Buddhist relics found near Mangalore

Buddhist relics have been found near the Jaladurga temple at Peruvaje in Sullia taluk of Dakshina Kannada district. “The most interesting is a Buddha head (12 cm high) and a flake of Bodhisatva face (9 cm high, 9 cm wide), made out of soft soap stone,” said Prof T Murugeshi, deparment of ancient history and archaeology, M S R S College, Shirva. 

Buddhist statue dating to between the second and the seventh century AD found near Jaladurga temple in Sullia taluk, near Mangalore [Credit: Bangalore Mirror]

“The face of the Buddha head is totally destroyed. It has longish ears and a small Ushnisha over the head. Ushnisha is a three dimensional oval at the top of the head of the Buddha. It symbolises his attainment of reliance in the spiritual guide. The relic might be from the 7th century AD,” he said. 

The facial expression, eyes and nose on the flake resemble that of an Yaksha image of Igunda in North Kanara district which belongs to the Satavahana period. The relic could be from the 2nd century AD.

“One bull made of stone, two bull heads, two headless torsos of bulls and a human leg were also found. Anatomical details of the bulls are marvellous,” he said.  

The original source of these antiques is not known. There is a Jaladurga temple, where the presiding deity is now worshipped in linga form. The temple has been thoroughly renovated. “There is a possibility that the temple could have been a Buddhist shrine in the olden days,” said Prof Murugeshi. 

Source: Bangalore Mirror [April 08, 2012]