As part of a nation-wide program, 101 antiquities and manuscripts, seized from smugglers, have been handed over to the ASI at seven locations across the country, including Goa.
In Goa, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Mumbai Zone, handed over three antiquities – that were seized from smugglers – to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Goa, at a function held at the Dharohar Museum, Panjim, earlier this week.
The antiquities had been kept on display at the Dharohar, National Museum of Customs and GST, Panjim.
Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, virtually attended the event to witness handing over the seized items to the ASI.
At the Dharohar museum, Superintendent of the museum, Sunil Singh Bisht, handed over the antiquities to Assistant Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, Goa, Dr Kishore Raghubans.
Speaking at the event, Chief Commissioner, Pune Zone, Central GST and Customs, Mayank Kumar said that all the antiquities and artifacts seized by customs will eventually be handed over to the ASI as they are the final custodian of such items.
“There are several such pieces still in the custody of the DRI, but the legal proceedings related to their seizure are still on. Such items can’t be handed over to the ASI until the proceedings are over,” he said.
Principal Additional Director General, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Mumbai, Sunil Kumar Mall, said that the antiquities that were being handed over to the ASI Goa were seized by the DRI Mumbai in the year of 2007.
“It took several years to complete the legal proceedings related to the seized items. The antiquities were brought to Goa to be displayed at the Dharohar Museum considering the security and safety aspects. Besides, it is also the National Museum of the Customs and GST,” Mall.
Dr Raghubans said that the antiquities will remain on public display at the Dharohar Museum even though they have been handed over to the ASI.
Commissioner, Central GST Commissionerate, Goa, Bipin Kumar Upadhyay, was also present at the occasion.
ABOUT THE THREE ANTIQUITIES
The three antiquities handed over to the ASI are as follows:
1. Uma-Mahesh
This is an idol of Uma-Maheshwara in a sitting posture. Both Shiva and Parvati are depicted wearing a mukuta.
Parvati is depicted with two hands – one embracing Shiva, whereas the other holds a mirror.
It took several years to complete the legal proceedings related to the seized items. The antiquities were brought to Goa to be displayed at the Dharohar Museum considering the security and safety aspects.
The 4-armed Shiva is depicted seated on a lotus pedestal, and Parvati is seated in his lap. In his top right hand there is a lotus flower, and in the top left hand there is a trishul.
His other two hands are shown embracing his consort. Shiva’s right leg rests on Nandi and Parvati’s left leg rests on a tiger.
Below the pedestal, two figures are shown in a prayerful posture. Two flying gandharvas are shown on the top.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence detained the antiquity on March 18, 2007, at Mumbai Airport when an attempt was made to export it to Singapore via courier by describing it as ‘home decorative article’.
2. Eight-handed Lord Ganesha
This is an idol of an 8-handed Lord Ganesha in a dancing posture. His cosmic dancing is related to the perpetual cycle of creation and destruction, called samsara, that defines the universe, from which humans seek to escape.
Lord Ganesha is shown with his legs resting on a padmapitha placed above a double tiered pancha ratha pedestal. He wears a jatamukuta, hara and other ornaments.
A small snake is also depicted near his right shoulder.
Some of Ganesha’s attributes can be identified such as abhaya mudra, parasu, gajahasta, mulaka and modaka patra.
This antiquity was seized on March 18, 2007, by DRI at Mumbai Airport when it was described as a ‘home decorative article’ and attempted to be exported to Singapore in a courier consignment.
3. Goddess Parvati with her sons, Ganesha and Kartikeyan
This is an idol of the 4-handed deity, Lalita, one of the forms of Goddess Parvati, mainly worshipped in eastern India.
It is eulogized in many ways in the Brahmanda Purana, the Devi Bhagavata Purana, the Agni Purana, and the Padma Purana.
The deity stands on double-petalled lotus seat, placed on a sapta ratha pedestal in a samapada pose. She holds a collyrium stick in her upper right hand and her lower right hand shows varada mudra with a fruit on her palm.
The upper left hand holds a mirror and the lower one rests on the head of Kartikeya. She is richly adorned with ornaments and upavita. She is decked with jatamukuta. The image shows a beautiful, smiling face with serene sublimity.
The deity is accompanied by her sons Ganesha and Kartikeya on either side. Ganesha holds parasu in his right hand and modaka patra in his left, whereas Kartikeya holds vana in his right hand, and his left hand is in a katyavalambita posture.
This antiquity was seized in the year 2007 by DRI at Chakala, in Mumbai, from the city premises of a courier company. Attempts were being made to export it via the air mode.
