Latest news with #Murugeshi
The Hindu
24-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Rare 15th century lamp found in Perdoor Anantapadmanabha temple in Udupi district of Karnataka
An antique lamp, believed to be from the 15th century, with very rare Shaiva and Vaishnavaite sculptures has been found in the Anantapadmanabha temple at Perduru in Udupi district of Karnataka. 'It is a rare blend of Shiva and Vishnu, and reflects the daily rituals of both the cults in the temple,' said T. Murugeshi, a retired Associate Professor of ancient history and archaeology, Mulki Sunder Ram Shetty College, Shirva, Udupi district. The lamp was donated by Basavannaras Banga to the temple in 1,456 A.D. This is mentioned in a stone inscription, which is in the inner prakara of the temple. 'With this epigraphical reference, it is very clear that the lamp belongs to the 15th century,' the historian said on June 24. Two faces 'This single piece of lamp has two faces, and has narrative sculptures of a Puranic story. In the first face, Lord Shiva is seen in dancing pose as Nataraja with four hands. On his left is a drummer beating the drum. On the drummer's left is Parvati seated on a bull, and Ganapati on his vehicle (rat) are seen. On the right side of Nataraja, the Bringi playing tala and on his right Khadga Ravana seated on woman (Goddess Mari) standing in Vismayamudre are seen. Khadga Ravana has four hands in his front right hand. He holds a sword, and, in his right back hand, he holds a plough. In his front left hand, Khadga Ravana holds kapala, and in back hand with leaning left, he holds the head. On his right, Kumara is shown seated on peacock,' the historian said. 'This depiction very clearly narrates the story of Pralya Tandava (destructive dance) of Lord Shiva,' Mr. Murugeshi said. 'On the second face of the lamp, from right side, Brahma is shown holding a sacred book in his left hand, and right hand is in abhaya mudra. Next is Indra holding vajra in his left hand, but the content of his right hand is not clear. At the centre, Anantapadmanabha is standing with four hands. Very interestingly, he holds Uddarane (a spoon) in his front hands. In his right back hand is seen shanka (conch), and the left hand is missing. On his left, Agni holds fire in his right hand, and lastly Varuna holding shanka (conch) in his left hand,' he said. Different headgear 'All five figures are seen in 'Samabhanga' pose and have different headgear. It narrates that the gods, out of fear (because of destructive dance of Lord Shiva), went to Vaikunta, the abode of Narayana, and prayed for protection of the three worlds. The Lord Anantapadmanabha, who is the protector of the three worlds, makes Lord Shiva calm. At the centre of the round base of the lamp, Garuda is seen in standing pose. At the back, Lord Shiva is seen seated in Anjalimudre in calm and peaceful posture, and prays to Lord Anantapadmanabha,' Mr. Murugeshi said. The Khadga Ravana seated on the shoulders of Mari is very interesting. This deity, even today, is worshipped as a powerful daiva in the outer prakara of the temple,' Mr. Murugeshi said.
Hans India
09-06-2025
- General
- Hans India
Ancient headless Buddha idol and rock-cut caves discovered
Mangaluru: A corroded, headless statue of the Buddha, believed to date back to the 4th–6th century CE, has been discovered in a temple tank near the historic Kadri Manjunatha Temple in Mangaluru. Alongside the sculpture, a cluster of ancient rock-cut caves has also been identified, offering fresh evidence of the region's once-flourishing Buddhist heritage. The discovery was made by Prof. T. Murugeshi, a retired archaeologist and former associate professor of Ancient History and Archaeology at MSRS College, Shirva. The Buddha image was found submerged in a water tank and retrieved with permission from the temple authorities. Though partially damaged, the statue remains notable for its meditative grace. The seated Buddha, missing its head and right hand, is shown in Padmasana (lotus position) with both palms resting in the classic Dhyana Mudra (gesture of meditation). Faint traces of a robe across the chest and a lotus pedestal suggest it is a Dhyani Buddha, commonly associated with Mahayana Buddhism. 'The iconography and posture are unmistakably Mahayanist,' said Prof. Murugeshi. 'This figure may well have been the presiding deity of an earlier Buddhist shrine at the site, long before it became a Shaiva-Vaishnava centre.' The adjacent caves, carved into laterite rock above the temple tank, add further depth to the site's historical importance. The three caves feature square rooms, raised plinths, porthole-style and square entrances, and sloped roofs with drainage holes — features pointing to their use as ancient monastic dwellings. The latest findings are expected to reshape scholarly understanding of Mangaluru's religious history. The region, now a major port city, was once home to vibrant Buddhist communities. Inscriptions dating to the 10th century — including one by the Alupa king Kundavarma found at Kadri — had earlier hinted at such a presence, but conclusive archaeological evidence had remained elusive. 'This discovery settles the long-standing debate over whether Kadri was a Buddhist centre. The evidence is now undeniable,' Prof. Murugeshi said. He noted that the Buddha statue bears stylistic similarities to a 6th-century image found in Goa's Colvale region, now displayed at the Heras Institute in Mumbai. The archaeologist credited his fieldwork team — comprising students and research assistants from MSRS College, University College Mangaluru, and Manipal University — and thanked temple administrator Arun Kumar for facilitating the study. Prof. Murugeshi has appealed to the Karnataka Department of Archaeology to recover and preserve the artefacts, describing them as 'priceless markers of our shared cultural past.'
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Ancient sculpture found during archaeological explorations in Kadri
Mangaluru: During recent archaeological explorations in Kadri, researchers uncovered a damaged Buddha statue alongside several significant cave structures, according to Prof T Murugeshi, formerly an associate professor in ancient history and archaeology. The statue was discovered submerged in a water tank situated near the Kadri Manjunatha Temple in a neglected condition. With approval from the temple authorities, it was retrieved from the water for detailed examination. The sculpture has sustained damage, with its head and right hand severed from the main structure. The statue was in a Padmasana position on a Padma Peetha in Dhyana Mudra. The garment draped across the left shoulder rested flatly upon the chest, with its appearance being barely noticeable, Prof Murugeshi stated in a release. "This sculpture under study is identified as Dhyani Buddha. The Buddha image is about 68 cm in height and 48 cm in width, including the prop of the image. The Buddha image is stylistically datable to the 4th-6th century AD," Murugeshi stated. Further, he said a group of three rock-cut caves found above the eastern side of Kadri tanks is of curious interest. The first one from the right is about eight feet in height and has a semi-circular entrance. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 10 Signs Your Dog Loves You More Than Anything Liseer Read More Undo It has a single square room with a small provision for a lamp. The middle and third ones have high plinths and two square entrances with single square rooms. The nature of the caves clearly indicates that they were used for residential purposes, he explained. Shreyas Kolpe, a PhD student of Manipal University, Shreyas, assistant lecturer in ancient history & archaeology, MSRS College, Shirva, Karthik, a postgraduate student in archaeology from University College, Mangaluru, and Ravindra Kushwaha, a graduate student in archaeology at MSRS College, Shirva, helped him in the fieldwork, he stated.
