Ancient Ganesha Idol Pulled From Riverbed by Villagers

Villagers in Madhya Pradesh celebrated as a 2-tonne, 10-armed red sandstone Ganesha idol, discovered in a drying riverbed, was ceremoniously moved to its new home. This ancient sculpture, revealed nearly two decades ago when irrigation pumps lowered the Keotan river's water level, is believed to date back to the 10th-11th century Parmar era. The discovery occurred in Sunari village, Basoda tehsil, Vidisha district.

Initially placed under a tree, the idol became a focus of village protection after an attempted theft about two years ago. Now, the approximately 700 residents of Sunari consider the idol a common inheritance. It has been relocated to a newly built Ram-Janki temple where devotees observe unique worship rules, including worshipping from a distance and refraining from touching or applying vermilion.

Art historians describe the Ganesha as a significant medieval sculpture, carved in red sandstone and seated in a relaxed posture. Its 10 arms carry various attributes, and it is adorned with traditional jewelry. The sheer size of this 10-armed Parmar-period Ganesha is considered exceptional, distinguishing it from other known sculptures of the era. INTACH Bhopal Chapter has identified Sunari as an archaeological site with evidence of a 10th-11th-century sculptural workshop.

Archaeological experts suggest that during historical invasions, deities were hidden in riverbeds for protection, later becoming buried under sand. The Keotan riverbed has yielded other rare sculptures of Shiva and Vishnu, underscoring the historical importance of the area. Sunari's residents have thus become custodians of a piece of history, cherishing their ancient Ganesha.