© NITISH PRIYADARSHIFootprints on a rock in Piska Nagri village, on the outskirts of Ranchi City in Jharkahnd State, India. Probably thousands of years old, these footprints are engraved on granite rock by the earlier inhabitants of the area and are believed by the locals to be those of king gods Rama and Lakshmana.
In Piska Nagri village, on the outskirts of Ranchi City in Jharkahnd State, geologist Nitish Priyadarshi has been studying large footprints that, according to local lore, may signify the presence of gods from the sky landing on site.
The footprints are on a rock and look like they were of those wearing wooden sandals commonly worn thousands of years ago in the region. One set of footprints measures 11 inches in length and 5 inches in width, and another set in the same area measures 10 inches by 4.5 inches. God-kings of Indian mythology Lord Rama and Lord Lakshmana are believed to have spent time in the area in search of Rama's wife, Sita.
Priyadarshi said the imprints are on granite rock, and thus were likely carved there rather than imprinted on the hard substance. "It may have been made by the local people manually at that time in memory of the visitors," he said.
Picture of an engraved flying object found on a rock in Piska Nagri village, on the outskirts of Ranchi City in Jharkahnd State, India.
"The footprints and the flying object are on the same piece of rock on each other's side. Maybe they were engraved to show that the two king gods arrived at the place on a flying object," Priyadarshi said.
The age of the footprints has still not been ascertained. "Seeing the weathering stage [foot prints found here are weathered] of the foot prints it can be said that the age of the foot prints may be thousands year old," he said.
Locals sit on the rock with engravings of two pairs of footprints. Rest of the rock was destroyed in rock mining and locals preserved this portion because they believe the footprints to be of mythological king gods Rama and Lakshaman.
The Romans carved footprints before a journey as protective rites. Footprints were carved upon leaving for a journey and as thanksgiving for a safe return. In Ireland and northern Europe, rock footprints were closely associated with kingship or chieftainship.
Priyadarshi said: "We live in a highly advanced, technical world, but there are nevertheless a great many mysteries all around us. Ancient places and mysterious beings, sunken worlds and cultures, landscapes imbued with symbolism, unexplained apparitions, and unbelievable finds from ancient times - all of these remain mysteries for humankind, despite intense investigations."
There is so much more knowledge that we have lost and are yet to learn that to think that we have discovered all that there is to know about our ancient history is ludicrous.
I'm predicting a wave of discoveries in the near future that is going to force the general public to acknowledge that we are a much more ancient and precious form of life than is generally accepted.
I feel that once we drop this attitude of self-importance and truly come together as a species that we will finally meet our penultimate progenitors.