1100-year-old Shivaling found by ASI in Vietnam temple; EAM hails 'civilisational connect'

The Archaeological Survey of India on Wednesday unearthed a monolithic sandstone Shiva Linga of the 9th Common Era during its conservation project. The structure was excavated from the Cham Temple Complex at the My Son Sanctuary of Vietnam. It is a monolithic structure with decorative patterns of very exquisite cultural value. Before this, six other Shiva Lingas have already been recovered in the My Son Temple complex.

Praising the ASI on the discovery, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the finding reaffirms a “civilizational connect” between the devotees of Lord Shiva around the world. He tweeted photos from the excavation and recalled his pleasant visit to the sanctuary in 2011.

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The temple complex was built in the 9th century A.D. under the reign of King Indravarman II who also built the famous Dong Duong Buddhist Monastery in Quang Nam Province. French experts in 1903-1904 had discovered the temple complex in a dilapidated condition. During excavations at that time, the French archaeologists had described the presence of one Shivalinga in Group ‘A’ at the temple site. However, due to limited excavation capability at that time, it could not be recovered. Subsequently, political disturbances and wars in Vietnam led to further destruction of the temple complex.

A 4-member team of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been engaged in the fourth season of restoration/conservation work (annual work schedule of Jan-Jun 2020) at the world heritage site at My Son in Quang Nam Province of Vietnam. Over the previous three seasons, ASI has restored temples in Groups ‘K’ and ‘H’ and presently the work is under progress for temples in Group ‘A’.

Massive Finding At Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi

In another massive discovery, a five-foot Shivaling, seven pillars of black touchstone, six pillars of red sandstone, and broken idols of Devi-Devtas were found at Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi temple site. Informing about the findings, Champat Rai, General Secy of Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra Trust, said that for 10 days the ground at the site was being leveled and that is when the pillars in the debris and other items were found. 

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