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This Southeast Asian Country Unearths 1100-year-old Monolithic Sandstone from India

This Southeast Asian Country Unearths 1100-year-old Monolithic Sandstone from India
Financial Express | 1100-year-old Shiv Linga found in My Son Sanctuary

Vietnamese and Indian experts unearthed a Shiv Linga (a representation of the Hindu deity Shiva) dating back to the 9th century during the restoration of a Cham temple complex at My Son Sanctuary, a world cultural heritage site in central Quang Nam province, Vietnam local media Nha Dan reported.

The find was revealed by Phan Ho, the director of the management board of the heritage site, on May 28.

The monolithic sandstone Shiv Linga, which is 2.24 x 1.68 metres in size, is the largest of its kind unearthed in Vietnam to date, according to experts.

Shiv Linga in My Son sanctuary. Image: Dr S Jaishankar/Shiv Linga in My Son sanctuary. Image: Dr S Jaishankar?Shiv Linga in My Son sanctuary. Image: Dr S Jaishankar/Swarajyamag.com
Shiv Linga in My Son sanctuary. Image: Dr S Jaishankar/Shiv Linga in My Son sanctuary. Image: Dr S Jaishankar/Swarajyamag.com

 

The head of the conservation group, Jalihal Ranganath, said the discovery is helpful for the restoration of the Cham temple.

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar who shared the news on Twitter called it a great cultural example of India’s development partnership and a civilisational connect between the two countries.

According to Swarajya Magazine, the fully intact Shiv Linga is part of a complex of Hindu temples which were constructed by the mighty Champa Empire between 4th century CE and 13th century CE in My Son.

Image:
Shiv Linga in My Son sanctuary. Image: Dr S Jaishankar/Shiv Linga in My Son sanctuary. Image: Dr S Jaishankar/Financial Express

 

My Son a designated UNESCO world heritage centre is home to a variety of Hindu temples built over 10 centuries and is a testament to the technological sophistication of Cham people.

Vietnamese and Indian experts have also completed the restoration of four stone pillars in front of Tower A10 worshipping God Shiva.

This discovery was done with the help of The Archeological Survey of India (ASI). ASI has undertaken several major conservation works across various countries of Asia. 

The ASI is involved in conserving the temples of other countries including the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan, the Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Ta Prohm Temple in Cambodia, and the Vat Phou Temple in Laos. It is also engaged in conserving the Gandan monastery''s manuscripts and their digitisation in Mongolia.

 

Indah Gilang Pusparani

Indah is a researcher at Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Daerah Kota Cirebon (Regional Development Planning and Research Agency of Cirebon Municipality). She covers More international relations, tourism, and startups in Southeast Asia region and beyond. Indah graduated from MSc Development Administration and Planning from University College London, United Kingdom in 2015. She finished bachelor degree from International Relations from University of Indonesia in 2014, with two exchange programs in Political Science at National University of Singapore and New Media in Journalism at Ball State University, USA. She was awarded Diplomacy Award at Harvard World Model United Nations and named as Indonesian Gifted Researcher by Australian National University. She is Researcher at Regional Planning Board in Cirebon, West Java. She previously worked as Editor in Bening Communication, the Commonwealth Parliament Association UK, and diplomacy consulting firm Best Delegate LLC in USA. Less
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