12th century statue broken by miscreants

Bangalore, May 17 (UNI) An antique eight-feet statue of Lord Chennakeshava, belonging to the Hoysala period, has been broken into pieces by an unidentified gang at Kailadi village in Tumkur district of Karnataka.

Confirming the incident, District Superintendent of Police T Harishekharan said the miscreants had forcibly gained entry into the temple by breaking its lock around midnight on Monday last and broken the 12th century statue into pieces.

He said investigation was on to trace the motive behind the crime and also to nab the culprits.

Delayed reports recieved here said the idols of Goddess Sridevi and Bhoodevi, flanking Lord Chennakeshava, were not touched.

However, a vain attempt had been made to break the idol of Lord Shiva.

The miscreants had reportedly offered pooja at the temple before committing the crime, the reports said.

The statue was a rare piece of art as it was a fusion of the Hindu Trinity--Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar.

Legend has it that sculptor Jakanachari got back his fists after he completed the carving of the statue. The village also derived its name Kaidali (hand giver) from the legend.

Endowments Minister Nagaraj Shetty visited the temple and assured the villagers that another statue would be installed in its place.

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