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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Court orders FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand under POCSO ACT
Prayagraj (UP) (PTI): A special POCSO court here on Saturday ordered the Jhunsi Police Station SHO to register an FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati to investigate allegations of sexual abuse of boys.
Last week, the court of Special Judge (POCSO Act) Vinod Kumar Chaurasia reserved its decision on an application filed by Ashutosh Brahmachari Maharaj and others under Section 173(4) of the BNS after examining the evidence and recording the statements of the victimised 'batooks', the boys, as they are called at the ashram, Vidya Math.
The petitioner had filed the application seeking direction for an FIR against Avimukteshwaranand under sections 69, 74, 75, 76, 79, and 109 (all related to sexual assault) of the BNS, as well as sections 3/5/9 and 17 of the POCSO Act.
The court accepted the petition and ordered the police to conduct an investigation.
"Now we will get justice," Ashutosh Brahmachari said.
"Starting today, we are organising a Sanatan Yatra from here to Vidya Math (Varanasi). We will demonstrate how children are sexually abused on the fifth floor of Vidya Math. There is ample evidence of child abuse there. We have presented all the evidence to the court and will also provide it to the police," he said.
Avimukteshwarananda has been in the headlines for his confrontation with the organisers of the Magh Mela in Prayagraj. He accused the administration he was prevented from bathing on Mauni Amavasya.
