CM Vijay viewed the ancient Thirumangai Alvar bronze stolen from the Sowndararaja Perumal temple in Kumbakonam and brought back from England, and opened a tonsure hall, annadhanam hall, feast halls and 235 pooja-item stalls built for ₹23.67 crore at the Irukkangudi Mariamman temple in Virudhunagar district.
CM Vijay viewed the ancient Thirumangai Alvar bronze stolen from the Sowndararaja Perumal temple in Kumbakonam and brought back from England, and opened a tonsure hall, annadhanam hall, feast halls and 235 pooja-item stalls built for ₹23.67 crore at the Irukkangudi Mariamman temple in Virudhunagar district.
Two pieces of good news for temple heritage came from the Secretariat on August 17 and 18, 2026.
On Monday, August 17, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay viewed the ancient bronze idol of Thirumangai Alvar. It had been stolen from the Arulmigu Sowndararaja Perumal temple in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur district, and has now been recovered from England and brought back to Tamil Nadu.
Thirumangai Alvar is one of the twelve Alvars, the Vaishnava saint-poets whose hymns are sung in temples across Tamil Nadu. Bringing a stolen bronze home restores a piece of living worship, not just a museum object.
On Tuesday, August 18, the Chief Minister opened new facilities built by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department at the Arulmigu Mariamman temple, Irukkangudi, Virudhunagar district, at a cost of ₹23.67 crore:
He also handed appointment orders to newly recruited HR&CE assistant engineers (construction), assistant sthapathis and executive officers.
Irukkangudi Mariamman temple, on the banks of the Arjuna and Vaippar rivers, draws huge crowds from across south Tamil Nadu, especially during the Aadi festival.
HR&CE Temples Idol Retrieval Virudhunagar Kumbakonam Day 101