Look at this lovely statue of Sadāśiva that was just discovered during excavation for a bridge project. It’s likely to be more than 1,000 years old!
When a statue is damaged, it is considered no longer worthy of worship. This is also to avoid potential hazards arising from invoking tremendous power of a deity into a dysfunctional vessel.
Traditionally, statues of deities are discarded in running water, so as to return the blessing-power imbued in the icon back to Nature. But they often end up submerged in whatever body of water is nearby.
It’s fascinating to consider how many masterpieces still lie buried in ponds, lakes, and along riverbanks in India.
https://www.indiadivine.org/ancient-deities-found-while-constructing-bridge-in-katni/