A 400-year-old idol of Goddess Lakshmi discovered in the foundation excavation of a construction site

A 400-year-old idol of the goddess Lakshmi was found during the excavation of a foundation for a house construction project in Baghanki village near Manesar, India.

A standing idol of Lord Vishnu and a joint idol of Goddess Laxmi and Lord Vishnu were also recovered.

The three metal idols, estimated to be around 400 years old, were found while digging the foundation of a new house using a JCB machine, police said on Wednesday.

The owner of the construction site has been told to stop the construction work, police said, adding that the Archaeology Department will now carry out further excavations to check if there are more idols in the area.

The idols were handed over to Banani Bhattacharya, Deputy Director of the Archaeology Department and Dr. Kush Dhebar by the Bilaspur police.

According to the police, the villagers wanted the idols handed over to the panchayat as they wanted to build a temple on the plot. However, officials of the Archaeology Department rejected their demand.

The goddess Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, prosperity, good luck, beauty, fertility and abundance in Hinduism. She is considered the consort of Vishnu and together they are often referred to as Lakshmi-Narayana.

Lakshmi is often depicted sitting on a lotus flower or with a lotus flower next to her. She is said to have four arms and holds a different symbol in each hand:

A pot of gold coins: Represents wealth and prosperity.

Lotus flower: Represents purity and beauty.

A vessel full of Amrita: Represents immortality and fertility.

Abhaya mudra: Represents the gesture of fearlessness and security.

One of the most popular and revered goddesses in Hinduism, Lakshmi was born, according to a legend, from the churning of the primordial sea of milk by gods and demons.

Lakshmi worshippers often pray to her for material and spiritual prosperity. They also pray for good luck, abundance and prosperity.

Cover Photo: X/@MagadhXBT