Why in News?
Australia announced the repatriation of three Chola-era antiquities stolen from temples in Tamil Nadu during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit.
Key Highlights
- Australia will return:
- Bronze Trident (Trishul) of Goddess Bhadrakali
- Granite Nandi idol
- Basalt sculpture of six-headed Karthikeya (Shanmukha)
- The artefacts date to the 11th-12th century (Chola period).
- They were housed in the National Gallery of Australia.
Legal Basis
- Repatriation is being carried out under the India-Australia Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT).
- Investigation by the Tamil Nadu Idol Wing CID established that the artefacts were illegally removed from temples and trafficked overseas.
Original Temples
- Bhadrakali Trident: Sri Kasi Viswanatha Swamy Temple, Kollumangudi, Tiruvarur.
- Karthikeya Idol: Naganathaswamy Temple, Manambadi, Thanjavur.
- Nandi Idol: Identified as originating from a temple in Tamil Nadu.
[2025] Who among the following led a successful military campaign against the kingdom of Srivijaya, the powerful maritime State, which ruled the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and the neighbouring islands?
[A] Amoghavarsha (Rashtrakuta)
[B] Prataparudra (Kakatiya)
[C] Rajendra 1 (Chola)
[D] Vishnuvardhana (Hoysala)