During the construction of a bridge over the Krishna River at the Raichur and Telangana border, two ancient idols representing Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva were discovered in the riverbed near Shakti Nagar in Raichur City. The centuries-old idols, portraying the Dasavatar of Lord Krishna and a Linga symbolizing Lord Shiva, were unearthed by the construction team, as reported by TV9 Kannada.
Historian Padmaja Desai, speaking to TV9 Kannada, revealed that the idols discovered in the Krishna riverbed belonged to the 11th-century Kalyana Chalukyas dynasty. Desai suggested that these idols could have intentionally been submerged in the river during periods of inter-religious wars to safeguard them from adversaries. She emphasized that Raichur has been governed by various royal families and has been the backdrop for more than 163 battles throughout its history.
An ancient idol of Lord Vishnu and Shivling was unearthed from the Krishna river at a village in Karnataka's Raichur district.
The idols are said to be from 11th century Kalyana Chalukyas dynasty. pic.twitter.com/Svb9hVhEei
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) February 6, 2024
The idols were purportedly submerged in the river to safeguard them from the invasions of Bahamani Sultans and Adil Shahis.
According to TV9 Kannada, officials from the archaeological department examined the idols and relocated them to secure locations. The stones utilized for sculpting the idols are composed of a green mixed rock, suggesting an origin from the Kalyana Chalukya era. The archaeological department is actively conducting additional research to gain deeper insights into these centuries-old idols.
(with inputs from News9Live)
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