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Viral 'Ancient' Shaligram Was Modern Sculpture
31 Aug
Summary
- A viral video claimed a 175-million-year-old Shaligram emerged after Nepal floods.
- In reality, Nepali sculptors carved the rock in 2026 during an art workshop.
- The sculpture's unveiling aimed to boost religious tourism in Nepal.
Following recent devastating flash floods in Nepal, a video widely shared on social media purported to show a 17-crore-year-old Shaligram fossil. These sacred ammonite fossils originate from Nepal's Kaligandaki River Valley. However, an investigation determined the colossal stone was actually a modern sculpture.
This significant rock was carved into a Shaligram during a 15-day workshop held in Jomsom, Nepal, concluding on May 4, 2026. The event saw over 36 artists from the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts participate, also creating other religious and wildlife sculptures. Organized by the Gharpjhong Rural Municipality, the workshop aimed to utilize river rocks for artistic expression.
The completed Shaligram was later inaugurated on May 28, 2026, by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahaswami Vidushekhara Bharati Maharaj. Reports indicated that the unveiling was expected to enhance religious tourism in the region, leveraging the cultural significance of Shaligrams found in the same river valley.
