Chatra : A rare statue of the eighth century has been found by the villagers during the construction of MGNREGA well in Salaiya village of Hunterganj block of Chatra district. The statue has been identified as the Manauti Stupa of Lord Buddha.
The statue of Gautam Buddha in meditation posture is engraved all around the stupa. MGNREGA well was being dug by a farmer in Salaiya village. A farmer named Aditya Yadav of the village had got a well from MGNREGA.
Which he was getting the labourers to dig.
An ancient statue of Lord Buddha was found during the excavation of a 15 to 20 feet well. There is joy among the villagers about this. The villagers are worshiping the idol. After getting information about the discovery of the statue, a large number of people from nearby areas reached there and are taking the statue out of the well under construction and offering prayers.
The villagers are now demanding construction of a temple on the spot. Aditya Yadav, who was digging the well, said that 15 feet of soil was excavated in the field for the construction of the well. After an ancient statue was found adjacent to the wall during excavation, people are coming to see the statue.
At present the statue has been kept near the well. Devotees are busy worshiping this idol. Panchayat head Manoj Paswan said that the statue was found here during well digging. It is a matter of good fortune to find an idol of Lord Buddha made of clay. He has demanded an investigation from the district administration and construction of a temple keeping in mind the faith on the spot.