In a significant Archaeological discovery, 18 ancient sculptures, including remnants of Shaiva and Buddhist deities, have been unearthed near the Baitarani River in Odisha Bhadrak district.
The sculptures are found to be dating back to 6th or 7th century CE. The sculptures were discovered near the village of Maninathpur in the Bhandaripokhari block. The artefacts include several intricately carved miniature temples and ‘Argha stupas’ , comprising Shaiva deities such as Shiva, Parvati and Ganesh, as well as Buddhist icons like Buddha, Tara, and Padmapani.
This discovery was made when a young man bibekananda stumbled upon a statue during his morning walk and alerted members of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and researcher Biswasmbhar Raut. On Raut’s visit to site he discovered 18 ancient sculptures and small temples scattered across the area.
The sculptures are sent to the Buddhist Vihara Museum for preservation and display. Famous archaeologist Sunil Pattnaik confirmed the significance if artefacts and praised the artistic excellence.
The discovery is seen as valuable gem to provide valuable insights into the region’s blended cultural heritage and attract further interest from historians and tourist.
