Buddhist Antiquities found at Peruvaje in South Kanara

Media Release
Bellevision Media Network

Sullia, 07 April 2012: We visited the site and stunned by seeing Buddhist relics on the slope of a small hill near Jala Durga Temple at Peruvaje. Among the antiquities most interesting is a Buddha head 12 cm in height and a flake of Bodisatva face about 9 cm in height, 9 cm in width and made out of soft soap stone says Prof. T. Murugeshi Dept. of Ancient History & Archaeology, M.S.R.S.College, Shirva in his press release today.

The face of the Buddha head is totally destroyed. It has longish ears and a small ushnisha over the head. They are helping us to identify the image as Buddha head which is assignable to the 7th century A.D.

 

 

 The flake of Bodisatva face having lower portion of an ear on right side, right eye is in intact and opened, eye ball shown very prominently within the deep and broad eye cup, a small part of left eye can be visible. It has two cm long nose with broad nostrils and thick smiley lips. From nose to chin has two cm length. This is very clearly indicated the image proportionately prepared. Facial expression, eyes and nose resembles with that of Yaksha image of Igunda in North Kanara which was belongs to the Satavahana period. On the basis of iconographical similarity it can be datable to the 2nd century A.D.

 Two bull heads, two headless torsos of the bulls and one bull with the head and another human leg found at the site. Anatomical details of the bulls are really marvelous. They are sturdy and robust having their sex organ prominently extended manner. The bull heads are very beautiful and having projected eye balls as in the case of Bodisatva face. The original source of these antiquities is not known.

There is a Jaladurga temple, where the presiding deity is now worshipped in linga form. The temple thoroughly renovated. At tellaru in Karkala taluk of Udupi district, there is a Jaladurga temple where the presiding deity is sitting in Pralambasana and holding a child on her left lap. This is a dominant feature of the Buddhist goddess Hariti, who was a fertility goddess. Fortunately, I got an old record in Peruvaje Guttu house, in that Kannada record different types of gold and silver ornaments were described. Among them Kirita is about one and half Seru in weight. Two Bangles were also said along with other ornaments. This record dated 1930 A.D. during that period the presiding deity was may be in human form not in linga form as is now.

Otherwise why these ornaments, the bali devata is very small and unable to bare ornaments of that weight and size. If, it is true the said Jaladurga temple was a Buddhist temple in olden days, which may be converted into Hindu religion and most probably it was the source of Buddhist antiquities found.