OVER TWENTY ancient rock-cut sculptures, believed to be over 2500-year-old and belonging to four different faiths, have been discovered at a single site near Mau in Chitrakoot district, about 150 km south-west of Allahabad.
The find, made by a team of archaeologists belonging to the Department of Ancient History, Culture and Archaeology of Allahabad University (AU) during a survey of the area, is being considered significant for the sculptures' display of the classic Elora style of sculpturing and three of them having rare inscriptions below them in an ancient script.
The AU team — consisting of a senior teacher Prof Jai Narayan Pandey, a research scholar Sushil Kumar Singh Gautam and Allahabad Museum's Dr Prabhakar Pandey — have identified the sculptures as belonging to 700-800 AD of the post-Gupt period.
"The sculptures are near a hill at Dashrath Ghat, around 15 km south-west of Mau tehsil headquarters and near Mohini village. The site was briefly mentioned in a report submitted by one of our research scholars about 15 years back.
"After permission from our head of the department Prof RP Tripathi, we carried out the survey of the area and discovered the sculptures there," said Prof Jai Narayan Pandey. He said: "The 20-odd sculptures, all carved on hill rocks, are of the Sun God, Lord Vishnu and Goddess Durga in various poses of her 'Mahisasur Mardini' form and Shivlings."
{{/usCountry}}"After permission from our head of the department Prof RP Tripathi, we carried out the survey of the area and discovered the sculptures there," said Prof Jai Narayan Pandey. He said: "The 20-odd sculptures, all carved on hill rocks, are of the Sun God, Lord Vishnu and Goddess Durga in various poses of her 'Mahisasur Mardini' form and Shivlings."
{{/usCountry}}"The sculptures are located at a very picturesque area having a natural spring nearby and seem to be basically of the followers of Saiv, Sakta, Saur (Solar) and Vaishnav sects. Eleven Shivalings too have been rock cut and one of them has 'Shree Ramana' inscribed below. The inscriptions resembles the Brahmi script of the Gupt period," he added.
Prof Pandey said the sculptures of Goddess Durga are very detailed showing her in various forms and having a trishul and a sharp-edged weapon in her hands. "While a chakra can be seen carved in one of her four hands, she is seen gripping the hair of the demon in her other hand. At the base of the sculpture 'Shree Maruda Stambh' is inscribed," he said.
He said that the Sun God is shown in a standing posture in another sculpture while Lord Vishnu has been shown in a reclining posture with Lord Brahma sitting on a lotus. "Some of the rock-cut sculptures at Dashrath Ghat are unsurpassed in their limpid flow of grace and their soft and subtle contours," Prof Pandey said.
He said that the AU team was now planning to carry out a more detailed survey of the area as it seems promising from archaeological point of view. "Locals believe that Lord Ram received the news of his father King Dashrath's death while he was at Dashrath Ghat and performed the last rites there. So, remains of temples and other finds are quite possible," Prof Pandey added.
He said the area was dacoit-infested and measures were needed to keep the sculptures safe for which the AU team was planning to write to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).