Retired Professor Unearths 15th-16th Century Hero Stone 'Bobbaryana Kallu'
Udupi: A retired professor has stumbled upon a Hero Stone (Veeragallu) dating back to the 15th-16th century, adorned with inscriptions and revered as 'Bobbaryana Kallu,' at Ulthur Kattemane of Kundapur taluk in Udupi.
The discovery unfolded during the renovation of the Bobbarya Daivastana, a temple dedicated to the divine spirit Bobbarya, situated at Kattemane in Ulthur near Gulladi.
"It was found during the recent exploration conducted in and around Gulladi on the request of Dr. Raghuram Shetty Gulladi. The stone, venerated at the temple, was found to be an ancient hero stone dating back to the 15th-16th century," Professor T Murugeshi, retired Professor of History and Ancient History of MSRS College told Deccan Chronicle.
The inscription, engraved on a rectangular stone, features a pictorial representation at top. At the bottom, it has a four-line inscription in Kannada language and script which commences with 'Sri Ganadhipataye Namaha' and is dated 'Prajotpatti (Prajapati) Samvatsara.' Some details in the inscription have suffered damage.
According to Murugeshi, the inscription narrates the death of a personal guard (Vale) of one Lava Aluva in an unknown battle. The hero stone was erected in his memory, although the names of both the guard and the person responsible for the monument are illegible.
"The panel depicts intriguing figures, with a hero on the Center raising a sword in his right hand, holding a shield or Gurani in his left, adorned in royal attire. This image is of Lava Aluva mentioned in the inscription. Moon and Sun are inscribed on the sides above. To the left, a servant holding an umbrella is portrayed, while to the right, another servant stabs himself with his left hand and holds a shield in his right. He is the personal guard mentioned in the inscription," Murugeshi narrated.
