RAICHUR, 6 FEB 

An ancient idol of Lord Vishnu and a Shivalinga have been unearthed from Krishna river near Shakti Nagar in Raichur city during the construction of a bridge on Raichur-Telangana border.

The Vishnu idol has all the 'dashavatara' or the 10 incarnations featured around its 'aura'. The idol has features resembling the recently consecrated statue of ‘Ram Lalla’ in the newly built temple in Ayodhya.

Dr Padmaja Desai, a lecturer in ancient history and archaeology at Raichur University, said this idol must have adored the sanctum sanctorum of a temple and must have been dropped in the river at the time of possible destruction of the temple.

Vishnu is in the standing position and has four arms in this statue, with his two upper hands holding the 'shankha' and 'chakra' and the two lower hands in the position of granting boons ('kati hasta' and 'varada hasta'). The idol resembles Venkateshwara as mentioned in the scriptures, the lecturer said.

However, this idol does not feature Garuda, which is usually found in Vishnu idols. Instead there are two fan-bearing women. Since Vishnu is fond of decoration, this idol showing a smiling Vishnu is decorated with garlands and ornaments, she said.

Archaeology department officials inspected the idols and took charge of their safekeeping.

Raichur, once home to numerous royal families, witnessed 163 battles between kingdoms. The idols might have hidden in the riverbed to shield them from the onslaughts of Bahamani Sultans and Adil Shahis, according to legend.

"The statue is intact barring some damage to its nose,” and the idols may date back to the 11th century during the period of Kalyana Chalukyas, she said. The stone type identified in the discovery, described as green mixed rock, is indicative of materials used by the Kalyana Chalukyas.