VISHVENDU JAIPURIAR
Hazaribag, Feb 28: A farmer in Chatra district found an ancient idol which is similar to structures found in the district in large numbers in the past and which were said to be made during the Pala dynasty in the 9th century. The idol which is of Bhairava is found in Sinpur village in Pathalgada block.
Farmer Ramchandra Ram said he found the idol while cultivating his field a year ago. He took the black stone idol to his home and started worshipping. He said he has also found pieces of pottery to iron from his field on time-to-time.
In the neighbouring Obra of Pathalgada, a team from the archaeological survey of India is digging a mound for the last few weeks. Getting information about this idol, archaeologist Lalit Kumar visited the village and saw the 8-m-long idol.
He termed the idol rare and ancient. Kumar said at different places of Chatra, ancient idols were recovered which are now worshipped. He said that compared to other recovered idols, the one found in Sinpur is small but rare.
Sources said in Pathalgada many ancient idols were found in forest areas. Many were kept in houses with villagers worshipping. One such is of a goddess found in the Angada forest and now kept in a hut where villagers are worshipping.
