Rare severed-head-hero-stone of 14th century found in Udupi district

A hero stone (veera gallu) believed to be from the 14th century has been found at Barkuru in Udupi district of Karnataka. Being a sidi tale (severed head) hero stone, it is believed to be of great importance.

“The hero stone under study from Barkuru is a rare example of sidi tale type. Such a stone has been found for the first time in Tulunadu,” said senior archaeologist T. Murugeshi.

“Stylistically, the hero stone under study belongs to the 14th century,” he said.

It was found in the outer ‘prakara’ of Panchalingeshwara temple in Barkuru during an epigraphical survey conducted jointly in the temple by Veera Rani Chikkayi Tayi Trust, Gulladi, and Adima Kala Trust of Udupi. The temple is being renovated.

Mr. Murugeshi, representing Adima Kala Trust, said that Barkuru was a capital city during the reign of the Alupas, and also the Vijayanagar empire. 

Self-sacrificing hero-stones found commonly in south India are from the 9th to 10th century, and between 14th and 15th century. “I personally reported three such hero stones of the 10th century Ganga period in Kodagu district,” he said.

About the hero stone

“The hero stone (of Barkuru) has three panels and is about four feet in height. The lower first panel depicts a self-sacrificing person sitting on a mud mound in a dhyana ‘bangi’ or meditative posture. On his left side is a man standing with a sword. On the right is a man holding a bamboo. The head of the man on the left is tied to the tip of the bamboo. Immediately after sacrifice, the head is shown swinging in the sky. It is known as Sidi tale (severed head). In the second panel, the deceased person is shown taken by apsaras (celestial nymphs) to heaven. In the top panel, the hero is shown sitting before Lord Shiva on the left and an archaka (priest) on the right,” he said.

“I am thankful to Raghuram Shetty Gulladi for his financial support for this discovery; Nagashayana, the administrator of the temple; Manjunath Rao, former muktesara (ceremonial head) of the temple; and Sinchith and Shodan, students of archaeology of MSRS College, Shirva,” Mr. Murugeshi said.