Chennai: Devotees were in for shock on Mahasivarathri day, after three gold-plated kalasams were stolen from atop the Vimanam (temple tower) of Sri Viruthagireeswarar temple in Vriddhachalam.
The incident came to light Tuesday when residents and the temple priests shocked to see the Kalasams, each weighing 300 kg, missing and only the iron rods in which they are placed, jutting out.
Police have formed special teams to nab the thieves. They suspect that the culprits might have used a ladder to climb up the wall of the vimanam to steal the kalasams.
District Superintendent of Police, S Sakthi Ganesan after inspecting the scene said they are hopeful of nabbing the culprits soon.
Police are analysing the CCTV footages in the 2,500 year old temple, for which consecration was held on 6 February.
‘We have examined the CCTV footage in the temple and have found proper leads. We are zeroing in on the culprits and will apprehend them soon,’ he added.
The temple built by the Cholas is considered auspicious for devotees and is among the important Siva shrines among the 1008 in the country. The temple history also includes saint poets of the Saivite clan, Thirugnanasbandar, Sundaram and Thiruvasagar. They sang hymns in the temple.
Several precious temple artifacts, including idols, were stolen from various temples in the State and after the temple theft squad was constituted, some of these idols and other temple artifacts were traced back and retrieved.