A major restoration project at a neglected 10th-century shrine in Goa's Sanguem taluka has yielded a significant archaeological breakthrough. As workers removed centuries of grime and laterite overgrowth, they uncovered a set of four Navaranga pillars carved from rare black basalt, featuring intricate motifs of ancient merchant ships and sea deities.
These maritime carvings are the first of their kind found in a landlocked Kadamba-era temple, suggesting that the site was commissioned by a wealthy maritime guild. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has now taken over the site to preserve these unique reliefs, which provide vital clues about Goa's medieval naval prowess and its influence on sacred architecture.