Sacred murtis have been stolen from the Adelaide Hindu Temple at Holden Hill, prompting an appeal to the local community for information that could help recover them.
The Adelaide Hindu Temple and Vedic Hindu Foundation said the deities were taken through the temple’s back door in the early hours of the morning. Those reported missing include Brihaspati, Ketu, Shani, Bhairav, Lord Vishnu and Lord Lakshman.
The temple said the loss has caused deep distress among worshippers, who regard the murtis as sacred representations of the Divine rather than objects or statues.
For devotees, the murtis form a central part of daily worship and religious life. The temple said worshippers light lamps, offer flowers and bring newborn children to receive blessings before the deities.
The theft comes as the temple was preparing for a Pran Pratishtha, a Hindu consecration ceremony planned to take place soon. The temple said the preparations have now been disrupted by the disappearance of the deities.
In its appeal, the temple asked those responsible to return the murtis and said they could leave them somewhere safe or provide information about their whereabouts without fear of confrontation.
The temple is also asking residents living nearby to check security camera and dashcam footage from the early hours of the morning when the theft is believed to have occurred.
Members of the public have been asked to report any sightings of the murtis, including if they have been offered for sale or noticed at scrap yards, storage facilities, used goods dealers or online marketplaces.
The temple said some of the murtis weigh up to 200 kilograms, and urged people to consider whether they may have seen the items being transported.
The Adelaide Hindu Temple, located at 4 Peat Avenue, Holden Hill, has asked the wider community to share the appeal and provide any information that could assist in bringing the deities back to the temple.
Police have not been quoted in the appeal, and details about the circumstances of the theft, including the exact time and method used, remain limited.
The temple said its priority is the safe return of the murtis and has called on anyone with relevant information to come forward.
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