10 Ancient Sculptures of Hindu Gods (Shiv, Vishnu, Krishna, Ram)

1. Around 1600 years old monolithic reclining Sculpture of Vishnu Ji at Undavalli Caves, Andhra Pradesh.

The Undavalli Caves are a monolithic example of Indian rock-cut architecture and one of the finest testimonials to ancient viswakarma sthapathis. They are located in Mangalagiri Tadepalle Municipal Corporation of Guntur district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The caves are located 6 km southwest of Vijayawada, and 22 km northeast of the Guntur City of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the centrally protected monuments of national importance. Considered as avatars of Hindu God, Vishnu, are Ram and Krishna.

2. Rare and Ancient Bhagwan Shiv sculpture carved on the Rocks at Raghunandan Hills (Unakoti), Tripura.

Unakoti is a hill from which the name of the Unakoti District is derived. The Kokborok name of Unakoti is Subrai Khung as claimed by Jamatia Hoda; Unakoti hill literally means one less a koti in Hindi and Bengali and hosts an ancient Shaivite place of worship with huge rock reliefs celebrating Shiva. It is the prime tourist spot of Unakoti District, Tripura in the Kailashahar Subdivision in the Northeastern Indian state of Tripura.

3. 1000+ years old reclining murti of Vishnu Ji in the deep forest of Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh.

A 1000+-year-old reclining Vishnu Ji Murti in Bandhavgarh National Park is sleeping in a very calm manner. The Murti is 12m long and made from a single rock. Vishnu Ji’s head faces east and the legs are west, with a stream of natural water called “Charan-Ganga”, which is Bandhavgarh’s lifeline river. Considered as avatars of Hindu God, Vishnu, are Ram and Krishna.

4. 2000+ years old sculpture of Bhagwan Shiva known as The Sadashiva. Cave 1, Elephanta Caves, Mumbai.

The Elephanta Caves are in Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) east of Mumbai in the Indian state of Maharashtra. They are a collection of cave temples primarily dedicated to Shiva. They are found on Elephanta Island, which is known as Gharapuri (literally “the city of caves”). In addition to five Hindu caves on the island, two Buddhist caves with water tanks and a few Buddhist stupa mounds from the 2nd century BCE are also located about two kilometers (1.2 miles) west of Jawaharlal Nehru Port.

5. Around 1600 years old sculpture of Bhagwan Ganesh at Undavalli Caves, Andhra Pradesh.

In the 5th century, these caves underwent conversion into Hindu temples, making them a paradise for history enthusiasts. Carved out of solid sandstone on a hillside, the four-storey caves have origins dating back to the 7th century, initially serving as Jain caves before their transformation into Hindu temples. The Vishnukundin kings, associated with these caves, ruled between AD 420 and AD 620. Considered as avatars of Hindu God, Vishnu, are Ram and Krishna.

6. Around 1500 years old majestic sculpture of Vishnu Ji at cave 3, Badami Caves, Karnataka.

The Badami cave temples are a complex of Hindu and Jain cave temples located in Badami, a town in Bagalkot district n the northern part of Karnataka, India. In addition to being important examples of Indian rock-cut architecture, the caves date to the 6th century, and are especially important in Badami Chalukya architecture. Caves 1 to 4 are carved out of soft Badami sandstone formation and located near the southeast of town. Cave 3, featuring Vishnu figures, is the most intricately carved cave in the complex. Considered as avatars of Hindu God, Vishnu, are Ram and Krishna.

7. 6th century sculpture of Bhagwan Kaal Bhairav. Kathmandu Durbar Square, Nepal.

Legend has it that King Pratap Malla discovered the shrine in a paddy field and later relocated it to Durbar Square. The shrine is located in Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is believed that Kaal Bhairav was carved from a single stone.

8. Around 1600 years old Ekamukha Shiva Linga at Bhumara Mandir near Satna, Madhya Pradesh.

The Bhumara Temple, alternatively known as Bhumra, Bhubhara, or Bharkuleswar, stands as a stone temple in Madhya Pradesh dedicated to Shiva. Constructed during the Gupta era near Satna, despite being in ruins, it preserves sufficient temple structure and art for scholarly study. The temple comprises a sanctum and Mandapa, with its characteristic enclosed concentric pradakshina-patha, a feature pioneered by the Gupta dynasty in the 5th or 6th centuries.

9. 5th century sculpture of Bhagwan Shiva ~ The 4-headed Shivalinga at Chaumukh Nath Mandir, Nachna, Madhya Pradesh.

The Nachna Hindu temples in Panna, Madhya Pradesh, sometimes called Hindu temples at Nachna-Kuthara, are among the oldest stone temples in central India, alongside those at Bhumara and Deogarh. There is no clear date for Nachna temples, but based on their style, we can say they are from the Gupta Empire era in the 5th – 6th century. Built in the 9th century, the Chaturmukha temple is now a pilgrimage site near Panna National Forest, referred to as Chaumukhnath.

10. Ancient Budhanilkantha Temple, Nepal houses an enigmatic reclining murti of Bhagwan Vishnu Ji.

The Budhanilkantha Temple (also known as the Narayanthan Temple) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Mahavishnu in Budhanilkantha, Nepal. A large reclining statue of Lord Mahavishnu makes the temple unique. Considered as avatars of Hindu God, Vishnu, are Ram and Krishna.