'Samadhi Skeleton' gets final resting place in Vadnagar Museum, about 110 km from Ahmedabad

After spending months under a tent on the edge of Vadnagar, a 10th-century skeleton buried in a rare meditative pose has finally found refuge in a quiet corner of the newly opened Vadnagar Archaeological Experiential Museum. 

Vadnagar, believed to be over 2,200 years old, has always carried the past in its streets and stones. About 110 km from Ahmedabad, Vadnagar makes for a fascinating weekend detour. With its rich archaeological finds, serene temples, and now the meditating skeleton, the town offers more than just sightseeing.

In 2019, during excavations near Kotha Ambaji Lake in Gujarat’s Vadnagar, archaeologists stumbled upon something extraordinary. Skeletal remains of an individual buried in the Dhyan Mudra position, cross-legged with one hand resting in the lap and the other raised to the chest, possibly resting on a wooden staff, now lost to time. DNA analysis conducted by Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) revealed that the man’s ancestry is closest to populations currently residing in northern Gujarat.

According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), only three such samadhi-style burials have been reported before—from Balathal in Rajasthan, Tripuri in Madhya Pradesh, and Adam in Maharashtra. As per ASI, the antiquity of the skeleton dates to the 9th–10th century CE, when spiritual burials of this kind spanned religious lines in the region. 

For Vadnagar’s residents, the skeleton quickly became more than a scientific artefact, it was ‘Samadhi wale Babaji’.

But while locals wanted to see the remains preserved within Vadnagar, there were other plans afoot. Gujarat government’s Directorate of Archaeology and Museums debated sending it to the National Museum or housing it in Lothal. As the debate continued, the skeleton sat in silence under a tarpaulin-covered shed at a government housing quarter, once even under a staircase.

Frustrated by the inaction, residents began petitioning authorities. Letters were written, calls were made, and finally, an agreement was reached.

On Thursday evening, under the watchful eyes of more than a dozen ASI and state officials, the skeleton’s journey to the museum began. Carefully wrapped and delicately lifted by a crane, it travelled 5 km. Now, the remains are housed on the museum’s ground floor, near the reception area. While they are not yet on display, a barricade has been installed, and preservation experts are assessing the structure before any public viewing is permitted. Still, its presence has already begun drawing curious visitors, adding a quiet yet powerful allure to Vadnagar’s growing tourism.

So whether you are a history buff or just looking to step away from city life, Vadnagar promises a journey into the past. The drive is smooth and the stories much, much older.