7 August 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

700-Year-Old Lord Vishnu’s Sculpture Washes Ashore on Pedda Rushikonda Beach

On a serene Friday evening, the tranquil shores of Pedda Rushikonda beach were disrupted by an extraordinary sight: a centuries-old granite sculpture of Lord Vishnu, mysteriously washed ashore.

This ancient artifact, broken and separated from its torso, has intrigued local residents and caught the attention of archaeologists eager to learn more about its history. As the waves gently washed over its surface, the statue prompted onlookers to reflect on its past and the significance it once held.

Measuring 3.1 feet in height and found in two pieces with one arm broken, the idol was first discovered by Dipali Naidu, a resident of Rushikonda, during her evening walk. Recognizing its significance, she promptly alerted the authorities, leading to its recovery by the Andhra Pradesh State Department of Archaeology and Museums.

R. Phalguna Rao, the Assistant Director of the department, speculates that the sculpture may date back to the 13th or 14th century, although it is unlikely to have originated from North Andhra Pradesh. “Most sculptures from this region during that era were crafted from khondalite stones, while this idol is made of granite,” he explained in an interview with The Hindu.

The idol is identified as depicting Lord Vishnu in his Janardanaya avatar—one of the 24 divine forms recognized by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

The 3.1 feet idol of Lord Vishnu being inspected at the Visakha Museum in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.  Credit: K R DEEPAK
The 3.1 feet idol of Lord Vishnu being inspected at the Visakha Museum in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. Credit: K R DEEPAK

Lord Vishnu is one of the principal deities in Hinduism, revered as the preserver and protector of the universe. He embodies the principles of dharma (righteousness) and is often depicted as a benevolent figure who intervenes in the world to restore cosmic order. The name ‘Janardana’ is derived from Sanskrit, where ‘Jana’ signifies people or living beings, and ‘Ardana’ means to dispel or alleviate suffering. This form of Vishnu symbolizes his role as a guardian of humanity, emphasizing his commitment to protecting and nurturing life.

The broken arm of the statue once held a shankha (conch), a significant symbol in Hindu iconography that represents the primordial sound of creation and the call to righteousness. Archaeologists believe that the idol may have once adorned a temple before being immersed in the Bay of Bengal, a common practice for damaged deity statues.

On Saturday evening, the sculpture was carefully transported to the Visakha Museum, where it will be displayed in the archaeology section for public viewing. “The idol’s journey through time and tides is truly fascinating,” Mr. Rao remarked, emphasizing its historical importance.

This remarkable discovery follows the recent relocation of another ancient sculpture—a Surya idol made of khondalite stone—from Dabagardens, further enriching the region’s archaeological narrative.

Cover Image Credit: K R DEEPAK

Related Articles

Ancient necropolis of stillborn babies and very young children found in Auxerre, France

8 June 2024

8 June 2024

A team from INRAP, France’s national archaeology and preservation agency, unearthed a necropolis dedicated to stillborn and very young children...

Scientists Use Artificial İntelligence to Study Ancient Australian Rock Art

1 April 2021

1 April 2021

Rock art is the oldest surviving human art form. Throughout Australia, petroglyphs are part of the life and customs of...

2100-year-old women skeleton found lying in bronze ‘Mermaid Bed’

4 June 2022

4 June 2022

Archaeologists have discovered the 2100-year-old skeleton of a woman lying in a bronze ‘Mermaid Bed’ near the city of Kozani...

During roadwork in Oregon, a woolly mammoth tusk was discovered

21 June 2021

21 June 2021

A 12,000-year-old woolly mammoth tusk was discovered beneath the street by crews rerouting a gas line in Corvallis, Oregon. “Whenever...

2,700-year-old Children’s Cemetery unearthed in Turkey’s Tenedos

2 March 2024

2 March 2024

A 2700-year-old children’s cemetery was discovered during ongoing excavations in the ancient city of Tenedos in Bozcaada,  southeast of the...

Silk Road archaeological discoveries draw attention despite the pandemic

20 June 2021

20 June 2021

A report prepared by more than 30 global experts believes that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, archaeological discoveries related to the...

A pendant with a figure of St. Nicholas found in the Ancient Church Hidden in Turkish Lake

7 October 2022

7 October 2022

Underwater archaeological excavations and research, which were started 8 years ago in the basilica located 20 meters off the lake...

Aramaic four inscriptions found for the first time in eastern Turkey

17 September 2022

17 September 2022

Four inscriptions written in Aramaic were discovered in the ancient city with a grid plan, located on an area of...

Archaeologists Discover 40,000-Year-Old Evidence of Neanderthal Habitation in Ghamari Cave, Iran

13 March 2025

13 March 2025

Iranian archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery in Ghamari Cave (also known as Qamari Cave), located near Khorramabad in Lorestan...

Archaeologists Unearthed a Rare Hoard of Hasmonean Coins in Jordan Valley

31 December 2024

31 December 2024

A team of archaeologists from the University of Haifa discovered a rare hoard of approximately 160 coins during an excavation...

Three-Year-Old Discovers 3,800-Year-Old Canaanite Seal at Archaeological Site of Tel Azekah

2 April 2025

2 April 2025

At the site of the famous battle between David and Goliath, a three-year-old girl named Ziv Nitzan discovered a scarab-shaped...

Archaeologists uncovered a ‘golden tomb’ during excavations in Armenia

26 March 2023

26 March 2023

A team of archaeologists made up of Polish and Armenian scientists has discovered a “golden tomb” containing two skeletons in...

Army Museum Worker Discovers Early Medieval Sword While Swimming in a Polish River

19 December 2024

19 December 2024

The collection of the Army Museum in Białystok, Poland has been enriched after renovation with a unique relic of great...

Archaeologists find the earliest evidence Maya sacred calendar in the Guatemalan pyramid

14 April 2022

14 April 2022

Archaeologists identified two plaster fragments depicting a date that the Maya civilization called ‘7 deer’ and was part of the...

A submerged stone bridge constructed 5600 years ago shed light on the human colonization of the western Mediterranean

31 August 2024

31 August 2024

An interdisciplinary research team, led by University of South Florida (USF) geology Professor Bogdan Onac, has examined an ancient submerged...