Australian High Commission welcomes return of Shiva Nataraja to TN

The Australian High Commission has welcomed the return of two 11th century idols to Tamil Nadu.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott handed the idols of Nataraja (the "Dancing Shiva") and Ardhanariswara to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on his official visit to New Delhi last week.

The authorities in Tamil Nadu have now taken custody of the idols.

Australia's High Commissioner to India, Patrick Suckling, said that he was happy to see the idols back in Tamil Nadu.

"The quick return of these important cultural artefacts shows that Australia takes its obligations as a good international citizen very seriously," Suckling said.

"Prime Minister Abbott wanted to personally hand them over to Prime Minister Modi on his first official visit to India as a gesture of goodwill, and as testimony to the importance which Australia places on our bilateral relationship with India," he added.

The Indian Government had earlier in March this year requested that both pieces be returned to India under UNESCO's cultural heritage convention.

The Attorney General of Australia, Senator George Brandis, agreed to the request shortly before the Prime Minister travelled to India.

Both institutions which purchased the idols - the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the National Gallery of Australia - gave full support to their return.