An archaeological mystery has unfolded in Karnataka, India, with the discovery of a desecrated temple and a priceless statue of the Hindu god Vishnumurthy (also known as Lord Vishnu and Janardhana) discarded in a well.
Vishnumurthy, a revered deity in Hinduism, represents the supreme guardian of the universe, the master of reality, and the protector of creation. Finding a statue of such significance discarded in a well presents a puzzling scenario for archaeologists.
The statue was unearthed near a destroyed Udupi temple, located 20 feet down a well. The temple itself appears to be rich in architectural relics, constructed with red clay bricks. According to T. Murugeshi, an associate professor specializing in ancient history and archaeology, the statue likely hails from the 12th century AD.
“The beautiful sculpture has a Karanda Mukuta (head dress), Makara Kundala (ear rings), armlets, anklets, Kaustubhahara and very nice eye brows, nose and lips which make it a masterpiece of Coastal Karnataka,” commented Murugeshi to The Hindu.
A detailed description of the statue reveals intricate details like a “pinda” (ritual offering) held in the front right hand, a conch shell in the back left hand, and a missing right hand (the search for which continues). The sanctum sanctorum of the ruined temple holds remnants of a pair of human feet, hinting at a potentially larger, complete statue that may have been desecrated.
The artistic style of the sculpture points to the pre-Madhwa period, establishing it as a prime example of Coastal Karnataka’s Bhagavatha cult. However, the reasons behind the temple’s destruction and the statue’s desecration remain shrouded in mystery.
Researchers are currently undertaking the delicate process of restoring the statue, which has suffered some fragmentation. The hope is that this discovery, along with further investigation of the ruined temple, will shed light on a forgotten chapter in Karnataka’s history and provide a clearer picture of the events that led to the temple’s demise and the desecration of the revered statue.