TIRUCHY: A partially buried stone sculpture of Chandesvara, celebrated as one of the 63 Saivite Nayanmars, was unearthed from the outskirts of Chundaikkai, a remote village near Musiri on the Tiruchy-Salem highway.
R Akila, assistant professor, Department of History, Arignar Anna Government Arts College, Musiri, and M Nalini, head of Department of History, Seethalakshmi Ramasami College, stumbled upon the sculpture while they were undertaking an explorative study in the area. Locals helped them retrieve it. After cleaning, it was identified as Chandesvara.
After examining the sculpture, R Kalaikkovan, Sirector, Dr M Rajamanikkanar Centre for Historical Research, said it was an early Chola sculpture of Chandesvara, measuring 92 cm in height, 58 cm in breadth and 15 cm in thickness. The headgear is arranged as jatabhara.
The apparel at the waist is short and is kept in place by a well-draped idaikkattu. He is seated in sukhasana posture.