Human footprints on stone believed to be of Godly spirit Babbu Swamy
Mangaluru: The recent finding of a pair of human footprints on a natural stone boulder near the Bolur Panne Koteda Babbu Swamy Shrine in Mangaluru has sparked interest in the archaeological community.
Measuring approximately one foot in length and half an inch in depth, people believe these footprints to be the sacred imprints of Babbu Swamy- a Godly spirit worshipped in the coastal belt, according to Prof. Murugeshi T, retired associate professor of Ancient History and Archaeology at MSRS College, Shirva.
In a press statement, Prof. Murugeshi noted the potential historical significance of the discovery.
"This is the first rock art evidence in Mangaluru City. The footprints at Bolur might date back to the first or second century AD, prompting a reevaluation of the origins of the Babbu Swamy legend," he stated.
Murugeshi also referred to Buddhanajeddu, a prominent rock art site in Udupi district that he and his team had discovered in 2009.
"Buddhanajeddu features over twenty footprints, each measuring about half a foot or less in length and dating back to the first or second century AD. The footprints discovered at Buddhanajeddu were created on a laterite surface and accompanied by Neolithic pottery and stone tools, whereas the footprints found in Mangaluru are on a stone boulder with no associated artifacts," he noted.
The Archaeology of Babbu Swamy project, recently launched in collaboration with the Minchinabavi Kordabbu Trust (R) of Padubidri, has been instrumental in the exploration of the Bolur site, he added.
