Posted on 11/12/2001 9:38:13 AM PST by janus
Man falls into ancient cellar
AMIT MUKHERJEE
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
HMEDABAD: All Praveen Mehta, a retired bank employee of Ahmedabad, can think of these days is a dark underground chamber, guarded by three disfigured statues of dancing girls.
The chamber, with six hidden air ducts, was discovered after the January 26 earthquake of Gujarat. Believed to be a secret cellar of a bygone era, the chamber could have been used for performing secret yagnas. It could even be the outer chamber of a secret treasure trove.
The house, which was purchased by Mehta’s grandfather Giridharilal in 1898, suffered considerable damage in the quake. Portions of the floor developed cracks and the foundation was damaged as well.
Towards the end of August, one night Mehta woke up thirsty. Half asleep, he was fumbling for the switchboard, when he felt the ground sinking under him. Before he realised what happened, he found himself standing waist deep in soil.
Subsequent efforts to repair the living room floor led to the discovery of the small chamber underneath. It is connected to a tunnel, suggesting the existence of a catacomb below.
"It was an interesting co-existence — living with the mysterious history beneath you," remarks Mehta.
The main chamber is about 10 feet high and can be accessed through a staircase, big enough to accommodate a grown person.
The wall opposite has a carved facade in limestone about a foot wide. At its bottom, just above the floor, is the figure of a dancing apsara. At her feet lies the mouth of the tunnel.
The construction has elements of ancient temple architecture with arched cavities on the walls. The design reveals the influence of Hindu culture. "The experts from the Archaeological Survey of India have already made a detailed assessment," says Mehta. Though they have not come to any conclusion, the 14 such slots, which normally have statuettes placed inside them, are empty, suggesting intrusions into the area.
For goodness’ sake. Do I have to remind you guys that, if there were no ugliness, there would be no beauty?
I loved that one!
If there had been, the story wouldn’t make sense, because by contrast, the statues wouldn’t seem ugly.
“Love between the ugly is the most beautiful love of all.” — Todd Rundgren
Or, at the very least, the most appreciated.
;)
You certainly know your “Yagnas!”
“Love between the ugly is the most beautiful love of all.” — Todd Rundgren
Why it almost brings a tear to the eye, I had heard
of the term “Bumping Uglies” but it just doesn’t do
it justice.
“Bumps between the uglies are the least beautiful of all.” — tet68
Lee Heggy stopped posting six years ago.
Heck, she prolly posed live for the statues!
One interesting thing about FR is that we can meet people who passed away years ago. A bit spooky, but interesting.
hehhehheh. Rimmer I’m bored!
It’s such a pity. We had such interesting posters years ago. There was one Little’Jim whose last article was about how guys in dark glasses in a dark tinted car were following him and his last message was “oh, a van has pulled up my drive with dark windows. Gotta go....” and that was it, he disappeared.... happened some time in 2003 — I think Quix was on the same thread.
Do we get pictures? I am curious as to whether “disfigured figures of dancing girls” should actually be ‘figures of disfigured dancing girls’ given the title.
Exactly my thoughts. Helen as an ugly dancing girl statue would convince me not to disturb any tomb.
I remember vaguely.
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