Archaeologists Stunned as Villagers Keep 1,700-Year-Old Shiv-Parvati Idol for Themselves
Ankit Gupta | May 28, 2025, 09:50 IST
A significant archaeological discovery has been reported in Bihar's Jamui district, where villagers unearthed a 1,700-year-old idol of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, believed to date back to the early Pala dynasty. The villagers have chosen to retain the idol for local worship, declining to hand it over to museum authorities, which has surprised archaeologists.
What began as routine digging for a water pipeline in a sleepy village has now turned into a clash between ancient law and living faith. A stunning 1,700-year-old idol of Lord Shiv and Goddess Parvati, unearthed unexpectedly, has captivated both archaeologists and villagers — but for very different reasons.
While experts from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) describe the find as an invaluable relic of the Gupta era — a period known for the flowering of Indian sculpture, philosophy, and literature — the villagers have declared it a divine visitation, choosing to install the idol in a makeshift temple and begin daily worship. Their firm refusal to surrender the artifact has left the archaeological community stunned and triggered a nationwide debate on who truly owns India’s sacred past.
The idol was discovered last week in Jamui/Bihar, during work funded under a local water development scheme. As laborers dug through layers of red soil, their spades hit something unusually solid. Upon further digging, what emerged was a finely sculpted black stone idol, around three feet tall, showing Lord Shiv seated beside Goddess Parvati in an affectionate pose. The sculpture bore classical features — elaborate jata (matted hair), serene expressions, and detailed ornamentation — strongly suggesting its origin in the Gupta period (320–550 CE), a golden age of Indian art.
Experts say the idol may have once been part of a large temple complex that has long since vanished due to time and erosion.
“This is an extraordinary find,” said a senior official from the ASI. “The iconography reflects the sacred union of Shiva and Shakti, a motif deeply embedded in the Indian spiritual imagination. Its preservation is crucial for our understanding of early Indian temple architecture and devotion.”
But even before ASI officials could transport the idol for conservation and study, the villagers had already made up their minds.
“The gods have chosen to appear here,” said 64-year-old, the village headman. “This is not just stone — this is Shiv ji himself. He revealed himself to protect our people. How can we let him be taken away to a lifeless museum?”
A temporary bamboo shrine has been constructed around the idol, where villagers offer milk, flowers, and incense daily. Devotees from neighboring villages are beginning to arrive in numbers, and what was once a sleepy hamlet is now experiencing an unexpected religious revival.
Local priests have declared the site sacred, claiming the idol’s emergence was foretold in ancient oral traditions passed down for generations.
The ASI, meanwhile, has found itself in a precarious position. Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, any archaeological artifact of historical importance found in India is the property of the central government. Section 4 of the Act mandates that such finds must be reported, and Section 19 makes it illegal to destroy, remove, or alter protected monuments without permission.
Yet enforcement in cases like this is complicated. Taking legal action risks public backlash, and in some instances, escalating tension with local communities. The ASI is currently negotiating with the village council, hoping to find a middle ground.
“This is not the first time we’ve seen villagers refusing to part with an idol,” said Prof. Meenakshi Deshpande, a heritage law expert. “The challenge lies in balancing archaeological preservation with spiritual sentiment. You can't just bulldoze faith.”
India has long struggled with the blurred line between archaeological discovery and living tradition. From idols found during ploughing in rural fields to temples buried under vegetation for centuries, the question often arises: when does a relic stop being an object of study and become a deity?
In 2012, villagers in Uttar Pradesh unearthed a 9th-century idol of Goddess Durga and refused to let authorities remove it. In Madhya Pradesh, a similar incident in 2005 saw locals build a temple overnight after discovering a centuries-old Ganesh idol during construction. In nearly all such cases, the community’s reverence outweighed the state’s authority.
“These are not museum pieces for villagers — they are living gods,” said Dr. Vasudevan Iyer, a sociologist who studies sacred geographies. “Faith turns a stone into Shiva. Once that happens, it becomes sacred territory. Archaeology loses that battle 99% of the time.”
The spiritual pull of this particular idol also lies in its representation. The Shiv-Parvati pairing is not merely decorative — it symbolizes the fundamental balance of the universe. Shiv, the ascetic destroyer, and Parvati, the nurturing mother, together represent cosmic equilibrium, known in Tantra as Ardhanarishvara when combined into a single androgynous form.
This duality and unity has a profound emotional and cultural resonance across India. For the villagers, it is not just a sculpture — it is a divine presence reaffirming their spiritual identity and anchoring their community.
“The timing is also significant,” noted a local priest. “The world is in turmoil. Shiv and Parvati have come to restore dharma.”
For now, the ASI appears to be pursuing a non-confrontational strategy. Authorities are reportedly considering options such as granting the idol a “site museum” status where it remains in the village under expert supervision, while also ensuring documentation and protection.
A formal survey of the area has also begun to investigate whether more artifacts might lie buried nearby. If the region once hosted a temple complex, the ASI may soon be dealing with more than just one idol.
Meanwhile, the villagers remain vigilant, watching over the idol day and night.
“We will protect it with our lives,” says one devotee. “No government can take away our god.”
This ongoing standoff is not just about an ancient idol — it’s about two visions of heritage. One sees the past as an academic record, to be studied, preserved, and catalogued. The other sees it as a living presence, ever-flowing and ready to manifest wherever the soil is receptive.
As the country continues to modernize, and as archaeological discoveries become more frequent due to expanding infrastructure, more such confrontations are likely. India, where gods live in both temples and timeworn stones, may need new models of heritage management that include both conservation and devotion.
Until then, the 1,700-year-old Shiv-Parvati idol will remain exactly where it appeared — under the open skies, cradled by faith, and fiercely protected by the very people it chose to reveal itself to.
While experts from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) describe the find as an invaluable relic of the Gupta era — a period known for the flowering of Indian sculpture, philosophy, and literature — the villagers have declared it a divine visitation, choosing to install the idol in a makeshift temple and begin daily worship. Their firm refusal to surrender the artifact has left the archaeological community stunned and triggered a nationwide debate on who truly owns India’s sacred past.
A Glorious Find Beneath the Earth
The most Circulated Moment
The idol was discovered last week in Jamui/Bihar, during work funded under a local water development scheme. As laborers dug through layers of red soil, their spades hit something unusually solid. Upon further digging, what emerged was a finely sculpted black stone idol, around three feet tall, showing Lord Shiv seated beside Goddess Parvati in an affectionate pose. The sculpture bore classical features — elaborate jata (matted hair), serene expressions, and detailed ornamentation — strongly suggesting its origin in the Gupta period (320–550 CE), a golden age of Indian art.
Experts say the idol may have once been part of a large temple complex that has long since vanished due to time and erosion.
“This is an extraordinary find,” said a senior official from the ASI. “The iconography reflects the sacred union of Shiva and Shakti, a motif deeply embedded in the Indian spiritual imagination. Its preservation is crucial for our understanding of early Indian temple architecture and devotion.”
Divine Arrival or Historical Artifact?
Demand to build a temple at the place where the statue of Shiv Parvati was found
But even before ASI officials could transport the idol for conservation and study, the villagers had already made up their minds.
“The gods have chosen to appear here,” said 64-year-old, the village headman. “This is not just stone — this is Shiv ji himself. He revealed himself to protect our people. How can we let him be taken away to a lifeless museum?”
A temporary bamboo shrine has been constructed around the idol, where villagers offer milk, flowers, and incense daily. Devotees from neighboring villages are beginning to arrive in numbers, and what was once a sleepy hamlet is now experiencing an unexpected religious revival.
Local priests have declared the site sacred, claiming the idol’s emergence was foretold in ancient oral traditions passed down for generations.
Caught Between Law and Devotion
Found During the digging of Kolhua pond
The ASI, meanwhile, has found itself in a precarious position. Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, any archaeological artifact of historical importance found in India is the property of the central government. Section 4 of the Act mandates that such finds must be reported, and Section 19 makes it illegal to destroy, remove, or alter protected monuments without permission.
Yet enforcement in cases like this is complicated. Taking legal action risks public backlash, and in some instances, escalating tension with local communities. The ASI is currently negotiating with the village council, hoping to find a middle ground.
“This is not the first time we’ve seen villagers refusing to part with an idol,” said Prof. Meenakshi Deshpande, a heritage law expert. “The challenge lies in balancing archaeological preservation with spiritual sentiment. You can't just bulldoze faith.”
A Nation Rich in Living Relics
A land of Wonders
India has long struggled with the blurred line between archaeological discovery and living tradition. From idols found during ploughing in rural fields to temples buried under vegetation for centuries, the question often arises: when does a relic stop being an object of study and become a deity?
In 2012, villagers in Uttar Pradesh unearthed a 9th-century idol of Goddess Durga and refused to let authorities remove it. In Madhya Pradesh, a similar incident in 2005 saw locals build a temple overnight after discovering a centuries-old Ganesh idol during construction. In nearly all such cases, the community’s reverence outweighed the state’s authority.
“These are not museum pieces for villagers — they are living gods,” said Dr. Vasudevan Iyer, a sociologist who studies sacred geographies. “Faith turns a stone into Shiva. Once that happens, it becomes sacred territory. Archaeology loses that battle 99% of the time.”
The Symbolism of Shiv-Parvati in Indian Culture
This duality and unity has a profound emotional and cultural resonance across India. For the villagers, it is not just a sculpture — it is a divine presence reaffirming their spiritual identity and anchoring their community.
“The timing is also significant,” noted a local priest. “The world is in turmoil. Shiv and Parvati have come to restore dharma.”
A Fragile Compromise in the Making
A formal survey of the area has also begun to investigate whether more artifacts might lie buried nearby. If the region once hosted a temple complex, the ASI may soon be dealing with more than just one idol.
Meanwhile, the villagers remain vigilant, watching over the idol day and night.
“We will protect it with our lives,” says one devotee. “No government can take away our god.”
A Story of Two Loyalties
As the country continues to modernize, and as archaeological discoveries become more frequent due to expanding infrastructure, more such confrontations are likely. India, where gods live in both temples and timeworn stones, may need new models of heritage management that include both conservation and devotion.
Until then, the 1,700-year-old Shiv-Parvati idol will remain exactly where it appeared — under the open skies, cradled by faith, and fiercely protected by the very people it chose to reveal itself to.