People of Kumbakonam garland the icons of King Raja Raja Chola and Lokamadevi to welcome them back after 50 years at the temple town on Friday.

Thanjavur: It was a reverential home coming for the two icons of King Raja Raja Chola, who built the Big temple at Thanjavur and his queen Lokamadevi, when they were brought by Idol wing police headed by Pon. Manikavel, IG, to the court which deals with idol theft cases at Kumbakonam on Friday. People gathered in large numbers and welcomed the icons by shouting “Raja Raja Chola Vaazhga” when they were brought by the police at Bhakthapri rountana at Kumbakonam for presenting before the court.

Members of Federation of All Traders Associations, Kumbakonam, Thenbharatha Kumbamela Trust, Jyothirmalai Iraipani Thirukudam, Viswa Hindu Parishad, Hindu Makkal Katchi, Pandanallur “Engal Oor Engal Perumai” trust and AIADMK gave a reverential welcome to the icons. They garlanded them and ‘Sivanadiyars’ played ‘Sivabhoothaganangal’ musical instruments like drums and conch.

After the icons were produced before additional magistrate court, the judge saw the icons and ordered the idol wing police to hand over them to HR & CE department. Mr. Bharanidharan, Assistant Commissioner of HR & CE took possession of them from the police. Later, the judge ordered that they be placed at Big Temple after which the icons were taken to Thanjavur via Thiruvaiyaru.

The icons were taken to Thiruvaiyaru where Lokamadevi had built a ‘Vadakayilayam temple’ and later brought to Big temple here and placed there late in the evening.

The two icons, in a posture of worshipping Lord Brahadeeswara, for whom the king built the Big temple, were believed sculptured and presented to the temple even when the king and queen were alive 1,000 years back by the king's lieutenant Senathipathi Mummudi Cholan Brahmarayan. Mr. Pon. Manickavel said that investigation was continuing and those, “whoever may be and how old they were”, (even beyond 100), allegedly involved in the theft would be brought to book. Action would be taken against Sarabhai Foundation, Calico Museum at Ahmedabad, he said.

Police officials Rajaram and Ashok said the 'panchaloha' icons represented Chola era clothing and ornaments and are one of the most beautiful ones.

Mr. T. Senthilkumar, SP, Thanjavur district, said six armed police men will be on duty in shifts 24x7 at the Big temple for the icons. The icons were brought by the idol wing police who went to Ahmedabad after documents were presented to the museum authorities, officers said. The icons were allegedly stolen 50 years back and the FIR had been filed on the missing icons by Mr. Pon. Manickavel. A case was registered in March this year and a breakthrough achieved in three months, police said.

The police team included ASP, Mr Rajaram, Mr. Ashok, Mr. Nadarajan, DSP, Mr. Venkatraman, and inspectors Mr. Ravi, Mr. Vinayakamurthy, Mr. Sureshkumar and Mr. Sibin Raj.

The icons were later taken in procession on a flower-bedecked ‘rath’ around the ‘prakara’ of Big temple after their arrival here on Friday night. The icons were brought before Lord Brahadeeswara at the sanctum sanctorum and aarthi performed. They were then placed near ‘Kannadi Prabhai (mirror arch)’ at ‘Arthamandapam’. Hundreds of people witnessed the event alongside A. Annadurai, Thanjavur district collector, Bahabhaji Rajah Bhonsle, hereditary trustee of palace devasthanam and T. Senthilumar, district SP.