Kamal Kumar Biswas.TOD.Balurghat
A remarkable archaeological breakthrough took place at Bhaior under Tapan Police Station in South Dinajpur, where a rare black-stone sculpture surfaced during local excavation. Informed by residents, heritage enthusiast Samit Ghosh, accompanied by Buddhist researcher Kaushik Biswas, visited the site and examined the find. The duo expressed deep astonishment at the sculpture’s artistic complexity, calling it a memorable day in the iconographic history of South Dinajpur.
Preliminary analysis suggests the sculpture represents Bhairava or Kaal Bhairava, a fierce form of Shiva. Carved from kosthi (black stone), the figure stands about four feet tall and two feet wide, depicting a tri-headed, four-faced deity with twelve arms carrying various weapons and ritual objects, including a bow, arrow, sword, and ḍamaru. The deity stands atop a male figure, with both feet resting on a fully bloomed lotus. Below the lotus appear carvings of a boat and tortoise, rare elements in regional iconography. The sculpture is adorned with armlets, waist ornaments, a necklace, jeweled earrings, a crown, and a garland of severed heads (mundamaala). Two attendant deities flank the central figure. Scholars believe it dates back to the Pala period (11th–12th century CE), reflecting strong Saiva-Tantric influence.
Adding further context, Soumit Das, Headmaster of Nalanda Vidyapith High School, reported an earlier discovery of a fragmented Ugra Chandi sculpture at Bhaior’s “Mayer Sthan.” He suggests the newly unearthed piece may have survived nearly 800 years underwater, displaying features typical of late Pala(PAL) to early Sena(SEN) traditions.Mr.Das urged authorities to create a heritage tourism circuit in Tapan, highlighting nearby attractions such as Tapan Dighi, Manohali, Bolla Ma Temple, and Bangarh. Scholars believe continued research will help unravel more of Bhaior’s rich artistic and cultural legacy.
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