Rare Siditale Hero-Stone Discovered at Barakuru During Temple Survey
Barakuru: A rare and historically significant Siditale-type hero-stone has been discovered at Barakuru, the former capital associated with the medieval Alupas and the Vijayanagara Empire, during a recent epigraphical survey conducted at the Panchalingeshwara Temple, which is currently undergoing renovation.
According to Prof. T. Murugeshi, a noted archaeologist of the region, the survey was jointly undertaken by the Veera Rani Chikkayi Tayi Trust (R.), Gulladi, and the Adima Kala Trust (R.), Udupi. The rare stone was found in the outer prakara of the temple and is being regarded as an important addition to the cultural and epigraphical heritage of Tulunadu.
In a press release, Prof. Murugeshi stated that self-sacrificing hero-stones are commonly found in South India, particularly dating from the ninth–10th centuries to the 14th–15th centuries. He recalled that he had earlier reported three such hero-stones from Coorg belonging to the 10th-century Ganga period. However, the stone discovered at Barakuru is considered exceptional, as it is the first known example of the Siditale type from Tulunadu.
The hero-stone under study is approximately four feet high and contains three distinct panels. The lower panel depicts a self-sacrificing individual seated on a mound in dhyana bāngi, or a meditative posture. To his left stands a butcher holding a sword, while on the right, a man is shown firmly holding a bamboo pole. The head of the sacrificed person is tied to the tip of the bamboo pole. This act, carried out immediately after the sacrifice, symbolically represented the head “swinging in the sky”, a practice identified as Siditale.
In the second panel, the deceased is shown being carried to heaven by Apsaras, indicating the belief in divine passage and honour after sacrifice. In the top panel, the hero is depicted seated before Lord Shiva, with an archaka on the right, underscoring the religious and ceremonial significance of the stone.
Based on its stylistic features, the monument is believed to date to the 14th century, making it an antiquity of considerable value to the heritage of Tulunadu.
Prof. Murugeshi expressed gratitude to Dr. Raghuram Shetty Gulladi for providing financial support that helped make the discovery possible. He also acknowledged the contributions of Nagashayana, administrator and former Moktesvar of the temple; Manjunath Rao; and archaeology students Sinchith and Shodan of MSRS College, Shirva.
The discovery is expected to attract the attention of historians, epigraphists and heritage scholars, as it sheds light on regional ritual traditions, commemorative practices and the artistic legacy of medieval coastal Karnataka.