BHOPAL: Three archaeological treasures lay hidden in plain sight for decades, perhaps centuries, in what's now Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve until an Archaeological Survey of India team came across them during a recent survey.They turned out to be statues of the Buddha, Avalokiteshvara and the Buddhist deity Tara, dating back 1,400 years.

"These statues were found in Dhamokhar buffer area of the reserve.

Locals worshipped the deities as 'Khair Mai'.

All three belong to the Tantrayana sect of Buddhism, which is a sub-sect of Mahayana," superintending archaeologist, Jabalpur circle, Shiva Kant Bajpai told TOI."We are still studying the statues, but we estimate the idols to be as old as at least the 6th or 7th century", he said.

The survey ended on June 30.

The site is around 480km east of Bhopal.In May this year, remains of a 'modern society', rock art and two full-fledged stupas were found.

Last year, too, several Buddhist caves and structures were discovered, including a votive stupa dating back to 2nd-3rd Century, and Buddhist pillar fragments of the same period, similar to the Chaitya pillars of Bedase caves in Maharashtra.The site where the statues were found is at an aerial distance of 6-7km from the site where the caves were found, said Bajpai.

"Locals of the buffer area recall a myth regarding the idols, saying that some of their ancestors brought it from the 'upper side' after a dream.

The area where the caves were found earlier is near Bandhavgarh fort.

The other evidence, like votive stupas and full-fledged stupas, too, were found in the vicinity of the caves," he added."The evidence clearly suggests that Buddhism was not only present but flourished here between the 3rd and 7th centuries.

The place was on the trade route of Magh rulers and the caves used to be shelters.

Hence, evidence of a couple of religions has been found here, as travelers left some or the other signs of their own culture and religion," he said.Sources said that the written history of the Bandhavgarh region goes back to at least 2nd century CE.

From the inscription record found from this region, it is clear that it was under the rule of the Maghas for a very long period, say historians.

After the Maghas, many other dynasties ruled here, including the Gupta, Pratihara and Kalachuri rulers.