A conservation project at a remote Paramara-era Shiva temple in the Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh has uncovered a unique ritual feature. While stabilizing the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum), workers discovered a small, subterranean pit lined with ancient mercury-based glass. This architectural detail is believed to be part of an esoteric alchemical ritual described in medieval Sanskrit texts.
The restoration team from the ASI also identified several previously hidden inscriptions on the base of the pillars. These records detail the architectural proportions of the temple, using a mathematical system that aligns with 11th-century Vastu Shastra principles, highlighting the advanced engineering of the Malwa region during the medieval period.