A centuries-old Vishnu statue has emerged from the Bay of Bengal, leaving archaeologists and locals alike puzzled. Discovered by a woman on an evening stroll, the artifact’s sudden appearance has sparked intrigue over its origins and how it ended up on the shores of Pedda Rushikonda Beach.
Ancient Idol Found on Pedda Rushikonda Beach
A routine evening walk turned into an extraordinary discovery for Dipali Naidu, a resident of Visakhapatnam, India. On March 21, she stumbled upon a three-foot-tall granite statue of the Hindu deity Vishnu, half-buried in the sand along the Pedda Rushikonda coastline.
Shocked by the find, Naidu quickly alerted authorities, leading to the intervention of the Andhra Pradesh State Department of Archaeology and Museums. The artifact was promptly transported to the Visakha Museum for analysis, where experts have been working to uncover its story. Soon, the public will have the chance to view the piece up close, as the museum plans to exhibit the statue in the near future.
Unusual Granite Construction Raises Questions
The statue’s material has deepened the mystery. R. Phalguna Rao, assistant director of the museum’s archaeology department, noted that most sculptures from this region were historically carved from khondalite stone, a common metamorphic rock in India.
“This idol is made of granite, which is highly unusual for this area,” Rao told The Hindu. He estimated the piece dates back to the 13th or 14th century, suggesting it originated outside North Andhra Pradesh. The idol represents Vishnu in the Janardanaya avatar—one of his 24 divine manifestations.
One of its arms is missing, believed to have originally held a shankha (conch shell), a key symbol of Vishnu’s divine authority.
Archaeologists have theorized that the statue may have been part of a temple before being discarded into the Bay of Bengal—an ancient practice for damaged religious idols.
The Deep Symbolism Behind Vishnu and the Shankha
In Hindu tradition, Janardana is an epithet of Vishnu, often interpreted as “one who removes suffering.” His role as a protector is deeply embedded in Hindu mythology, where he is believed to guide devotees while challenging those with malicious intentions.
The missing shankha holds special religious significance. Among Vishnu’s four primary attributes—the chakra (discus), gada (mace), padma (lotus), and shankha—the conch shell symbolizes cosmic energy and purity. The sound it produces, often resembling “Om,” is considered sacred, believed to dispel negative forces and sanctify religious ceremonies.
The conch also has a natural connection to water. Hindu mythology references the churning of the cosmic ocean (Samudra Manthan), reinforcing the shankha’s association with creation and prosperity. Even today, the shankha is used in temples and homes for ritualistic purposes, often filled with holy water and linked to good fortune.
How Did the Statue End Up in the Ocean?
The sudden emergence of the Vishnu idol raises several possibilities. Could it have been lost to the sea centuries ago? Was it submerged due to a natural disaster or human intervention? Or was it discarded in accordance with Hindu traditions surrounding damaged deity statues?
Historians and archaeologists will continue their investigation, hoping to piece together its mysterious journey. Meanwhile, the people of Visakhapatnam remain captivated by the unexpected return of an ancient relic from the depths of the Bay of Bengal.
