Summary:
The United Kingdom has announced the return of a 9th-century-statue of Lord Shiva which was stolen and smuggled nearly 20 years ago from a temple in Rajasthan. The rare stone statue that was stolen in February 1998 from Baroli’s Ghateshwar Temple will be returned to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The statue of Nataraj, also known as Natesha murti, is nearly four ft tall. It can be seen in chatura pose with jatamakuta and trinetra which is a rare depiction of Lord Shiva in the Prathihara style.
An Indian official said that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and India`s law enforcement agencies together have been investigating stolen and smuggled Indian antiquities. Because of the investigation, several stolen antiquities and idols have come to India from countries, such as Australia, the United States of America, France, Germany, and now the UK.
The United Kingdom has announced the return of a 9th-century-statue of Lord Shiva which was stolen and smuggled nearly 20 years ago from a temple in Rajasthan. The rare stone statue that was stolen in February 1998 from Baroli’s Ghateshwar Temple will be returned to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The statue of Nataraj, also known as Natesha murti, is nearly four ft tall. It can be seen in chatura pose with jatamakuta and trinetra which is a rare depiction of Lord Shiva in the Prathihara style.
An Indian official said that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and India`s law enforcement agencies together have been investigating stolen and smuggled Indian antiquities. Because of the investigation, several stolen antiquities and idols have come to India from countries, such as Australia, the United States of America, France, Germany, and now the UK.