CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu archaeology department has unearthed two Chola-era bronze idols of Nataraja and Sivakami during an excavation in Nagapattinam, a major port city during the period.The iconography and artistry suggest that the idols date back to the 12th century. The Cholas ruled the region from the 9th to the 13th century CE. Archaeology minister A Rajmohan announced the discovery on Friday.The idols were found at a depth of 1m. The Nataraja idol, which is 110cm tall and 100cm wide, depicts Lord Shiva with four arms in the ‘ananda tandava’ pose. The lower right hand is in the ‘abhaya mudra’, the upper right hand holds a drum, the upper left hand carries a flame, and the lower left hand displays the ‘gajahasta mudra’. One foot rests on the demon Muyalaka, while the other is raised.The Sivakami idol is 82cm tall and 23cm wide. It is depicted in the ‘tribhanga’ posture. The right hand displays the ‘kataka mudra’, while the left shows the ‘dolahasta mudra’. Both idols were found on pedestals.“These are two masterpieces of Chola-period bronzes with fine workmanship. They may have been buried for safekeeping,” said Professor K Rajan, adviser to the state archaeology department.K Vasanthakumar, who led the excavation, said the team was looking for clues to understand why hundreds of Chola-era bronzes had been buried in Nagapattinam. The two idols have been brought to Chennai for chemical treatment, while metallurgical analysis will determine the composition of the materials used.V Selvakumar, a retired professor in the department of maritime history and marine archaeology at Tamil University, said Nagapattinam was a multifaceted urban centre during the Chola period, with a port, manufacturing units, active merchant guilds and craft workers, military and naval facilities, as well as several religious shrines.“The port city was frequented by traders, pilgrims and diplomats. The idols may have been buried for safekeeping during invasions in the later period,” he said.
