Udupi :  An ancient Vishnumurthy sculpture of 12 th century A.D. discovered by the department of Ancient History and Archaeology, MSRS College, Shirva on 31st Jaunvery 2021, say’s Prof. T. Murugeshi, associate professor of the college in his press release here.

Archaeological exploration conducted just behind the Panchayath Office at 80, Badagabettu near a ruined temple. Nearby this temple a ruined well. in that well till 18 feet of depth acrchitectural members and pieces of laterite briks was filled. At last, about 20 feet depth we recovered a beautiful mutilated sculpture of Janardhana, popularly known as Vishnumurthy in Tulunadu. This beautiful sculpture has a Karanda mukuta (head dress), makara kundala (ear rings), arm lets, anklets, Kaustubhahara and very nice eye brows, nose and lips which make it as a master piece of Coastal karnataka. It holds a pinda in the front right hand and left rest on the weist having shown hold a club. in the back left hand it holds a coanch and right hand still missing but, exploration is still continued. In the ruined sanctum sanctorium a pair of human foot part remained in the middle of the pitha, but the upper part totally missing. The sculpture stylestically belongs to the period of 12 th centurey.

It was a pre Madhwa sculpture and a best specimen of the Bhagavatha Cult of Coastal Karnataka. But, why this temple razed down is still an un answared question.