News Brief
Ancient Shivlings, Hindu Idols Found During Excavation At Spring In J&K's Anantnag, Possibly Linked To Karkoota Dynasty
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Ancient 'Shivlings' and Hindu idols have been discovered during spring renovation excavations in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir, news agency PTI reported, citing officials.
The idols were found at Karkoot Nag, located in the Salia region of Aishmuqam in south Kashmir district, according to the officials.
During the excavation, several stone idols with deities engraved on them were unearthed at Karkoot Nag.
Officials added that local labourers discovered the idols while the Public Works Department was undertaking revival and restoration works in the spring.
The officials of the J&K Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums also visited the site. The idols would now be sent to Srinagar for material and dating testing to determine their age and origins.
The idols will be shifted to Shri Pratap Singh Museum in Srinagar, where they will be studied by research scholars and department.
"There has been an impact of the Karkoota dynasty in this area, so there is a probability that a temple might have been there or someone might have kept them there for preservation," a Kashmiri Hindu was quoted as saying by PTI.
He noted the site, located 16 kilometres from the district headquarters, has traditionally served as a pilgrimage centre.
"These were recovered from the sacred pond. Some Shivlings, a sculpture and other items have been recovered," he said.
He expressed a desire for the recovered idols to be protected and urged the government to rebuild a temple at the site, citing local accounts of an earlier temple, where the 'Shivlings' could be enshrined.
