In Niglihawa, a Shivlinga with an Argha was found when the soil was removed from the pond and dropped in the field. Kapilvastu Municipality Ward No. A stone Shivlinga was found when soil was removed from the old pond on the north side of Niglihawa village and dumped in the nearby field.
The circumference of the lower part of the Shivlinga with the Argha is 5 feet 6 inches, the circumference of the second part is 45 inches, the difference between the upper and lower parts is 3 inches.
The height (upper part) of Shivlinga is 16 and a half inches and the circumference of the slippery part is 5 and a half inches. Shanti Sherma, head of Kapilvastu Museum, said that the Shivling found while removing mud from the pond is believed to be of medieval age.
Medieval period is said to be around 16th/17th century. She said that the Shivlinga and the Argha found with it suggest that there may have been a temple at that place in the medieval period. The Shivlinga is now kept safe in the house of a person in the village.
Birendra Kumar Upadhyay, a local, said that discussions are being held on whether to entrust the Shivlinga to the Archeology Department after consulting with everyone in the village, or to preserve it in the village itself. Shivlinga is an imageless sign that is considered to be the form, symbol or sign of the Hindu god Shiva.
Shivlinga is usually placed on a circular idol called Peetham or Peetha.
