Kundapur: Two ancient standing stones (megalithic menhirs) discovered during archaeological survey
Udupi: Two ancient standing stones dating back to the Iron Age have been discovered in the Kundapur taluk of Udupi district during an archaeological exploration carried out recently by the national cultural organisation Adima Kala Trust, according to its founder-director and archaeological researcher Prof. T. Murugeshi.
One standing stone is located at Hilkodu, in the Daivada Haadi on the left side of the state highway from Nerlekatte to Aajri in Kundapur taluk. Locals refer to it as the Neecha Daiva or Bobbarya stone. The second standing stone was found at Mavinakere Haadi in Kenchanur village of the same taluk, beside the roadside. Prof. Murugeshi stated in a press release that locals have recently tied a cloth around half of this upright stone and begun worshipping it as Rakteshwari.
The Mavinakere standing stone measures 112 cm in height and is slightly inclined towards the northwest. The Hilkodu stone stands around 135 cm tall. A trial excavation beneath the Hilkodu stone revealed pieces of red and ochre-coloured pottery, indicating its antiquity.
People of the Megalithic culture traditionally erected large upright stones either on burial sites or nearby as memorial monuments after funeral rites. Such stones typically range from 3 feet to as much as 16 or 17 feet in height. Across South India, these are known by various names including Rakkasagallu, Nilskal, Nintikallu, Garbhiniyar Kallu, Basurikal, and Anekallu.
Historical significance
The standing stones at Mavinakere and Hilkodu belong to the later phase of the Megalithic period. The pottery fragments found beneath the Hilkodu stone support this assessment. The standing stones at Nilskal and the Heragal group in Hosanagar taluk of Shivamogga district are believed to date back to around 800 BCE.
The newly discovered stones in Kundapur are estimated to belong to a period between 300 BCE and the 1st or 2nd century CE. Prof. Murugeshi noted that remnants from the Megalithic age have greatly influenced the cultural life of Tulu Nadu and stressed that preserving such heritage structures is a collective responsibility.
He expressed gratitude to those who assisted in the research, including Vishwanath Gulwadi, Sudhakar Shetty, Agriculture Officer C. Nagaraj Shetty, Manju Poojary of Hilkodu, and Adima Kala Research Team members Murulidhar Hegde (Iduru–Kunjadi), Shreyas Bantakal, and Gautham Belman.
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Five suspects held for alleged murder of Congress activist Ganesh Gowda in Chikkamagaluru
Chikkamagaluru: Five activists of BJP and Bajrang Dal were arrested by the Sakharayapatna Police for alleged murder of Congress activist and Sakharayapatna Gram Panchayat member Ganesh Gowda (38) on Friday night, following a fight over a banner.
Three of the arrested men, Sanjay, Bhushan and Mithun, are known to be BJP members.
An argument broke out between two groups in Sakharayapatna of Kadur taluk two days ago regarding a banner for observation of ‘Datta Jayanti’. The argument continued and intensified into a fight on Friday night near a bar in the village. Shortly later, at around 10:30 pm, a group of eight miscreants on motorbikes is learned to have stopped Gowda, who was traveling in a car on the Kalmurudeshwara Mutt Road and attacked him with lethal weapons.
A seriously injured Gowda reportedly died on the spot.
One of the suspects, Sanjay, was also injured in the attack and is being treated at the Chikkamagaluru Mallegowda District Hospital.
Sakharayapatna Police have registered a case and are investigating.
Chikkamagaluru Superintendent of Police Vikram Amte has said that, as precautionary measure, security has been beefed up in the village.
“While four special teams have been formed for investigation, five of the suspects have already been taken into custody. We are still probing the incident,” he added.
