The restoration of a neglected 14th-century temple in the Bastar region has led to the discovery of a subterranean ritual deposit beneath the main idol's pedestal. Workers found three thin gold plates (patras) inscribed with protective mantras and a diagram of the temple's celestial alignment with the constellation Aquila.
Architects noted that the temple's spire is uniquely designed to catch the first light of the winter solstice through a narrow aperture, projecting a silhouette of Garuda onto the floor of the sanctum. The conservation project aims to stabilize the eroding sandstone structure while preserving these rare astronomical features.