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.'
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The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Headless sculpture of Buddha, three rock cut caves found at Kadri in Mangaluru
A headless sculpture of the Buddha and a group of three rock cut caves of great importance were found during a recent archaeological exploration conducted at Kadri in Mangaluru, according to T. Murugeshi, retired associate professor in ancient history and archaeology, MSRS College, Shirva, Udupi district. 'The sculpture is stylistically datable to the 4th or 6th century A.D.' he said in a release. The sculpture was found in a water tank near the Kadri Manjunatha temple in a discarded state. The sculpture was lifted from the tank for study with the permission of the temple administrator, he said in a release. The sculpture was highly corroded. 'The head has been chopped off and the right hand is destroyed, but, still it has its serene beauty in its physical appearance. The Buddha is seated in the padmasana pose on the padma peeta in dhyana mudra by placing both palms above the centre of legs. The upper cloth passing over the left shoulder lays flat on the chest is very indistinctly visible,' he said. A pillar in the outer prakara of the temple has Dhyana Buddha sculptures seated on lotus. 'Thus, this sculpture under study is identified as Dhyana Buddha beyond doubt. The sculpture is about 68 cm in height and 48 cm in width including the prop of the image. The sculpture is stylistically datable to 4th - 6th century A.D. It is supposed to be the presiding deity of the temple,' he said. Mr. Murugeshi said a group of three rock cut caves found above the eastern side of Kadri tanks are of curious interest. 'They are cut in laterite above the ground. The first one from the right is about 8 feet in height and has a semi circular entrance like a porthole. It has a single square room with a small provision for a lamp. The entire structure looks like a megalithic dolmen. The middle and third ones have a high plinth and two square entrances with single square rooms. All caves have a sloppy canopy with holes to clear off rainy water. The nature of the caves clearly indicates that they were used for residential purpose,' the historian said in the release. The present discovery under study has a great importance in South Asian Buddhist studies and Tuluva history as well. The sculpture found at Kadri has close similarities with that of the Buddha image found at Mushira Waddo in Colvale of Goa, now displayed in Fr. Heras Institute at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. The Dhyana Buddha image belongs to Mahayana Buddhism and caves also belong to the Mahayanists. 'By this discovery the decades of controversy over Kadri, whether it was a Buddhist centre or not is very clear. Kadri is a Buddhist centre over the centuries right up to 10th century A.D. as revealed by the inscription of Alupa king Kundavarma found on the Lokeshwara image of Kadri temple. The Mahayana Buddhist was replaced by Vajrayana Buddhist and they were turned out by Natha cult in 11th century,' he said. 'I am hereby requesting the commissioner of State Archaeology to take steps to recover this rare antiquity sculpture and protect it immediately,' he said. The historian said that he is thankful to Arun Kumar, the temple administrator for allowing to lift the sculpture for study. Shreyas Kolpe, a PhD student of Manipal University, Shreyas, an Assistant Professor in Ancient History and Archaeology, MSRS College; Shirva, Karthik, a postgraduate student in archaeology from the University College, Mangaluru, and Ravindra Kushwaha, a graduate student in archaeology, MSRS College helped in field work, the release said.
Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz: History and Culture MCQs on Begum of Bhopal, Alexander's Indian campaign and more (Week 114)
Are you preparing for UPSC CSE Prelims? UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on History and Culture to check your progress. Which of the following temples of South India is known as Dakshina Meru? (a) Kailasanathar Temple at Kanchipuram (b) Airavatesvara temple at Tanjavur (c) Brihadisvara temple at Gangaikondacholapuram (d) Brihadisvara temple at Tanjavur According to The Great Living Chola Temples were built by kings of the Chola Empire, which stretched over all of south India and the neighbouring islands. The site includes three great 11th- and 12th-century Temples: the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram. 'The Brihadisvara temple at Tanjavur marks the greatest achievement of the Chola architects. Known in the inscriptions as Dakshina Meru, the construction of this temple was inaugurated by the Chola King, Rajaraja I (985-1012 CE) possibly in the 19th regal year (1003-1004 CE) and consecrated by his own hands in the 25th regal year (1009-1010 CE).' Therefore, d is the correct answer. (For more, refer: ) With reference to Begum Sultan Jahan, the last Begum of Bhopal, consider the following statements: 1. She was the first female Chancellor of the Mohammadan Anglo Oriental College, Aligarh. 2. She authored a book, Dars-e-Hayat, about the education and parenting of young girls. 3. She founded a Science College in the city of Aligarh. 4. She was the fourth female ruler of Bhopal. Which of the statements given above are true? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Nearly a century ago, when the term feminism was not yet part of common parlance, the princely estate of Bhopal was run by a line of powerful women. 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(a) Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple (b) Sun Temple (c) Jagannath Temple (d) Mahabodhi Temple According to The Sun Temple at Konarak, located on the eastern shores of the Indian subcontinent, is one of the outstanding examples of temple architecture and art as revealed in its conception, scale and proportion, and in the sublime narrative strength of its sculptural embellishment. The Sun Temple is an exceptional testimony, in physical form, to the 13th-century Hindu Kingdom of Orissa, under the reign of Narasimha Deva I (AD 1238-1264). It is associated with all the legends of its own artistic creation – the most evocative being its construction over twelve years using 1,200 artisans – and the stories about the deep commitment of its master builder, Bisu Moharana, to the project, in which his son (who was born during this period) later became involved. Therefore, b is the correct answer. (For more, refer: 'Sadir attam' refers to: (a) the name of a plant found in ancient Tamil texts (b) classical instruments played along with Mohiniyattam (c) ancient Indian dance book (d) none of the above According to 'Most classical dance forms of India which are strictly based on Natya Shastra, originated from within temple complexes. One such example is the Sadir Attam of Tamil Nadu, today known as Bharatanatyam.' Therefore, d is the correct answer. Consider following statements with reference to Alexander's Indian campaign: 1. The king of Taxila surrendered to Alexander, but beyond the Jhelum he was challenged by the legendary warrior, in the battle of Hydaspes, whom Greek sources have identified as Porus. 2. Alexander defeated Porus, but allowed him to retain his kingdom and left him in charge of Punjab when the Greek army eventually retreated. Which of the above mentioned statements is/are correct? 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(For more, refer: Alexander and Chandragupta Maurya: A short history of war, empire, and greatness, IE ) 'Ryndia', which has secured the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, belongs to which state? (a) Sikkim (b) West Bengal (c) Meghalaya (d) Mizoram Ryndia Textile (Handicraft) from Meghalaya has secured the Geographical Indication (GI) tag recently. Therefore, c is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Consider the following battles from history: 1. Battle of Saraighat 2. Battle of Karnal 3. Battle of Gaugamela Which of the following is the correct chronological sequence? (a) 1-2-3 (b) 2-3-1 (c) 3-2-1 (d) 3-1-2 In 330 BC, Alexander defeated Darius III in the decisive battle of Gaugamela, and after a long campaign in Bactria in the region of the Amu Darya north of today's Afghanistan, he crossed the Hindu Kush and entered the Kabul valley. Lachit Barphukan, the great Ahom general, inflicted humiliating defeat on the mighty Mughal army in the Battle of Saraighat in 1671, bringing the curtain down on the last major attempt by the Mughals to take Assam. The Battle of Karnal, on February 24, 1739, saw Persian emperor Nadir Shah handing a crushing defeat to the forces of Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah Rangila, effectively ending Mughal power in India. Therefore, d is the correct answer. Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Manas Srivastava is currently working as Senior Copy Editor with The Indian Express (digital) and leads a unique initiative of IE - UPSC Essentials. He majorly writes on UPSC, other competitive exams and education-related projects. In the past, Manas has represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He is a former member of the Youth Council, GOI. A two-time topper/gold medallist in History (both in graduation and post-graduation) from Delhi University, he has mentored and taught UPSC aspirants for more than four years. His diverse role in The Indian Express consists of writing, editing, anchoring/ hosting, interviewing experts, and curating and simplifying news for the benefit of students. He hosts the YouTube talk show called 'Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik' and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called 'You Ask We Answer'.His talks on 'How to read a newspaper' focus on newspaper reading as an essential habit for students. His articles and videos aim at finding solutions to the general queries of students and hence he believes in being students' editor, preparing them not just for any exam but helping them to become informed citizens. This is where he makes his teaching profession meet journalism. He is also the editor of UPSC Essentials' monthly magazine for the aspirants. He is a recipient of the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He was also awarded the University's Post-Graduate Scholarship for pursuing M.A. in History where he chose to specialise in Ancient India due to his keen interest in Archaeology. He has also successfully completed a Certificate course on Women's Studies by the Women's Studies Development Centre, DU. As a part of N.S.S in the past, Manas has worked with national and international organisations and has shown keen interest and active participation in Social Service. He has led and been a part of projects involving areas such as gender sensitisation, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, adopting our heritage programme. He has also presented a case study on 'Psychological stress among students' at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka. As a compere for seminars and other events he likes to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests also lie in International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays and poetry. ... Read More
Hans India
8 hours ago
- 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.'
