The Idol Wing CID of the Tamil Nadu Police traced a Sambandar sculpture, reportedly stolen from a village in Kumbakonam taluk, to the Christie's auction house in the U.S.
Sambandar, also referred to as Thirugnana Sambandar, was a Shaiva poet-saint of Tamil Nadu who lived in the 7th century. The sculpture was traced following a complaint from K. Vasu, head of a welfare association functioning in Thandanthottam village, Kumbakonam taluk. He alleged that five antique sculptures— Samabandhar, Krishna Kalinga Narthanam, Ayyanar, Agasthiyar and a Parvati of Nadanapureshwarar Sivan temple in the village— were stolen on the night of May 12, 1971, by breaking open the locks of the temple.
