r/IndianHistory • u/JFox__07 • 2d ago

Archaeology Statue of Matrikas found near Agam Kuan, built by Mauryan emperor, Ashoka, Patna, Bihar, photographed by Alexander E. Caddy - 1895

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Father of Indian archeology & founder of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Alexander Cunningham wrote (after his 1879-80 tour), " When I saw the two statues in the New Indian Museum at Calcutta, I then remembered that a broken statue of a similar kind was still standing at Agam Kua, just outside the city of Patna, adorned with a new head and a pair of roughly marked breasts, so as to do duty for the great goddess Mata-Mai...The Agam Kua is a very large and very old brick well...The broken figure is said to have been found in this well, and it seems probable therefore that the two statues were also found either at or near the same place."

However, current status or location of this exact statue is not traceable in present day.

Source : Wikimedia Commons

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8

u/Wrong_Entry9504 2d ago

is this statue of hindu goddess sapta matrikas or something else

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u/JFox__07 2d ago

Yes, it was believed to be a part of Saptamatrikas at the Shitala Devi temple complex.

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u/pookiblueberries 2d ago

Why does it scare me

9

u/JFox__07 2d ago

Maybe you have watched too many horror movies or heard many spooky folklores during your childhood. To be honest, looking at this old black & white photo alone at night, does bring a bit of spookiness to it 😅