ISIS systematically looted the antiquities in Syria and Iraq region and used the proceeds for financing its terrorism and warfare. While this is the latest major incident, other terrorist organisations have also been accused of engaging in antiquity theft.

28 stolen antiquities were recovered but are now stored in ASI warehouse. They are not in public display.

Antique theft is now a systematic method of funding terrorism and is the most sinister development.

The movement to bring back the deity benefitted from support from the local community and the media. Eventually it was returned to India

Each of the Yoginis represents a tantra of Shiva. That is the reason why normally a Shiva temple is located at the centre of the Chausat Yogini temples. They are normally open roofed as the Yoginis are supposed to have the capability to fly.

India has lost thousands of antiquities due to conquest and invaders in earlier times. In recent times organised loot, Government connivance and terrorism have resulted in theft of thousands more deities.

None of the recovered deities have been returned to their temples. These are being retained by ASI in its warehouses in poor conditions ascribing lack of security in temples.

The inscription says it is 3735 years since the Bharata war and 556 years since the Saka era. This is the first available written evidence regarding the date of Mahabaratha. This inscription would then put the date of Mahabaratha war around 3100 BCE or so. It also mentions that Badami chalukya king Ravikirti was aware of Kalidasa and thus provides latter time limits for Kalidasa also.

As per Indian practice, measuring a deity reduces the deity to a material aspect which it is not supposed to be. A Vigraha captures the infinite principle and is not limited physically. Therefore most of the Indian deities are not documented. Further village deities are many and they lack documentation.

The Chilkur Balaji temple lost 5 deities due to theft. These have still not been traced. The Purohit of Chilkur Balaji temple made an plea passionately for the holders of the deities to return them to India. He also highlights the apathy with which ASI treats recovered deities.

Sun and Lotus share a special relationship as Sun helps the Lotus bloom every morning. Therefore Surya is depicted holding two lotuses in his hands in sculptures

The India Pride project was started as a legal effort to bring back the antiquities. It engaged in legal battles and in dialogues to identify and bring back antiquities to India

In Jaina philosophy, Moksha is a constant movement upwards and culminates in Siddha Shila, a place in the skies where liberated souls reside. The first floor in Jaina temples denotes the constant movement upwards.

The Dravidian style temple in Begur has an inscription which probably refers to the original name which later on may have morphed and become Bengaluru.