Archaeological Explorations in District Mandya, Karnataka
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Archaeological Explorations in District Mandya, Karnataka R. N. Kumaran1 1. Archaeological Survey of India, Bangalore Circle, Kendriya Sadan, 5th Floor, F – Wing, Koramangala, Bengaluru – 560 034, Karnataka, India (Email: rnkumaran@ gmail.com) Received: 18 August 2019; Revised: 25 September 2019; Accepted: 29 October 2019 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 7 (2019): 970‐990 Abstract: Karnataka is rich in archaeological vestiges which date from Pre‐historic to till date. The recent intensive explorations in the District Mandya, particularly in Taluk Maddur have revealed rich archaeological vestiges of varied nature. The same are discussed here. Keywords: Explorations, Maddur, Mandya, Karnataka, Temple, Hero Stone, Sati Stone Introduction Karnataka is rich in archaeological vestiges dating from prehistoric times. Intensive filed surveys and excavations at few sites have revealed the immense archaeological wealth of this region. Recently, archaeological explorations were untaken in Mandya district. The district is almost plain but for a few out crops of rock standing out as prominent ridges. On an average, the district is between 762m to 915m MSL. The only mountain range in the district is in the Biligirirangan range. The Cauvery breaks through this range near Shivasamudra, where the river takes a leap forming the two waterfalls, Gagana Chukki and Bara Chukki. Geology The rock formations in the district belong to the most ancient period of the earth’s history and are divisible into two groups – (i) the Dharwar schist which occur as narrow linear belts and (ii) the Peninsular gneisses and granites. The drainage of the district is towards the Bay of Bengal. Owing to either rocky or shallow beds, none of the rivers in this district is navigable. River Shimsha enters the Maddur Taluk (near Koudle) and flows in a south‐eastern direction by transverse the whole taluk and enters Taluk Malavalli to confluence with river Kaveri (Abhishankar 1967). The climate of this district is tropical with much less rainfall in winter than summer. The average temperature in Mandya is 25°C and the rainfall is 713 mm (Abhishankar 1967). Kumaran 2019: 970‐990 Figure 1: Archaeological Sites in Taluk Maddur, District Mandya, Karnataka 971 ISSN 2347 – 5463 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 7: 2019 Flora and Fauna The chief floras are Jalari, Naviladi, Alale, Jali, Bage, Honge, Kavalu, Hunse, Naibela and Bilimathi. The absence of thick jungles prevents the wild animals from getting into the semi‐jungle areas and it cannot be classified as being rich in fauna. Archaeological Explorations Mandya district in Karnataka is known for its rich archaeological sites and monuments (IAR 1998‐99, 200‐01, 2010‐11, 2012‐2013). Recently, archaeological explorations were undertaken in the Maddur taluk of District Mandya. The whole taluk was surveyed. Out of these, 133 villages (Figure 1) have revealed rich archaeological vestiges in the form of Natural caverns with paintings, Temples, mandapas sculptures and architectural members, Inscribed and un‐inscribed hero stones, memorial stones and Sati stones, Inscribed stone slabs, Inscribed and Un‐inscribed Oil Mill stones, water structures that includes, tanks, inscribed and un‐inscribed sluice gates, bunds, stepped tanks, etc. (Table 1). Table 1: Archaeological Explorations in Taluk Maddur, District Mandya, Karnataka No. Village/Co‐ordinates Location Material Culture 01 Abalavadi 26 km north west of Inscribed stone of Medieval 12°43ʹ01ʹʹN; Maddur and 2.5 km period. 76°56ʹ19ʹʹE north of Nambi Nayakanahalli 02 Ajjahalli 18km south of Maddur Stambas, hero stones, sati stone 12°30ʹ38ʹʹN; and 1km north‐west of and temple of Medieval / Late 77°07ʹ26ʹʹE Thore Chakanahalli medieval period. 03 Agaralinganadoddi 5 km south of Maddur Inscribed pillar on three sides 12°36ʹ07ʹʹN; and 3km west of Tailuru of Medieval period 77°04ʹ24ʹʹE 04 Alamshettihalli 15km north east of Inscribed stone of Medieval 12°40ʹ20ʹʹN; Maddur and 4 km north period. 77°04ʹ38ʹʹE of Valgiredoddi 05 Albujanahalli 14 km south of Maddur Hero stone of late medieval 12°31ʹ10ʹʹN; and 5 km north of period 77°04ʹ24ʹʹE Annur 06 Aluru 6 km south‐east of Hero stones and inscribed slab 12°34ʹ36ʹʹN; Maddur and 4km north‐ of Medieval / Late Medieval 77°04ʹ03ʹʹE east of Vaidyanathpura period. 07 Ankanathapura 26 km north of Maddur Dilapidated mandapa of late 12°44ʹ58ʹʹN; and 2 km south east of Medieval period 77°01ʹ14ʹʹE Navile 08 Ankegowdanadoddi 20 km south‐east of Natural cavern with red ochre 12°31ʹ40ʹʹN ; Maddur and 5km paintings like wavy lines, palm, 77°07ʹ01ʹʹE northwest of Arethipur trisula?, human, male on animal and some unidentified themes. 972 Kumaran 2019: 970‐990 Apart from that, a natural water cistern with a rock cut outlet of Chalcolithic period 09 Annur 19 km south of Maddur Memorial and Sati stones and 12°28ʹ46ʹʹN; and 2 km east of K.M. loose sculpture of 77°07ʹ54ʹʹE Doddi Mahisasuramardini of Medieval / Late Medieval period 10 Arechakanahalli 17 km south west of Hero stones, Memorial stones 12°28ʹ11ʹʹN; Maddur and 1 km west and oil pressing stone of 77°00ʹ11ʹʹE of Karadekere Medieval / Late Medieval period. 11 Arekanadoddi 16 km north west of Memorial stone and temple of 12°41ʹ04ʹʹN; Maddur and 4 km north Medieval / Late Medieval 77°00ʹ35ʹʹE east of Marliga period. 12 Arethipur 22km south east of Inscribed and un‐inscribed Hero 12°30ʹ32ʹʹN; Maddur and 6km north stones, inscribed stones, 77°07ʹ30ʹʹE east of Kabbare memorial stones, architectural members, excavated remains, loose sculptures, etc of Medieval / late Medieval period. 13 Aruvanhalli 16 km south east of Inscribed and un‐inscribed hero 12°30ʹ49ʹʹN ; Maddur and 2 km south stones, memorial stones, sati 77°06ʹ37ʹʹE of Tippuru (Arethipur) stones, sculptural fragments, inscribed burial, inscribed stones, Hero cum sat stone (Figure 2) and a temple of medieval and late l medieva period. 14 Athagur 22 km north of Maddur Hero stones, Memorial and Sati 12°39ʹ46ʹʹN; and 5 km west of stones, dilapidated temple 77°04ʹ06ʹʹE Dundanahalli (Figure 3), inscribed oil pressing stone, broken sculpture of Medieval and Late Medieval period. 15 Avverahalli 25 km north west of Foot print and Memorial stones 12°43ʹ37ʹʹN; Maddur and 2 km north of Medieval / Late Medieval 76°57ʹ40ʹʹE of Koppa period. 16 Baidarhalli 13 km west of Maddur Hero stones and Sati stone of 12°35ʹ02ʹʹN; and 2km south of Medieval / late Medieval 77°05ʹ58ʹʹE Madnayakanhalli period. 17 Bannahalli 17 km north east of Inscribed and un‐inscribed hero 12°29ʹ41ʹʹN; Maddur and 2 km south stones, memorial stones, sati 77°05ʹ44ʹʹE east of (Kokare) Belluru stones, inscribed pillar on four sides, temple of Medieval / Late 973 ISSN 2347 – 5463 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 7: 2019 medieval period. 18 Bekkalale 31 km north of Maddur Hero stones of Medieval and 12°47ʹ20ʹʹN; and 2 km east of Late Medieval period. 76°57ʹ60ʹʹE Yadavanahalli 19 Belturu 11 km north west of Hero stones of Medieval period. 12°37ʹ29ʹʹN; Maddur and 7 km south 77°00ʹ04ʹʹE west of Hosakere 20 Besagarahalli 12 km north west of Hero stones of Late Medieval 12°38ʹ14ʹʹN; Maddur and 3 km north period. 76°59ʹ35ʹʹE of Belturu 21 Bidarahalli 16 km south west of Memorial stones of Medieval 12°27ʹ48ʹʹN; Maddur and 8 km south (Figure 4) and Late Medieval 77°01ʹ05ʹʹE east of Kadilavagilu period. 22 Bidarakote 22 km north west of Hero stones and Memorial 12°40ʹ51ʹʹN; Maddur and 2 km west stone of Medieval period. 76°55ʹ52ʹʹE of Guloor 23 Boppasandra 19 km south east of Inscribed and un‐inscribed Hero 12°28ʹ00ʹʹN; Maddur and 1 km west stones, inscribed slabs of 77°04ʹ39ʹʹE of Sunnadadoddi Medieval period. 24 Borapura 6 km south west of Memorial stone of medieval 12°32ʹ02ʹʹN; Maddur and 5 km east period. 77°01ʹ20ʹʹE of Malagaranahalli 25 Bujuvalli 24 km and 8 km south Dilapidated stone temple, 12°25ʹ31ʹʹN; west of Maddur and Memorial stones and foot‐prints 76°58ʹ58ʹʹE Yaladahalli of Medieval / Late Medieval period. 26 Byaladakere 26 km and 2 km north Hero stones and Memorial 12°44ʹ48ʹʹN; west of Maddur and stones of Medieval / Late 76°59ʹ55ʹʹE Hebbalalu Medieval period. 27 Chamanahalli 7 km north of Maddur Hero stones, memorial stones 12°36ʹ51ʹʹN; and 23 km north west and dilapidated mandapa of 77°02ʹ26ʹʹE of Siddanahalli Medieval and Late Medieval period. 28 Channasandra 3 km south of Maddur Memorial stone of late medieval 12°34ʹ02ʹʹN; and 1 km west of period 77°02ʹ53ʹʹE Goravanahalli 29 Chapardoddi 8 km north west o Dilapidated temple of Late 12°37ʹ10ʹʹN; Maddur and 1 km east Medieval period. 77°01ʹ19ʹʹE of Shankarapura 30 Chikka Arasinakere 10 km south of Maddur Various loose sculptures 12°30ʹ39ʹʹN; and 6 km north west of including a jaina panel and 77°02ʹ10ʹʹE Alabujanahalli and on architectural members, Sati and the left bank of River memorial stones of Medieval Hebbal period 31 Chikkankanahalli 23 km north of Maddur Nandi worshipped in the Nandi 974 Kumaran 2019: 970‐990 12°41ʹ57ʹʹN; and 7 km south west of Basaveshvara temple of 77°02ʹ16ʹʹE Harakanahalli Medieval period. 32 Chikkonahalli 21 km north west of Hero stones and Memorial 12°42ʹ19ʹʹN; Maddur and 2 km west stones of Medieval / Late 76°59ʹ03ʹʹE of Kilaghatta Medieval period. 33 Chotnahalli 18 km north west of Hero stones and Sati stone of 12°39ʹ51ʹʹN; Maddur and 4 km east Medieval / Late Medieval 76°57ʹ40ʹʹE of Maragaudanahalli period. 34 D.Hosahalli 20 km north west of Hero stone of Medieval period. 12°40ʹ57ʹʹN; Maddur and 3 km south 76°53ʹ10ʹʹE west of Kuntanahalli 35 D.Malligere 35 km north west of Hero stone of Late Medieval 12°44ʹ51ʹʹN; Maddur and 4 km east period. 76°56ʹ20ʹʹE of Somanhalli 36 Desahalli 8 km north west of Hero stones of Medieval period. 12°36ʹ25ʹʹN; Maddur and 2 km south 77°01ʹ28ʹʹE of Chapardoddi 37 Doddankanahalli 24 km north of Maddur Hero stones and Memorial 12°43ʹ28ʹʹN; and 2 km north west of stones of Medieval / Late 77°00ʹ23ʹʹE Chikkankanahalli Medieval period.