Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum Returns 16th-Century Idol of Thirumangai Alvar to India

The Ashmolean Museum of the University of Oxford has returned a 16th-century bronze idol of Thirumangai Alvar to India. The idol will be restored to its original place of worship at the Shri Soundararaja Perumal Temple in Thadikombu, located in Tamil Nadu.

The process concluded with a formal handover ceremony held at India House in London.

History of the Artifact
The bronze idol, measuring about 57.5 cm in height, had been part of the Ashmolean Museum’s collection since 1967 and was publicly displayed there. The museum had acquired the idol through an auction conducted by Sotheby’s in the same year.

According to the Sotheby’s catalogue, the idol was sold by private collector J. R. Belmont (1886–1981). However, there is no documented information on how the artifact originally entered his collection.

About Thirumangai Alvar
Thirumangai Alvar was the last of the twelve Alvar saints, poet-devotees of Vishnu, who played a major role in the development of the Bhakti movement in South India. Their devotional hymns are important components of the Vaishnavite tradition.

Nayanmars and Alvars in the Bhakti Movement
The Nayanmars and Alvars were saint-poets who formed the spiritual foundation of the Bhakti Movement in South India.

• The 63 Nayanmars were ardent devotees of Shiva and were associated with Tamil Shaivism.
• The Alvars were devoted to Vishnu and are central figures in Tamil Vaishnavism.

Prominent Alvar saints include Andal, Nammalvar, Periyalvar, and the trio collectively known as the Mudhal Alvars.