Lost Durga idol to return from New York

An idol of Mahishasurmardini (the other name of Goddess Durga) is on its way back to India from the Metropolitan (Met) Museum in New York, after museum authorities recognised that its rightful place is Baijnath temple in Almora.

Officials of the Met contacted the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) six months ago, asking them for details of the idol, currently in their possession. With no transparent historical records with them, senior curator of South and Southeast Asian art John Guy asked ASI officials if there was any historical reference with them. The Met also mentioned their nagging suspicion of the idol being bought off the art market illegally. The only information Guy's office had was that the idol had first surfaced in the art market sometime in 1980.

ASI officials soon launched an investigation through its Dehradun circle but could not find formidable leads. The Chakravarteshwar temple from where the idol was stolen was destroyed over time and now a renovated temple stands in its place. Apart from an old Navagraha temple panel, the entire structure was rebuilt in the renovation process, making it difficult for them to trace its records.

The only known image of the Mahishasurmardini idol is found in professor Kanti Prasad Nautiyal's 1969 book 'The Archaeology of Kumaon'. The idol, originally housed in the Chakravarteshwar temple in the Baijnath temple complex that dates back to 1204 CE, was described as a goddess with eight hands. In the right hands, the goddess is seen carrying a khadga, chakra, saktyayudha and trishul, which pierces the back of the demon, Mahisasura, with its three-pronged edge. In her three left hands, she carries the khetaka, ghanta, and dhanusa while the fourth one holds Mahisasur's head.

Director antiquities at the ASI, DN Dimri, said there was little hope of getting the idol back. "With the Chakravarteshwar temple destroyed completely, this was a case beyond our control, but a small technicality helped us find traces of the idol," he told dna.

As per the Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972, any artwork or antiquity that was brought from India before 1976 with a licence provided by the Indian government under the Export Control Act, 1947, cannot be called illegal. ASI officials, on account of the idol being seen in the art market in the 1980 as per Guy's letter, arrived at the conclusion that the idol was "illegally exported" and wrote back to Guy.

The Met replied within 20 days and promised to send the idol back to India, with the condition that the Indian government does not initiate any proceedings on the museum. ASI agreed to the terms, and Guy is now scheduled to come to India sometime in May with the idol.

The origin story

• The idol was originally housed in the 1204 CE Chakravarteshwar temple  
• Today, a renovated temple stands in its place in the Baijnath temple complex