
1400-year-old ancient Hindu idols and Shivlings discovered during a spring restoration project in Kashmir
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Ancient Hindu idols and Shivlings were discovered during excavation work for a spring restoration project in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials confirmed on Saturday.According to PTI, the relics were unearthed at the Karkoot Nag spring in the Salia area of Aishmuqam, approximately 16 kilometres from the district headquarters. The site holds historical importance for the Kashmiri Pandit community and is believed to be linked to the Karkoota dynasty, which ruled Kashmir between 625 and 855 CE.Labourers engaged in the revival project, led by the Public Works Department , found the artefacts during routine excavation.Following the discovery, officials from the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums visited the location and took custody of the recovered items. A department official told PTI, "The idols and sculptures will be sent to the SPS Museum in Srinagar, where research scholars and department experts will study them to determine their age and historical context."A local Kashmiri Pandit told PTI that the region has historical links to the Karkoota dynasty and suggested that a temple might have once stood at the site or that the idols may have been preserved there intentionally. He also noted that the pond where the idols were found has long been regarded as sacred and a site of pilgrimage.'We want these artefacts to be preserved. We have heard that a temple once stood here. A new temple should be built and the Shivlings reinstalled there,' he said.While the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums has not confirmed any plans to develop the site for religious or heritage tourism, conservation efforts are expected to follow once the evaluation is complete.(With inputs from PTI)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
51-foot-tall statue of Lord Ram unveiled in Canada's Mississauga, mayor says 'spectacular landmark for Hindu community'
51-foot-tall Lord Ram statue unveiled in Canada's Mississauga. A 51-foot-tall statue of Lord Ram, which is being called the tallest statue of Lord Ram in North America, has recently been unveiled in Mississauga. Inspired by India's Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, the work to build the statue began four years ago and the parts were built in Delhi, to be assembled only in Canada. The steel framework is so strong that it can last a hundred years and can withstand winds at the speed of 200km/h. According to reports, passengers landing at the Toronto Pearson International Airport can see the idol from their planes. Mississauga mayor Carolyn Parish called the inauguration of the statue a "landmark for Mississauga's Hindu community". — carolynhparrish (@carolynhparrish) "Inauguration of incredible 51ft Ram ji moortie at the Hindu Heritage Centre in Streetsville on Sunday August 3/25. Massive crowd witnessed the ceremony. A truly spectacular landmark for Mississauga's Hindu community. All visitors to the site always receive a warm welcome," the mayor posted on X. The ceremony was attended by several Canadian politicians, including international trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, minister of women and gender equality Rechie Valdez, and president of the treasury board Shafqat Ali. The statue has been erected on the premises of the Hindu Heritage Center in Mississauga. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like See the original Harry Potter Cast Then and Now Watch More Undo The center confirmed that the height of the idol is excluding the pedestal which is seven feet high and a proposed umbrella, which will be added in future. Sculptor Naresh Kumar Kumawat designed and crafted the idol at the Matu Ram Art Center in Manesar after it was commissioned by Indo-Canadian business leader Laj Prasher. 'This is a spiritual gift to the community,' said Acharya Surinder Sharma Shastri, founder of the Hindu Heritage Centre. 'The installation of this murti is not just a moment of pride, but also a reminder that righteousness must always be the guiding factor in our lives.' 'To witness over 10,000 people come together in devotion and unity for the unveiling of Shri Ram's 51-foot-tall murti was truly remarkable. This event was not just a celebration of our faith, but a proud moment for all Canadians who value cultural harmony and spiritual heritage," organizer of the event Kushagr Sharma said.


News18
5 hours ago
- News18
Train coaches uncouple near Karnatakas Shivamogga, major accident averted
Karnataka, Aug 6 (PTI) A major accident was averted near the Shivamogga railway station after six coaches of the Talaguppa-Mysuru Intercity Express got uncoupled and came to a halt on the Tunga river bridge on Wednesday evening. The train, comprising 16 coaches, had departed from Talaguppa and was en route to Mysuru when the incident occurred, railway authorities said. Just a short distance from the Shivamogga station, six coaches detached from the rest of the train due to a technical fault. While the front portion continued moving ahead, the rear coaches came to a halt on the Tunga bridge, triggering panic among passengers, authorities added. view comments First Published: August 06, 2025, 20:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


News18
5 hours ago
- News18
UKs Imperial War Museum collects Indian stories from World War II
London, Aug 6 (PTI) Britain's Imperial War Museums (IWM) has launched a major collections project entitled 'India's War', inviting members of the public to share stories and memorabilia relating to Indian experiences of serving in and living through the World War II. By the end of the war in August 1945, the Armed Forces from the Indian subcontinent were the second largest fighting force drawn from Commonwealth nations, after Britain. According to IWM, 89,000 South Asian military personnel gave their lives fighting on almost every battle front Britain was engaged in, with 28 Indian armed forces personnel awarded the Victoria Cross – the highest award for gallantry in action. 'While IWM has significant film and photography collections documenting the Indian contribution to the Second World War, these are often unable to fully convey the experiences of the war at an individual level," said Adrian Kerrison, Senior Curator Second World War and Mid-20th Century at the IWM. 'This collecting project is an opportunity for IWM to reach out to our audiences to ensure that these powerful personal stories – significant for our understanding of the consequences of the Second World War in India and the UK – are properly represented within IWM's collections," he said. The curator said India's War, which went live recently, is aimed at building IWM's collections and strengthening relationships with South Asian communities through the conversations that it will generate. One lesser-known story already in IWM's collection is that of Pilot Officer Sayanapuram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan, known to his fellow fighter pilots as 'Tiger' Rajan. Born on India's eastern coast in 1918, Tiger volunteered for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and was posted to 263 Squadron as a fighter pilot. He was killed in action at the age of 26 while attacking German ground targets in the Falaise Pocket engagement during the Battle of Normandy in 1944. His headstone, maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), is written in Hindi, English and French, and reads: 'This Hindu Airman is Honoured Here". 'The 'India's War' collecting project seeks to gather more personal stories of service members like Tiger Rajan while also uncovering new civilian perspectives. The aim is to add more under-represented voices to IWM's collections, documenting South Asian experiences on both the fighting and home fronts," IWM said. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and 'India's War' collecting project is aimed at highlighting the immense contribution made by members of the Armed Forces from pre-Partition India during colonial rule. The aim is to showcase how the events impacted people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka by broadening the scope of IWM's collections, as well as inform and shape future programming. IWM, based in London and four other branches across the UK, is inviting people to share a story, object, photograph or document directly connected to a South Asian civilian or service member's experience of World War II through its website PTI AK ZH ZH view comments First Published: August 06, 2025, 20:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.