Maharashtra- 12th century Jain idol of Lord Kunthunath found in excavation, identified with goat symbol

Aurangabad: A more than 1,000-year-old stone idol of Lord Kunthunath, one of the Jain Tirthankaras, was found in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district. Experts gave this information on Thursday. He told that the idol was unearthed on Tuesday during the construction work in the premises of an existing Jain temple located at Sonune Gali in Aundha Nagnath, about 600 km from Mumbai. He told that the idol carved out of basalt stone can be of 12th-13th century and it is of “sophisticated” design. Indologist Sally Palande-Datar said, ‘Recently excavated near the Jain temple at Aundha Nagnath, the idol found can be identified as Kunthunath Bhagwan.’

According to Jainism, Kunthunath was the 17th of the 24 Tirthankaras, each of whom has a specific representative symbol or “lakshana”. He said that this Kunthunath idol can be identified by its goat symbol. He told that on matching this idol with other found remains, it is known that Aundha would have been an important Jain center in Nagnath during 12th-13th century.

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Archaeologist of the State Archeology Department Mayuresh Khadke said, ‘This idol can be of Chalukya period. It belongs to Lord Kunthunath as it can be identified by the ‘goat sign’ on the idol. Lord Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara.

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