As a testament to the revival and reclamation of the lost cultural symbolism, heritage and civilisational glory, India is set to get back the stolen idols that are currently in the United States. Three antique sculptures belonging to the ninth century, twelfth century and sixteenth century are set to return to India from the Smithesonian’s National Museum of Asian Arts in the United States. After extensive research it was proven that the invaluable sculptures were stolen from Tamil Nadu. Thus, the museum has acknowledged to return it to India.
To facilitate the safe return of the antique sculptures to India, Namgya Khampa, India’s Deputy Chief of Mission in the United States signed an agreement with the Director of the National Museum of Asian Arts(NMAA) Chase Robinson. The three stolen sculptures include a Shiva Nataraja Bronze sculpture belonging to the ninth century, a Shiva and Uma(another form of goddess Parvathi) sculpture belonging to the 12th century, which is also called as “Somaskanda” and a sculpture of Saint Sundarar with Paravi belonging to the 16th century.
“Three invaluable antiquities are returning home to India from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art: a 9th-century Shiva Nataraja bronze, a 12th-century sculpture of Shiva and Uma, and a 16th-century depiction of Saint Sundarar with Paravi”, said the Indian Embassy in the United States in a post on a X social media platform. “Following provenance research into these antiquities the Museum found that they were illegally removed from India”, the Indian Embassy further added.
However, the Indian Mission in the USA asserted that the Shiva Nataraja bronze sculpture will remain in the Smithsonian Museum in the United States on loan for public viewing. This will help people across the globe who visit the museum to understand about the cultural richness and civilisational glory of India. It will give the visitors an insight about India’s rich artistic and spiritual heritage, the Embassy stated.
Three invaluable antiquities are returning home to India from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art: a 9th-century Shiva Nataraja bronze, a 12th-century sculpture of Shiva and Uma, and a 16th-century depiction of Saint Sundarar with Paravi.
An agreement to this effect… pic.twitter.com/G7bdEg4gPV
— India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) March 26, 2026
In an earlier statement the National Museum of Asian Arts(NMAA) had reiterated that the research led by the museum’s team at the Photo Archives of the French Institute of Pondicherry confirmed that the sculpture of the Saint Sundarar with Paravi was photographed at the Shiva temple in Veerasolapuram village, Kallakuruchchi Taluk, Tamil Nadu in 1956. Thus there was imminent proof that the sculpture was stolen and it originally belonged to India. Similarly, the 12th century Shiva and Uma sculpture was photographed at the Vishvanatha Temple in Alathur village, Mannarkudi taluk, Tamil Nadu in 1959.
The Shiva Nataraja sculpture belonged to the Sri Bhava Aushadesvara Temple in Tirutturaippundi Taluk, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu, where it was photographed in 1957. Thus, there is solid evidence to reclaim the cultural heritage of India and to prove the fact that the invaluable Indian antique sculptures were illegally transferred to the United States. The latest pact to facilitate the return of the sculptures thus also testifies the soft power potential of India and the government’s resolve to reclaim and preserve the ancient cultural and civilisational glory of the country.
