MP: Ancient Jain idols found

Shajapur (MP), July 17: Five ancient marble idols of Jain Thirthankars, estimated to be about 1500 year old, were found while digging a cliff at Tikariya village in Shajapur district, official sources said.

District's Incharge Collector Arjun Singh Dabar said a village woman Gourabai, while passing through a field, noticed the idols embedded in wet soil and later the villagers dig it out.

Three-feet high idols of Parshvanath and Adinath are in good condition, while the rest are broken. Vikram era Samvat 541 was inscribed on the idols.

The Jain community had installed the idol of Parshvanath at Nalkheda based Jain temple while Mrs Gourabai wanted to donate the idol of Adinath to Jaipur's Jain community.

Ancient coins and clay utensils were also found in the same area during renovation of a Hanuman temple last year.

UNI