Antiquities of Kolluru dates back to Megalithic Age
Recent exploration at the foothills of Mookasura Betta near Kolluru, a Menhir, a cupule, a well, cut round shape in the hard laterite and potteries of a megalithic period has been discovered. The site is very near to Mookambika Temple of Kolluru, which is one of the famous pilgrimages of the Shakta cult in India. The Menhirs are very familiar in the adjacent Malnad region says Prof. T. Murugeshi, Associate Professor, Department of Ancient History & Archaeology, MSRS College, Shirva in his press release here on July 19.
Mookasura hill has fort-like structure’s, constructed using undressed stones. Locals call it Mookasura’s fort or Mookasurana Kote. Mookasura, according to Indian mythology, was a devil king who was killed by the Devi in Kolluru to restore Dharma hence she takes the name Kolluru Mookambika. The Menhir found at the foot of Mookasura hill is about 2.10 meter in height, 0.55 meter in thickness, 0.65 meters in width at the bottom and 0.55-meter width at the tip. The Menhir is laying on the ground, which originally seems to be oriented to the east. Adjacent to the Kolluru at the places like Baise, Nilskal and Heragal all in Hosanagara taluk nearly 40 Menhirs are reported by scholars. The place-name baise is also quite interesting, it is a vernacular version of Samskrita word, ‘mahisha’ says Dr A. Sundara.
By this discovery antiquities of Kolluru Mookambika can be dated to 1000 B.C. or much earlier. Dr A. Sundara dates Megalithic menhir culture of Nilskal, Baise and Heragal to c. 1200 – 1000 B. C. Prof. Murugeshi has already reported menhirs from Kurkal, Adkadakatte and Buddhanajeddu of the Udupi district and this one is seventh of its kind. This would be the beginning of the Megalithic culture of Kolluru region too says Prof. T. Murugeshi.
What is Menhir?
Menhirs are upright standing stones and slanting. They are installed in memory of a deceased and are usually found near the burial site. They are usually made of granite stones and can be found in various heights between 1.5m to 3m, they are very heavy and weigh in tons. They are locally known as Anekallu, Dibbanadakallu, Nilskallu, GarbiniyaraKallu and so on.
I am thankful to Muralidhar Hegde, Ramesh Anagalli, Chandra U. B. Gaddemane, Raghavendra Itala, Janardhana Achari and Bhaskar Nuksal of Kolluru for their help and support in this discovery.
