Chola-era bronze alloy idols of Lord Nataraja, Goddess Sivakami unearthed in Nagapattinam

The bronze alloy idols of Lord Nataraja and Goddess Sivakami unearthed in Nagapattinam. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement In a significant finding, the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) has unearthed bronze alloy idols of Lord Nataraja and Goddess Sivagami, along with their respective pedestals, during the ongoing excavations at Nagapattinam. The idols belong to the Chola period and were unearthed at a depth of one metre.The idol of Lord Nataraja is depicted in the ‘Ananda Tandava’ posture with four arms and measures 110 cm in height and 100 cm in width. The idol of Goddess Sivagami is depicted in the ‘Tribhanga’ posture with two arms and measures 82 cm in height and 23 cm in width. Based on their physical structure, iconographic features, ornamental designs and the construction of the pedestals, the idols are estimated to date back to the 12th century AD.These discoveries provide crucial archaeological evidence for understanding the religious practices, art and history of metal sculpture in Nagapattinam during the Chola period.Sharing this discovery in a post on X, Minister for School Education Rajmohan, who also holds the portfolio of Archaeology, expressed happiness over the discovery and said that the findings provided evidence of the antiquity and historical significance of the Tamils. Published - October 30, 2026 09:07 pm IST