Kathmandu, Mar. 6: An artistic Linga (phallus) has been found engraved on black rock at Hariharpur vdc ward No. 4, the west of historical Simaraungadh fort in Bara district.

The Linga has an image of a lotus flower as its pedestal and the finding was made during while farmers were digging the field for agricultural purposes on September 21. The local people has named it Kamaleshwar Mahadev.

An artistically engraved trunk of elephant-headed Ganesh ( the god of wisdom) and a portrayal of Parbati on stone wall have also been found along with the Linga.

Brahma Narayan Shaha, a local resident, quotes an Indian astrologer as saying that gems and jewellery worth millions of rupees could be buried beneath the place where the phallus was found.

But local people has a grouse that cooperation is forthcoming from the local police in protectiing the idols.

A few strangers are reported to have tried to tempt the idols into selling the idols, while some other have even tried to carry them off, according to Mr Shaha.