06-09-2004, 12:41 AM
<b>10th century Vishnu idol found </b>
Staff Reporter/ Bhopal
<b>A tiny temple in Khanugaon houses what is probably the largest and most impressive private collection of idols in the city, some of them dating as far back as 1000 AD.</b> Being either chipped or broken the idols cannot be worshiped and, hence, are not accorded much importance by the pujari (priest). Archaeologists, on the other hand, contend that the statues are not "uncommon" enough to merit conservation.
As a result, these remnants of a rich cultural legacy lie in the open, uncared for and unattended. With each passing day chipping away at their chances of survival plus the added threat of opportunistic idol thieves raiding the temple never very far, the "fallen" idols, it can be safely assumed, will not remain here for long.
Located off the busy VIP Road, a stone's throw from Noor-us-Sabah hotel, there is nothing, save a faintly quaint air, about the Kali Mandir to suggest it might be any different from the multitude of worshipping spots that dot the city. It was serendipitous chance that led this reporter to the temple while he was scouring the area adjoining the VIP Road.
<b>Noticing a large number of curiously shaped stones that were being used to cover a tubewell run dry this reporter noticed a muscular arm sculpted on one of the stones. It turned out to be a 14th century Hanuman idol.</b>
<b>A curious peek into the premises revealed a large number of sculptures carved out of local sandstone strewn carelessly across the courtyard. A pair of decapitated Nandi bulls, which it turns out date back to 1200 AD, occupy pride of place amid a stone melange comprising a 14th century stone mural depicting the monkey-god Hanuman trampling the evil Shani (Saturn) to death, copulating serpents and a host of lesser deities paying obeisance to the trinity</b>.
<b>It is a tenth century Vishnu idol, however, that is undoubtedly the piece-de-resistance of the temple's antiquities repertoire. </b>
Staff Reporter/ Bhopal
<b>A tiny temple in Khanugaon houses what is probably the largest and most impressive private collection of idols in the city, some of them dating as far back as 1000 AD.</b> Being either chipped or broken the idols cannot be worshiped and, hence, are not accorded much importance by the pujari (priest). Archaeologists, on the other hand, contend that the statues are not "uncommon" enough to merit conservation.
As a result, these remnants of a rich cultural legacy lie in the open, uncared for and unattended. With each passing day chipping away at their chances of survival plus the added threat of opportunistic idol thieves raiding the temple never very far, the "fallen" idols, it can be safely assumed, will not remain here for long.
Located off the busy VIP Road, a stone's throw from Noor-us-Sabah hotel, there is nothing, save a faintly quaint air, about the Kali Mandir to suggest it might be any different from the multitude of worshipping spots that dot the city. It was serendipitous chance that led this reporter to the temple while he was scouring the area adjoining the VIP Road.
<b>Noticing a large number of curiously shaped stones that were being used to cover a tubewell run dry this reporter noticed a muscular arm sculpted on one of the stones. It turned out to be a 14th century Hanuman idol.</b>
<b>A curious peek into the premises revealed a large number of sculptures carved out of local sandstone strewn carelessly across the courtyard. A pair of decapitated Nandi bulls, which it turns out date back to 1200 AD, occupy pride of place amid a stone melange comprising a 14th century stone mural depicting the monkey-god Hanuman trampling the evil Shani (Saturn) to death, copulating serpents and a host of lesser deities paying obeisance to the trinity</b>.
<b>It is a tenth century Vishnu idol, however, that is undoubtedly the piece-de-resistance of the temple's antiquities repertoire. </b>