Ancient Vishnu idol washes ashore at Pedda Rushikonda Beach in Visakhapatnam

Centuries-old broken Lord Vishnu sculpture found at Pedda Rushikonda beach, intriguing locals and archaeologists, now displayed at Visakha Museum.

A centuries-old granite sculpture of Lord Vishnu, broken and disjointed from its torso, was mysteriously washed ashore at Pedda Rushikonda beach on Friday evening, drawing intrigue and curiosity among locals and archaeologists alike.

The 3.1-foot idol, found in two pieces with one arm broken, was first spotted by Dipali Naidu, a Rushikonda resident, during her evening stroll. Recognising its uniqueness, she immediately alerted authorities, leading to its retrieval by the Andhra Pradesh State Department of Archaeology and Museums.

According to R. Phalguna Rao, Assistant Director of the department, the sculpture may date back to the 13th or 14th century but is unlikely to have originated from North Andhra Pradesh. “Most sculptures from this region during that period were crafted from khondalite stones, whereas this idol is made of granite,” he noted while speaking to The Hindu.

The idol, identified as depicting Lord Vishnu in the Janardanaya avatar—one of his 24 divine forms as documented by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)—bore a broken arm that once held a shankha (conch). The Janardanaya form symbolises the Lord as the protector and sustainer of the universe. The name ‘Janardana’ is derived from Sanskrit, where ‘Jana’ means people or living beings, and ‘Ardana’ means to dispel or remove suffering.

Archaeologists suggest the idol might have been part of a temple before being immersed in the Bay of Bengal, a common practice followed when statues of deities are damaged.

On Saturday evening, the sculpture was carefully transported to the Visakha Museum, where it will be housed in the archaeology section for public display. “The idol’s journey through time and tides is fascinating,” Mr. Rao added, highlighting its historical significance.

This discovery comes shortly after the department shifted another ancient sculpture—a Surya idol made of khondalite stone—from Dabagardens.