Udupi: An ancient Vishnu sculpture of 12th century A.D. discovered by the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, MSRS College, Shirva.
Today in the press release Prof. T. Murugeshi, associate professor of the college said “Archaeological exploration conducted just behind the Panchayath Office at 80, Badagabettu near a ruined temple. Nearby this in a ruined well up to the depth of 18 feet pieces of laterite bricks was filled.
In the depth of 20 feet, we recovered a beautiful mutilated sculpture of Janardhana, popularly known as Vishnumurthy in Tulunadu. This beautiful sculpture has a Karanda Mukuta (headdress), Makara kundala (earrings), armlets, anklets, Kaustubhahara, and very nice eyebrows, nose, and lips which make it a masterpiece of Coastal Karnataka. It holds a pinda in the front right hand and left rest on the waist having shown hold a club. in the back left hand, it holds a conch and the right hand still missing but, exploration is still continued. In the ruined sanctum sanctorium a pair of human foot parts remained in the middle of the pitha, but the upper part totally missing. The sculpture belongs to the period of the 12th century.
It was a pre-Madhwa sculpture and the best specimen of the Bhagavatha Cult of Coastal Karnataka.