12th-Century Rare Sculpture of Bala Ganesh Found in Adilabad District
A remarkable 12th‑century stone figure of Lord Bala Ganesh has emerged from the fields of Adilabad district. The sculpture shows the infant deity perched on the lap of Goddess Parvati, who is seated in a relaxed Sukhasana pose and holds a fruit. Unusually, the baby Ganesha is portrayed in a tender breastfeeding posture, with only two arms and no crown on his elephantine head.
The piece was spotted by a local history lecturer, a heritage society president and a foundation CEO, who noted its striking similarity to the carvings of the Lakshmi Narayana temple at Jainath, commissioned by Jagaddeva, a Paramara prince, around 1104 CE. Such iconography is exceptionally rare in the Telugu region, making the find a valuable link to medieval artistic traditions.
Currently the statue rests beneath a tree beside a railway line near the village of Chanda‑Sivaram. Authorities and villagers have been urged to move it to the gram panchayat for proper conservation, ensuring that this delicate glimpse of devotional art can be safeguarded for future generations.