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Tamil Nadu
Rare form of sculpture unearthed
| It was found in the tank of Sri Siganathar temple |
RARE FIND: A sculpture of a cow signifying ‘ksheerabhishekam’ (worship with milk) at Kudumiyanmalai in Pudukottai district.
PUDUKOTTAI: A cow offering worship to Lord Shiva with milk is one of the important mythological incidents, associated with the idols of ‘Swayambu Lingams.’ It is also believed that Goddess Parvathi assumes the form of a cow to offer similar worship to an idol of Lord Shiva.
A rare form of a cow supporting this legend has been unearthed from the tank of Sri Siganathar temple at Kudumiyanmalai, also known as Tirunalakundram, about 30 km from here. A long canal, made of stone, facilitating the flow of water from the temple, ends up at the tank.
The image had been designed such that water flowing through the canal, passes through the udders of the animal, indicating its offer of worship with milk, says epigraphist Kudavayil Balasubramanian.
What is more interesting is the culling out of a hole right below the udders of the animal, testifying to the ‘ksheerabishekam’ or offering worship with milk. He says that the sculpture dates back to the Pallavarayar era.
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