900-year-old Ganesh sculpture found in Rameshwaram Banda
A five‑foot stone figure of Ganesh has emerged from a farm field in Rameshwaram Banda, offering a rare glimpse into Deccan art of the early medieval period. Estimated at nine to ten centuries old, the statue belongs to the artistic wave that followed the Rashtrakuta empire and anticipates the early Chalukyan style.
The deity is shown in a relaxed seated pose, Lalitasana, crowned with a conical Karandamakuta, and adorned with fan‑shaped ears, a broken tusk and a bead necklace. A serpentine band wrapped around its belly – the Naga‑bandha – is a striking detail that helps scholars date the work and understand ritual practices of the time.
Unlike typical temple idols housed inside a sanctum, such monumental Ganesh figures were often placed in outer precincts or open spaces, reflecting the Ganapatya tradition that elevated Ganesh as the principal deity. The region’s history of Jain worship adds another layer, as nearby sculptures suggest a shared devotional landscape.
Beyond its religious context, the sculpture exemplifies the skill of early medieval stone carvers, with its precise contours, ornamental crown and dynamic posture providing valuable clues to the evolution of Deccan sculpture.