A group of researchers has stumbled upon centuries-old antique idols at Laudanki village near Satasankha on the Bhubaneswar-Puri road.
The discovery was made yesterday by the six-member team of “Rediscover Lost Heritage” (RLH) while inspecting the precincts of the ancient Gateswar temple in the village, just 15 kms from Pipli.
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The assortment of nearly two dozen artifacts was discovered beneath a big garbage heap on the rear of the temple kitchen. The team had earlier discovered surface remains of an ancient temple strewn around the complex which comprised of carved stone blocks, said historian Anil Dhir.
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The antique images had incidentally been recovered during the restoration of the temple by the State Archaeology Department (SAD) in 1999. These images had been kept aside by the authorities for shifting to the State Museum. However the SAD did precious little to shift the priceless idols to the museum and allowed it to lie buried in the garbage heap for the last two decades, he said.
“The recovered images include a three feet Kartikeya image in Mayurasana, a two feet Ganesh in Ardhaparayanika, a two feet Mahisamardini image, a seven hooded serpent image of Manasa besides an assortment of temple panels with intricate carvings of Alasyakanyas, Brushavas, Nara Vidalas”, said Deepak Kumar Nayak, the Chief Co-ordinator of the RLH group.
A small brass mask of Lord Shiva too was found. The antiquities, except the brass mask, can be dated to a period between the 9th to 12th Century AD. The artifacts have been kept inside the temple and the authorities have been informed, he added
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