Neglected and forgotten, a rare and precious Jain Tirthankara sculpture belonging to the 7th or 8th century was found on the banks of Baitarani river near Mundapada village under Bhandaripokhari police limits in Odisha’s Bhadrak district. A few locals were en route to take bath in the river when they came across the ancient idol on Thursday. The idol was half-buried in the sand when locals spotted it and alerted local researcher Bisambhar Rout who rushed to the spot and found it to be a Jain idol. The ancient sculpture is one and a half feet tall and one foot wide with a few portions of it in damaged condition. It showcases at least 24 Tirthankaras inscribed on it. However, the faces of the Tirthankaras are not visible properly due to the damage to the idol.Researcher Bisambhar Rout said that the idol is around 1.5ft tall and 1ft in width. It is being assumed that the idol is from the 7th or 8th century.