9th century idols from ‘ancienttemple’ discovered in Banas river

Jaipur: Two ancient one-foot-tall idols carved on a single stone, dating back to 9th-13th century, were discovered by local residents during sand mining in Banas river's catchment area in Bhilwara on Sunday evening, suggesting that an ancient temple once existed there.
These idols belong to the Pratihara or Chauhan dynasty, department of archaeology and museology (DAM) said. DAM Jaipur circle superintendent Neeraj Tripathi added that the idols depict Yamuna, the revered river goddess, often found carved on temple door jambs of this period.
"One of the idols shows Yamuna in the ‘tribhanga' pose, gracefully holding a pot. Though broken, fragments of the vessel remain near her feet, symbolising the continuous flow of the river. This style of sculpture was common in temples of this era," said Tripathi.
A tortoise symbol, typically associated with water deities, was also found on the idol. "This representation is commonly seen in connection with water deities, indicating the time period of its origin. DAM will now examine past discoveries in the region as there is a possibility that a buried temple once stood here. If previous findings align with this discovery, it could strengthen the case for a full-scale excavation," Tripathi explained.