Anantnag/Srinagr: Ancient Hindu idols were recovered during excavation work for the renovation of a spring in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said.
The idols and ‘Shivlings’ were recovered at Karkoot Nag in the Salia area of Aishmuqam in the south Kashmir district.
The site holds significance for Kashmiri Pandits, who associate it with the Karkoota dynasty that ruled Kashmir from 625 to 855 CE.
The Public Works Department is undertaking revival and restoration works in the spring and the labourers recovered the idols during the excavation work, officials said on Saturday.
They said the officials of the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums visited the site, and added the idols will be sent to Srinagar for material and dating testing to determine their age and origins.
“We will shift them to SPS museum where they will be studied by research scholars and the department,” they said.
According to a Kashmiri Pandit, “There has been an impact of the Karkoota dynasty in this area, so there is a probability that a temple might have been there or someone might have kept them there for preservation”.
He said the site, about 16 km from the district headquarters, has been a pilgrimage centre.
“These were recovered from the sacred pond. Some Shivlings, a sculpture and other items have been recovered. We want them to be protected. We have heard there used to be a temple here, and so a new temple be built here and these ‘Shivlings’ be kept there,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Department of Archives, Archaeology & Museums announced the discovery of an ancient Shivling, “expertly carved from stone, measuring 137 cm in length and 160 cm in width”.
Dating back to approximately the 10th Century AD, this remarkable artifact was recovered from the Jhelum River near the Army camp at Khanpora, Baramulla, during sand extraction by the local laborers, an official press release informed.
It said the “significant find sheds light on the region’s rich cultural heritage and historical legacy”. The Shivling has been carefully preserved and will be showcased for the public to appreciate its historical significance.
The press release said after its discovery, the ancient Shivling was taken into custody by the Indian Army’s 22 Medium Regiment in Baramulla.
“Recognizing its historical significance, the Army handed it over to the Department of Archives, Archaeology & Museums. The Shivling was then carefully transported and housed at the SPS Museum in Srinagar, where it will be preserved and showcased for public viewing,” the release said.
Director, Archives, Archaeology & Museums, J&K, Kuldeep Krishan Sidha, stated, “The recovery of the Shivling is not only an important archaeological find but also a testament to our enduring cultural legacy. The Department is committed to the preservation and respectful showcasing of such artefact for educational and spiritual enrichment of the public.”
