Puducherry: A farmer from Poornankuppam, a village in Puducherry, dug up a five feet tall Shiva Lingam on Friday evening not knowing that he had unearthed a treasure that is believed to be 300-year-old.
Puduppattan (56), levelling his field for agricultural purpose using an earthmover, stopped the work when the tractor struck a hard object under the soil. Much to the surprise the farmer and other local people found a stone idol at four feet depth with no platform. Some bricks were also found nearby the Shiva Lingam. Immediately they informed the revenue officials, who rushed to the place and inspected the idol.
Cyril Antony, former curator of Puducherry museum, who visited the place following the invitation from revenue officials, said the idol may be more than 300 years old.
“Shiva Lingam normally will have a platform (which is known as the ‘yoni peeda’), which is missing here. A detailed search in the area might be helpful to find the missing parts if any, which can be done with the help of Archeological Survey of India. An assumption is that it might be belonging to later Chola period. Better to wait for ASI to do a scientific study,” Mr Antony told Deccan Chronicle.
ASI authorities have been informed and are expected to visit the area on Monday, tahasildar J. Dayalane told Deccan Chronicle. “The land owner has been asked not to do any work in the field,” he said.
