Shocking : Nandi Statue atop Chamunda Hill, Mysore vandalised by miscreants

Paush Shuklapaksha 13,Kaliyug Varsha 5114

Mysore (Karnataka) : In what is said to be an act of vandalism, miscreants yesterday night damaged the historic Nandi monolith located half way on the Mysore-Chamundi Hill road besides damaging stone idols meant for sale at two shops near the monolith and also idols placed around the Nandi.

Miscreants, who damaged part of the sculpted Rudraksha Mala around the neck of the statue also set ablaze the cloth placed on the statue, thus damaging the body of the statue.

Miscreants also broke open the doors of two shops around the monolith in which limestone idols of several Gods were stored and destroyed them. The area around the statue wore a gory look as pieces of destroyed idols were seen strewn all around.

It is also said that a mentally retarded person was seen moving around during the past three days and he is suspected to have committed the act.

Meanwhile, City Police Commissioner K.L. Sudheer said that the department has launched an investigation into the case and expressed confidence that the culprits would be nabbed soon and brought to justice.

CCTV cameras

He also said that a requisition for installing CCTV cameras around the historic statue had been submitted to authorities and added that extensive patrolling under Operation Chamundi would be undertaken during nights.

K.R. Sub-Division ACP A.N. Prakash Gowda and Inspector C.D. Jagadish, who accompanied DCP Basavaraj Malagatti to the spot, said that this was an act of a mentally disturbed person and added that the Police had launched a manhunt for the mentally challenged person who was seen around the area. K.R. Police have registered a case.

Meanwhile Dr. R. Gopal, Director, Department of Archaeology, Mysore, speaking to Star of Mysore over phone this morning said that given the necessary funds, the monolith could be restored in a period of three months as the main structure is intact.

He also said the finances required for restoration of the same would be known only after a detailed study of the damages caused to the monolith.

It is a matter of concern that though there is a Police Out Post close to the monolith with a wireless tower, the patrolling of the area under Operation Chamundi, which had been launched long back, of late, has since been stopped.

History of Nandi

The Nandi statue was sculpted during the reign of Dodda Devaraja (in 1659), who also built the steps leading up the hill. Depictions of Nandi the bull, Lord Shiva’s vehicle, can be found throughout South India. But the Nandi on Chamundi Hill is particularly noteworthy. Tourists and pilgrims access the monolith via the famous and well documented steps leading from the hill’s base to the summit. These steps, also built in 1659, number between 1000 and 1500 depending on which route a person travels.

Nandi sits 15 feet high, 24 feet in width and is carved out of a single piece of rock, thus making it a monolith. The statue crouching on a cement base is surrounded by a black, rod iron gate. An arti plate sits in front of the bull as a self-service blessing for followers who perform puja.

It may be noted that early morning joggers and walkers have been conducting Mahabhisheka to the nearly 350-year-old statue of Nandi every year in which frangrant fluids are poured on the statue and the last of which was performed on Dec. 2, 2012.