Pune Beat

The idol is 20-inch tall and 11-inch wide and shows Lord Vishnu bearing shankh, Gada, chakra and lotus in his hands and wearing an intricately carved crown.

According to senior archaeologist Dr Deglurkar, the idol belongs to the Gupta school of art mainly predominant in north India and dates back to sixth or seventh century. He identified the other two smaller idols on either side of Lord Vishnu as that of a man carrying lotus in his hand and Kaumudki devi.

Godbole said that given the fact the the idol is intact, it suggests that it was not a part of any panel of idols and hence not used for worshipping. Godbole underlined the need for studying the association of the idol with the history of Pune.