made of panchaloha. It may be recalled that some months ago there were rumours that temple jewels were missing after the ashtabandanam was removed from the sanctum sanctorum. 

Then suddenly the ashtabandanam was re-imposed without notice. Subsequently, idol wing IG Pon Manickavel, who visited the temple, said that the matter would be investigated if an official complaint was lodged. However, no complaint was lodged by the officials.