‘Three-headed Vaishno’: 9th-century sculpture discovered in Kashmir

Srinagar: A 9th-century sculpture of three-headed Vaishno was discovered in Pulwama district, police said.

The sculpture was recovered from the bed of river Jhelum in the Kakapora area of Pulwama, police sources said.

“Some laborers were extracting sand in river Jhelum in Kakapora area of Pulwama when they found the ancient sculpture in the river. After recovering the sculpture, the laborers contacted the local police. Police took the sculpture into its possession.

“The sculpture is of green and black stone. It was later handed over to the Archives, Archaeology and Museum Department,” a source said.

An official of the department said the sculpture is a three-headed Vaishno which is unique to the 9th century.

“It is rare and highly decorative though a few of the sculpture’s parts are missing,” the official added.