📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Diego Tirira from Quito, Ecuador
Religion
Nine Ancient Jain Stone Idols Unearthed During Foundation Dig in Udaipur, Rajasthan
✍️ Amar Ujala · Udaipur
🗓 05 Oct 2026, 04:37 PM
👁 10
Construction work in the town of Joda, Udaipur district, uncovered about nine stone idols linked to Jainism, found near a long‑abandoned Jain temple.
Construction crews digging the foundation for a residential building in Joda, a town in Udaipur district, stumbled upon a cache of roughly nine stone idols associated with Jainism. The artifacts were discovered close to the site of a Jain temple that has remained shuttered for the past seven to eight decades.
Preliminary observations suggest the statues are considerably old, though experts have not yet dated them precisely. Their design and iconography are consistent with traditional Jain religious art, indicating they could belong to a historic period of worship that predates the temple’s closure.
The Archaeological Survey of India has been alerted and a team is expected to examine the finds, document their condition, and advise on preservation measures. Authorities have temporarily halted construction in the immediate area to ensure the statues are protected while the investigation proceeds.
Preliminary observations suggest the statues are considerably old, though experts have not yet dated them precisely. Their design and iconography are consistent with traditional Jain religious art, indicating they could belong to a historic period of worship that predates the temple’s closure.
The Archaeological Survey of India has been alerted and a team is expected to examine the finds, document their condition, and advise on preservation measures. Authorities have temporarily halted construction in the immediate area to ensure the statues are protected while the investigation proceeds.