Karnataka: Idol Found on Malpe Beach Sparks Debate Over Identity
Local residents noted that idols are occasionally found in rivers or the sea, as damaged temple idols are traditionally immersed in water bodies
Udupi: Social media has been buzzing after a group of devotees from Bengaluru discovered an idol on Malpe beach while visiting Udupi for a religious programme.
Videos circulating on Instagram claim that the devotees, reportedly associated with ISKCON, were touring various religious sites in the region when they noticed the idol partially submerged in the water at Malpe beach. The footage suggests that the group later took the idol back to Bengaluru.
The idol is shown holding a chakra and shankha in its upper right and left hands, while the lower right hand is in abhaya mudra and the lower left holds a gada. Based on these features, several social media users identified it as an idol of Lord Krishna.
However, historian T Murugeshi has challenged this claim, stating that the iconography more closely matches Vijaya, one of the Dwarapalakas (gatekeepers) of Lord Vishnu. “The iconographic features match those of a Dwarapalaka rather than Krishna,” Murugeshi told Deccan Chronicle. He added that it is too early to determine whether the idol is an antique or of recent origin, and that a detailed examination is required to establish its age.
Local residents noted that idols are occasionally found in rivers or the sea, as damaged temple idols are traditionally immersed in water bodies. However, they pointed out that the Malpe idol does not appear damaged, raising questions about how it came to be near the shore.
Police confirmed that the incident occurred on December 21 and said they have recorded the details of the individuals who took the idol from the beach.
