A resident in the southern province of Dong Thap found a statue of Vishnu dating to the seventh century.

The statue of Vishnu has been found recently in Dong Thap Province. — Photo courtesy of the Provincial Museum

He handed it over to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

According to the department, the provincial People’s Committee will reward Trần Văn Chien for his finding.

Chien discovered the grey stone statue while cutting grass near Gò Tháp relic site, a special national monument.

The statue weighs 11.2kg and belongs to Oc Eo Culture, experts said. Three among four hands of the statue and some parts of its legs are missing.

Vishnu is one of the three principal deities in Hinduism, the other two being Brahma and Shiva. In Hindu mythology, Vishnu is usually depicted with dark or pale blue complexion and four arms. He holds a lotus flower (symbolising glorious existence and fertility) in his lower left hand, a mace (mental and physical strength) in his lower right hand, a conch (knowledge and power) in his upper left hand and a discus (intelligence and sun) in his upper right hand.

Go Thap archaeological site is one among many religious centres founded by the Funan Kingdom 1,500 years ago.

The Vishnu statue is currently being preserved at Dong Thap Provincial Museum. It will be researched further before being exhibited in future. — VNS