Vishnu idol found in UP, villagers elated with ‘good omen’

A labourer working at a field in Bhure Purwa village, in Uttar Pradesh’s Aurraiyya district, found a five-foot-tall statue of Lord Vishnu while he was digging on Wednesday, leading many at the village to believe that a miracle has taken place.

Siayaram, the labourer, was digging in the land belonging to Horilal Rajput when he hit something hard. He removed the mud and saw a carved stone. He continued to remove the mud with his hands and, as he went deeper, he saw the statue. He informed others, and with their help, the statue was taken out.

Horilal said that his son Ranvijay, who has been ill for the past eight months, had dreamt of an unknown figure repeatedly telling him, “Take me out from your fields.”

The statue of Lord Vishnu was cleaned and placed near a tree in the fields. As the news spread, thousands of people form adjoining villages started converging on Bhure Purwa village.

Many villagers felt that the appearance of the statue was a good omen for them.

“We have decided to build a temple at the spot where the state emerged and Horilal has agreed to give the land for this.

Horilal’s son, who had been bed-ridden since the past several months, has been sitting all night near the statue, singing bhajans with the women,” said Om Prakash.

Pappu Sengar, another local, said a statue of a goddess had emerged from the fields many decades ago. The locals named the godess Beehad Devi, who is now revered in the region, Sengar said.

“The statue of Lord Vishnu is a good sign and will take the village and its people to happier days,” he said.

Harihar Misra, a retired school teacher, said that the emergence of the statue was no miracle.

“Probably a temple existed here centuries go and may have been demolished. The statue could be a part of it, but villagers believe it is a miracle and faith is much stronger than reason,” he said.