Over 50 Jain sculptures found in state of neglect in Vikarabad

The sculptures date back to 8th and 12th centuries CE, representing Badami Chalukya, Rastrakuta, Kalyani Chalukya and Kakatiya art styles

HYDERABAD: Ancient and beautiful Jain sculptures were found scattered and in an utter state of neglect at Kankal village of Pudur mandal in Vikarabad by noted archaeologist E Sivanagi Reddy.

He found more than 50 sculptures including a colossal Ganesha, three Nandis, four Sivalingas, 15 Naga devatas, Saptamatrikas, Veerabhadra, 10 Hero stones engaged in fights, Chandi, Chamundi and a good number of Jain sculptures in the bushes and under trees. These sculptures date back to the 8th and 12th centuries CE, representing the Badami Chalukya, Rastrakuta, Kalyani Chalukya and Kakatiya art styles. The broken black granite sculptures of Jain Parswanath and Mahavira flanked by Yaksha and Yakshinis lying uncared by the side of a mosque, on roadside and under a tamarind tree in the village deserve immediate protection because of their artistic merit and antiquarian value, he said.

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“The Parshanatha image standing in Kayotsarga posture was mutilated at the head portion whereas the hoods of the serpent king, Dharnaindra were broken,” Sivanagi Reddy said.

Based on a huge pedestal carved with the sculptures of lions, the symbol of Vardhamana Mahavira, he suspected that there could be a colossal sculpture of Mahavira in the village and it was yet to be discovered. Sivanagi Reddy documented all the 50 sculptures with the help of Chakali Sampath Kamar, a heritage lover, and S Venkata Ramireddy, an agriculturist of the village.