Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – An ancient idol of Vishnumurthy (or Janardhana, which is another name of Lord Vishnu) was found in an abandoned well in the vicinity of a ruined temple, Udupi, in India’s Karnataka state.
The Vishnumurthy sculpture of 12th century AD was found in an abandoned well near a ruined temple near Udupi in India’s Karnataka state.
The temple is filled with architectural remains and laterite bricks, and the figurine dates back to the 12the century AD according to T. Murugeshi, ᴀssociate Professor in the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, MSRS College, Shirva.
The idol was found at about a 20-ft depth in the well which was filled with laterite bricks and architectural remains during an archaeological exploration in the area.
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The team of archaeologists came across the sculpture after removing about 18 feet of debris, and “the beautiful sculpture has a Karanda Mukuta (headdress), Makara Kundala (ear rings), armlets, anklets, Kaustubhahara and very nice eyebrows, nose and lips which make it a masterpiece of Coastal Karnataka,” said Murugeshi as cited by The Hindu.
“It holds a pinda in the front right hand. In the back left hand, it holds a conch and its right hand is missing but, exploration is still being continued,” he said, adding that efforts are continued on to discover the idol’s right hand.
See also:
Temple Of Lord Vishnu Dated To Hindu Shahi Dynasty Unearthed In Pakistan
8th Century Sculpture Of Lord Vishnu Belonging To Pandya Dynasty – Unearthed
“In the ruined sanctum sanctorum, part of a pair of human feet remained in the middle of the peetha, but the upper part is totally missing.”
The release said that it was a pre-Madhwa sculpture and the best specimen of the Bhagavatha cult of Coastal Karnataka.
However, for now, researchers do not know the reasons why the temple was ruined. They also believe that the work of restoration of this sculpture (a fragment is missing) is a delicate process, and no doubt, it will take time.
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
