VIJAYAWADA: The ancient Vardhman Mahavir Jain idol is lying in a state of utter neglect on the outskirts of Nayakallu village in Kalluru mandal of Kurnool district, said E Sivanagi Reddy, archaeologist and CEO, Pleach India Foundation.
As part of an awareness programme, Reddy and his team conducted a thorough survey of ruined temples near Nayakallu village.
They came across the 24th Jain Tirthankar Vardhman Mahavir sculpture carved out of black basalt stone. The idol belongs to the Rashtrakuta period (10th century CE ) and urged the villagers to shift it to other place for preservation.
