Damaged Idols Discovered Inside the Well After Sambhal's Bhasma Shankar Temple Reopened

In a shocker, three damaged idols were found inside the well of the ancient Bhasma Shankar Temple in Sambhal, just days after its reopening. The temple had been closed for 46 years and was formally reopened on 13 December 2024 after an anti-encroachment drive.

Bhasma Shankar Temple, which is also referred to as the Shri Kartik Mahadev Temple, lies in the Khaggu Sarai area of Sambhal. The temple had been buried there for many decades, and authorities had only recently discovered it. It contains major religious symbols such as the idols of Lord Hanuman and a Shivling. Excavation activities by local authorities were also conducted in the surrounding of the temple, along with the nearby well.

According to District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya, the first broken idol of Parvati was found after excavation, followed by idols of Ganesh and Lakshmi. These damaged idols were found to be 10 to 12 feet inside the well. Pensiya said this discovery is under investigation into how the idols came there and whether they were dumped there intentionally.

Sanjeev Sharma, a local who was present at the site, confirmed that the Lakshmi idol had been damaged. Subdivisional Magistrate Vandana Mishra gave further details about the excavation of the well. The authorities have contacted the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct carbon dating on the temple and its artifacts to determine their age and historical significance.

This revelation has come at a time when the Bhasma Shankar Temple has recently regained its attention. The local devotees are thrilled with the reopening of the temple and have already started visiting it, which is being protected by round-the-clock security. The district administration is keen on preserving the ancient heritage of the temple and restoring it properly.

Though excited, concerns are still being raised regarding the roots of these damaged idols. Further investigation will be taken and further action, among which encroachments are to be removed, etc. The district administration has also responded by saying that once the preservation of the temple is ensured, beautification plans might be executed.

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