Sankara Stones

Five gems given by gods; three stolen by cultists; returned only through fire and faith.

In Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, the Sankara stones are five mystical artifacts given by Hindu gods to help humanity fight evil. The Thuggee cult possesses three of them, and it has stolen the sacred stone of the Indian village of Mayapore along with the village's children. The villagers plead for Jones's aid in retrieving their sacred lingam stone and the children taken to Pankot Palace. The story follows Indy, his sidekick Short Round, and singer Willie Scott as they travel from Shanghai to British India in 1935. Their mission takes them deep beneath Pankot Palace, where the stones are held by high priest Mola Ram for rituals of human sacrifice. On the rope bridge Mola Ram catches a stone, which burns his hand; he falls to the crocodiles, while Jones catches a stone with no ill effects.

Lore & Background

According to the film's narrative, there are five Sankara stones in total, originally gifted by Hindu deities to assist humanity in its struggle against evil. The village of Mayapore kept one sacred stone until it was taken by the evil forces of the nearby Pankot Palace, where the Thuggee cult operates. The cult, led by Mola Ram, used three of the stones to fuel their dark practices, including child slavery and ritual human sacrifice in honor of the goddess Kali. When Mola Ram attempts to use them during a struggle on a rope bridge, they ignite with supernatural heat. This reaction burns the hand of the evil priest, causing him to fall into a crocodile-infested river below. Conversely, Jones manages to catch one stone without suffering any ill effects as he climbs to safety, demonstrating that the artifacts respond differently based on the purity of the handler.

Reader's Guide

The Sankara stones function as plot devices that drive the conflict between good and evil within the film's universe. Jones identifies them early on, hypothesizing they are among five such stones given by gods to fight darkness. A specific mechanic: when invoked with the name of Shiva during a struggle, the stones become superheated. This effect is lethal to those with malevolent intentions, as seen when Mola Ram's hand is seared upon contact. A British Indian Army regiment, the 11th Poona Rifles, arrives to fight off the Thuggee cultists at the bridge. Indiana returns the stones to their rightful place after rescuing the children.

The Sankara Stones' Mythological Function

In Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, the Sankara stones are defined as five mystical artifacts given by Hindu gods to help humanity fight evil. The Thuggee cult holds three of them, and it has also taken Mayapore's sacred stone. Indiana Jones hypothesizes their importance early in the film after arriving in British India. Specifically, when Jones invokes the name of Shiva on a broken rope bridge, the stones burn through his satchel. This reaction proves fatal to Mola Ram, whose hand is burned upon grabbing one stone, leading to his death by crocodiles. Jones catches one stone without injury, illustrating that the artifacts respond based on the user's intent.

The Stones' Role in the Film's Production History

Lucas made Temple of Doom a prequel, set in 1935, a year before Raiders, because he did not want the Nazis as villains again. After rejecting three plot devices, Lucas wrote a treatment featuring these mystical stones and the Thuggee cult. Writers Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz were hired to adapt this into a script after Lawrence Kasdan declined. Released on May 23, 1984, the film became the highest-grossing movie of that year with $333.1 million worldwide. The violent sequences involving the stones and child sacrifice contributed to controversy over the film's darker tone. These elements, alongside similar complaints about Gremlins, prompted Steven Spielberg to suggest a rating system change, leading the MPAA to create PG-13 within two months.

The Climactic Confrontation and Destruction

The final confrontation over the Sankara stones occurs on a rope bridge where Indiana Jones severs it with his sword. As Mola Ram and cultists attempt to climb up, Jones invokes Shiva, causing the stones in his satchel to burn fiercely. Two stones fall into the crocodile-infested river below. Mola Ram catches the third stone, but it burns his hand, causing him to lose his grip and fall to be devoured by crocodiles. Jones catches one stone with no ill effects and climbs to safety as British Indian Army soldiers arrive. This sequence resolves the conflict regarding the stolen artifacts, allowing Indy to return the remaining stone to Mayapore.

Cultural Impact and Legacy of the Artifacts

The Sankara stones are linked directly to the creation of the PG-13 rating due to the film's violent depiction of their use in human sacrifice. While initial reviews criticized the darker story elements and portrayal of India, critical opinion has improved since 1984, citing the film's intensity and imagination. The artifacts helped establish this installment as a prequel distinct from Raiders of the Lost Ark. The film won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and was nominated for Best Original Score. A third film, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, followed in 1989.