Ancient idols unearthed

Thirteen ancient idols of deities were unearthed while digging a piece of land for construction of a temple at Thiruvilaiyattam village near Porayar in the district today, polic said.
The diols wre found when workers were digging a piece of land in Anaikuthi perumal thidal area in Thiruvilaiyattam village. They were found at a depth of about 10-ft. The workers immediately alerted the revenue officials.
On the orders of Nagapattinam District Collector S Pazhanisamy, Tarangambadi Tahsildar Raghavan and archealogical curator Veeramani rushed to the spot and ordered further digging.
A total of 13 idols, that of Perumal, Sridevi, Boodevi, Hanuman and others were unearthed. The perumal idol measures 43 inches high. The other idols vary in size between 20 to 30 inches. It is not immediately known if the idols have been made of panchaloha.

Other details about the idols, including antiquity value would be known only after detailed archeaological examination, said the tahsildar. The idols are now kept in safe custody at the Tarangambadi taluk office.
Three panchaloka idols were unearthed from the same spot in June. Local people said that a perumal temple existed at Anaikuthi perumal thidal 800 years ago. The temple, over the years got buried underground. Since the idols were found in the same location, they must be at least 800 years old, they said.