Ancient Shaiva and Buddhist Sculptures Unearthed in Odisha’s Bhadrak District

Ancient Shaiva and Buddhist Sculptures Unearthed in Odisha: Ancient sculptures, including remnants of Shaiva and Buddhist deities, have been found along the Baitarani River in Odisha's Bhadrak district, news agency PTI reported on Friday citing researchers.

The find consists of 18 sculptures, some of which are rare representations of Shaiva and Buddhist deities, dating back to the 6th or 7th century CE.

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Some of the earlier discoveries include those near the village of Maninathpur in the Bhandaripokhari block. The researchers said that among the items discovered were miniature temples that were intricately carved, alongside 'argha stupas'.

The researchers said that these findings will give an opportunity to understand the mixed cultural heritage of the region and will also be of interest to researchers and historians.

And how did it come into light? Local youth, during his habitual morning walk, found a statue, and right away made a call to the members of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and young research Biswambhar Raut.

Raut then visited the locality and discovered 18 ancient sculptures, which contained small temples scattered in the area. The sculptures feature Shaiva deities like Shiva, Parvati, and Ganesh and also contain Buddhist icons such as Buddha, Tara, and Padmapani.

The sculptures will be kept at the Buddhist Vihara Museum for preservation and display.

"After receiving information about the discovery, we alerted the INTACH members, who then ensured the ancient sculptures were stored in the museum," said Tanuja Sirka Singh, the District Culture Officer of Bhadrak.

Well-known archaeologist Sunil Pattnaik, after his visit to the site, confirmed the antiquity of the remnants, identifying them as Shaiva and Buddhist sculptures carved from Khondalite stone. The dating of the sculptures ranges from 6th to 8th centuries CE.

Pattnaik praised the artistic excellence of the sculptures, which include depictions of Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, Buddha, Padmapani, Tara, Bhairava, and dancing figures.

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These mini temples are not more than 4.5 feet high-they are nevertheless invaluable cultural and religious artifacts that represent the Shaiva and Buddhist heritage.

Earlier in the month, reports made their way to UP's Sambhal of the recovery of three idols from around an old unearthing temple site of the Hindus. The Shiv-Hanuman Temple of Sambhal, where services were suspended since 1978 reopening, has finally reopened itself on December 14.

Shrish Chandra, local Additional Superintendant of Police (ASP) Sambhal, with three broken idols, mentioned that these were got while digging a lake.

"There is an idol of Lord Ganesh, the other one seems to be of Lord Kartikeya, more details are being sought. There was debris and soil in the well. The idols were discovered when it was dug...The area has been secured so that excavation can be done smoothly," he added.

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