Udupi : At Alembi in 76 Badagabettu village, a suburb of Udupi a miniature Sculpture of Lord Buddha is found among the debries taken out of a well nearby an abondened temple. It was here itself a beautiful Janardhana Sculpture was discovered at the depth of 22-23 feet in the well earliar, says Prof. T. Murugeshi, Associate Professor, Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, MSRS College, Shirva in his press relese here today.

It is about 9 cm in height, 5 cm in wedth and about 2 cm in thickness. It was made out of soft sand stone and looks like a replica of Saranath Buddha. It is first of its kind found in Karnataka as well as in Udupi. The Lord Buddha is carved very beautifuly and seated on a lotus pedestal in Dharma Chakra Pravarthana Mudre, that is his first sermon at deer park. Below the seat six deciples seated on either side of Dharma Chakra. The Lord wore clothes and ear rings. A small Ushnisha is shown on the top of the head. Back of his head a beautifully carved round lobe is there. On the top corners two yakshas and on the either side of his backload two winged horses was carved.

It is in the Guptha style. In same vicinity a brahmi inscription of 4th-5th century A.D. was discovered earliar on an earthen lid. Traditonally ancient Tulunadu was said to be ruled by the Kadambas of Banavasi. The Gupthas and Kadambas of Banavasi had metrimonial relations. It is so therefore the discovery of Lord Buddha image is not an uncommon thing. But, it is opened up a new chapter in the history of Udupi district and in the study of Buddhism in South India.

Sri Ganesh Raj Saralebettu, Shreyas, Nagaraj, Gowtham, Kavya, Bhavya, Harshitha and Ganesh played very imporntant role in this discovery. So, my sincere thanks due to them.