Shruti Suman
An ancient statue of Lord Vishnu, featuring all ten of his incarnations, known as the ‘dashavatara,’ has been unearthed near the Krishna River in Karnataka’s Raichur district. This remarkable idol bears a striking resemblance to the recently consecrated statue of Ram Lalla in the newly constructed Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The discovery of this Vishnu statue is significant as it showcases all ten avatars of the deity, including Matsya (the fish), Kurma (the tortoise), Varaha (the boar), Narasimha (the half-man, half-lion), Vamana (the dwarf), Parashurama (the warrior with an axe), Rama (the prince of Ayodhya), Krishna (the charioteer of Arjuna), Buddha (the enlightened one), and Kalki (the future avatar).
Crafted from a rare black stone, the idol is believed to date back several centuries. Its proximity to the Krishna River enhances its historical importance, as this river has long been associated with ancient civilizations and religious practices.
In addition to the Vishnu statue, an ancient Shivalinga was also discovered, further adding to the religious and archaeological significance of the site.
Dr. Padmaja Desai, a lecturer in ancient history and archaeology at Raichur University, commented on the Vishnu idol, stating, “This idol likely adorned the sanctum sanctorum of a temple and may have been submerged in the river during the possible destruction of the temple.” Describing its features, she noted that Vishnu is depicted with four arms, with his upper hands holding the ‘shankha’ and ‘chakra,’ while the lower hands are positioned to grant boons (‘kati hasta’ and ‘varada hasta’).
