An ancient Vishnu idol has been discovered during an excavation in the old village of Staraya Maina, located in Russia's Volga region, prompting a re-evaluation of the origins of ancient Russia. The idol, which dates back to the 7th to 10th century AD, was found in Staraya Maina, a village in the Ulyanovsk region that was once a thriving city 1,700 years ago ; significantly older than Kiev, which has long been considered the mother of all Russian cities.

Dr. Alexander Kozhevin, a Reader at Ulyanovsk State University's archaeology department, discussed the implications of this discovery on state-run television Vesti, stating, "We may consider it incredible, but we have grounds to assert that the Middle-Volga region was the original land of Ancient Rus. This is a hypothesis, but one that requires thorough research."

Prior to the unearthing of the Vishnu idol, Dr. Kozhevin had already found various ancient artifacts in the area, including coins, pendants, rings, and weapon fragments. He believes that Staraya Maina, which today has a population of about eight thousand, was home to ten times as many people in ancient times.

The discovery of the Vishnu idol, particularly in its Narasimha Avatar, as well as previous finds like the Vishnu statue in the form of Parasurama, has raised questions about the historical connections between Russia and India. While there is no recorded history of commercial or spiritual links between the two regions, these statues suggest a possible connection, leading some to speculate whether Hinduism might have originated in Russia before migrating to India.

Despite the intrigue, many questions remain unanswered. Staraya Maina was a significant city in ancient times, known for attracting traders from various parts of the world. However, there are no ancient records or documents that mention such trade practices involving Hindu artifacts, adding to the mystery. Reports of a Shiva statue found in Central Russia further complicate the historical narrative, suggesting that much more research is needed to understand the full extent of these ancient connections.

Source / Image Credit : sreenivasarao's blogs, GlobalHinduism