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In 1975-76, clearance of the blocked northern chamber of the central shrine revealed a huge mutilated terracotta Buddha, seated in Bhumisparsamudra in padmasana, the pedestal of which contained figures of lion, elephant, attendants and a kneeling devotee in the centre, in the niches. Attached to the back wall of the chamber was a terracotta prabha-mandala with traces of painting in red ochre over a white background. It appeared that upon mutilation of the earlier figure of the Buddha, the extant lower portion was buried under debris and blocked for access. Over the filling, a new brick pedestal was constructed and a fresh image of Buddha of black basalt in bhumi-sparsa-mudra was installed, which was discovered by the Patna University in 1961-62. Interestingly, it thereby suggested an earlier damage to the site prior to its final decimation through burning by the Turuskas. Interestingly, as suggested by some historians like D.C. Sircar, the archaeological implication probably stands confirmed by the inscription of Sahura, discovered earlier in 1968-69, as it might be providing a clue to an episode in the conflict for supremacy between the Palas and the Senas in Bengal. With the Senas being inspired by Brahminical zeal, it has been proposed that the earlier Buddha image may have suffered damage by some members of their army during an aggression, successfully repelled by Sahura, who repaired the damage by concealment under a new platform and the installation of a new image referred to in the inscription. But this hypothesis remains to be confirmed from other sources, as none of the Tibetan writers seem to have taken note of it.