Chitra Pournami: Tamil epic heroine Kannagi’s idol portion missing for 50 years
The upper half of the Kannagi idol, handed over to the DMK government for restoration in the 1970s, has remained missing; on Chitra Pournami (May 12), devotees to worship recreated idol
For over 50 years, the mystery of the whereabouts of the top portion of the main deity Kannagi in the 2000-year-old Mangala Devi Kannagi Temple, located in the bordering forest region of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, has not been solved. Many researchers and experts say that the top portion of the idol, which was handed over to the then DMK government in the 1970s, was not restored in the temple.
Over several thousands of devotees, who are allowed only once a year during the annual Chitra Pournami (Full moon day, which falls on May 12 this year), get to worship the deity, whose top portion would be recreated in sandalwood paste and the original bottom portion seen seated on the pedestal.
Kannagi: A symbol of feminine strength
Several literary works in the Tamil language confirm that the temple was built by a Chera king, Cheran Senguttuvan, and the idol was sculpted out of stone brought by him from the Himalayas. Kannagi is the main character of the historic Tamil epic named Silappathikaram penned during the 5th century, who fought against injustice and taught a lesson to an erroneous Pandya king.
The bottom portion of the idol.
Devotees from the bordering forest areas of Tamil Nadu and Kerala who visit the temple have been waiting to worship the repaired idol of Kannagi, who is worshipped as a symbol of chastity, justice, and feminine strength.
Also read: TN: Villagers clash during temple festival; police, VCK differ on caste angle
Though the Tamil Nadu government in December 2022 declared that the temple would be taken over by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, no serious measures were taken to refurbish the temple and restore the idol. When The Federal questioned HR&CE Minister P.K. Sekar Babu about the missing portion of the idol and failure of restoration efforts over 50 years, he said that he would answer only after his visit to the temple on the Chitra Pournami festival (May12). “We decided to take over the temple in 2022. I’m visiting the temple in person to study the present condition. I will answer only after this visit,’’ he told The Federal.
How Kannagi turned into a revered female god?
Kannagi, the central figure in the Silappathikaram — often called the “people’s epic” — is a symbol of virtue in Tamil culture. According to the epic, Kannagi’s husband, Kovalan, a merchant from Poompuhar, loses his wealth to a dancer named Madhavi. Returning to Kannagi, he sets off with her to Madurai to rebuild their lives. There, he attempts to sell her anklet (silambu), which leads to a tragic misunderstanding.
The Kannagi temple situated in the hills
A goldsmith falsely claims the anklet Kovalan brought was the queen’s stolen ornament. Without an investigation, Pandya king Nedunchezhiyan orders Kovalan’s execution. Kannagi proves Kovalan’s innocence by revealing the contents of her anklet (gems), in contrast to the queen’s (pearls). Realising his grave error, the king dies on his throne, followed by the queen’s death from grief.
Overcome with rage, Kannagi sets Madurai ablaze, then wanders for 14 days and reaches Kumuli, where, according to the epic, she ascends to the heavens from a rock named Vinnethiparai in a forested area. Her husband appears in a divine chariot, ties the sacred thread back on her, and takes her with him.
It is said that the local Paliyan tribes who witnessed this divine ascent told the story to Cheran Senguttuvan, who then built the temple for Kannagi using stone from the Himalayas. The tale was passed over several generations through the tribes and Ilango Adigal, author from the royal Chera king family, penned the story as Silappathikaram, which is revered as one of the five great epics of Tamil language.
How was the Kannagi idol found?
Kannagi was initially worshipped by tribes in the forest regions bordering Tamil Nadu and Kerala. After detailed research led by Tamil professor C. Govindarajan in 1960s to 1970s about the connection of the deity of the temple and the Tamil epic, several Tamil and history enthusiasts too visited the temple.
Due to differences between the Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments over the ownership of the temple land and its maintenance, the temple restoration failed to take off.
Author and former IAS officer M. Rajendran, who is the current president of the Kannagi Temple Trust, said that despite multiple petitions and initiatives, no significant progress has been made in restoring the temple and the idol. The temple now lies in ruins — its entrance tower, surrounding walls, and sanctum all severely damaged.
Speaking to The Federal, Rajendran, who had authored a book on the Kannagi Temple, said there was much evidence available on the top portion of the idol handed over to the officials in the DMK government in 1971.
“I had recorded the last interview of Tamil professor Govindarajan in 2013 for my book. He was the one who identified the Kannagi idol in 1963 in the temple complex near Vannathiparai after a series of field research. During our chat, he explained clearly that he spotted the Kannagi Devi idol inside the temple in broken portions, and he brought the top portion of the idol with him for further research and restoration later. His family even performed poojas during Chitra Pournami for over five years,” he said.
“After he had completed his research, he met the then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in 1971 and explained the significance of the idol. He was asked to hand over the idol to the engineering department and was promised that the idol would be restored in the temple. After the handover, the idol was neither restored nor seen anywhere,” Rajendran told The Federal.
Also read: A little-known Tamil epic based on the freedom struggle & Gandhism
He said a detailed investigation should be carried out to identify the missing portion of the idol and have it restored. “The puzzle should be solved immediately. If all efforts fail, the Tamil Nadu government should take over the temple under HR-&CE and refurbish the temple and the idol without much delay. We should at least save what is remaining,” Rajendran added.
Why did restoration efforts fail?
The Federal verified documents related to Kannagi temple recorded in Tamil Nadu assembly sessions and news articles published during the 1970s. The earliest documented call for restoration was made in 1963 by Prof. C. Govindarajan in his research papers. In 1976, then CM M. Karunanidhi allocated Rs 20 lakh to build a road to the temple. However, the Emergency led to the suspension of the plan.
In 1981, CM M.G. Ramachandran promised to build a road and proposed a 100-acre Kannagi Cultural Complex, but the plan did not materialise. In 1986, DMK MLA Rahman Khan urged the Tamil Nadu Assembly to remove encroachments and restore the temple. When the Periyar Tiger Reserve project was established in the border region in 1982, the Kerala government began maintaining the temple area. The Tamil Nadu government failed to initiate the road project and restore the idol in the temple.
P.S.M. Murugan, a member of the Kannagi Temple Trust, says this year, beyond religious fervour, the spotlight is on an appeal made by devotees and temple management committee members for the restoration of the temple’s main idol. “The idol of Kannagi remains partially damaged for several years. Efforts to restore the idol are not just about aesthetics or religious symbolism, but about preserving the history and literary heritage of ancient Tamil civilization,” he said.
