JUST 60 km away from Bhopal, hides a marvel of ancient India. In the historic Udayagiri caves of Vidisha district, archaeologists have confirmed the oldest and clearest evidence of Shakti worship in Central India - a 12- armed idol of Goddess Durga slaying Mahishasura. The relief, carved outside Cave No. 6, dates to the Gupta period during the reign of Chandragupta II, between the late 4th and early 5th century CE. The site comprises 22 rockcut caves and is the only Gupta site verifiably linked to an emperor through Sanskrit inscriptions. It houses some of the oldest surviving Hindu iconography in India. What makes this idol unique is its clarity.

 

While other early images are faint, here the Goddess is depicted in her full Mahishasuramardini form. She grips Mahishasura by the neck, her right foot on his back and her left foot resting on a base scholars identify as her lion vehicle. One right hand pierces the demon with a trishul, while her other ten hands hold divine weapons - sword, shield, bow and arrow, mace, lotus, panapatra and khappar. The Udayagiri caves were added to UNESCO’s Tentative List, strengthening MP’s global heritage status. The Archaeological Survey of India has now begun 3D digital documentation and conservation of the damaged but iconic panel, while the state tourism board is developing it as a key heritage circuit destination.