Looters in northern India returned precious idols they had stolen on May 9 from a Hindu temple. But repentance is not insignificant, they think they are victims of a curse.
The thieves therefore abandoned on May 16, “14 of the 16 idols stolen near the house of the main priest”, according to the police. This unexpected package was accompanied by a confession letter, written in Hindi, asking to be forgiven, according to Times of India. The criminals explain that they have “not been able to sleep, eat or live in peace” since their abduction. These idols are said to have even caused them “scary dreams”, which is why they return all the loot. Or almost. Two items have not been returned to the Chitrakoot temple in Uttar Pradesh, dedicated to an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. The missive being anonymous, the thieves have not been identified and the mystery of the two idols still missing remains intact. Maybe these don’t lead to terrible nights…
The stolen artifacts are made of copper and silver, one of which, weighing five kilos, is made of ashtadhatu – an alloy of gold, iron, silver, lead, copper, zinc, tin and antimony. Some pieces weigh up to ten kilos.
Ashtadhatu is commonly used for making idols of Hindu gods and goddesses. Indeed, “in Hinduism, the alloy is of great importance and is very expensive,” said the site of the Maa Vaishno Devi Dham, a Hindu temple. This composition, considered “sacred” and “pure”, lasts for years without deterioration.
This is not the first time that looters, thinking they are under a curse after stealing religious objects, decide to return them. The ancient city of Pompeii, regularly looted, has opened a permanent exhibition specially composed of objects stolen and then returned, explains the IFL Science site.
