‘Okkai Mastikallu’ - Keladi-period Relic Found at Rattady


Udupi: ‘Okkai Mastikallu’ - Keladi-period Relic Found at Rattady

Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (PS/SB)

Udupi, Oct 22: A relic from Keladi period was found near Rattady in Kundapur taluk, said Prof T Murugeshi, lecturer in MSRS College Shirva.

Mahasati stone is popularly known as Mastikallu. There are varieties of Mastikallu. The relic is a ‘Okkai Mastikallu, the stone that has single hand masti with small inscription in Vijayanagara Kannada characters. This is a rectangular stone pillar with an extension on the right side having a Shivalinga with ‘Prabhavali’ (crown shaped ornament) and the sun on the right side and half moon on the left.

The inscription begins with Sri and stated Kalayuktakshi Savantsara, Phalguna Shuddha 5, Tuesday. It refers to one Sankappa Nayaka and his wife as Maduvalige, who is named as Gaurakka. Keladinrapavijaya, a semi-historical work by Linganna refers to one Sankanna Nayaka, son of Keladi Sadashiva Nayaka who had died in Kalayukti Savantsara Ashwayuja Shuddha 4 which may correspond to 1568 AD. On the basis, Murugeshi said they have identified Sankapa Nayaka referred to in the inscription as Keladi ruler Sankanna Nayaka.

Murugesh said that Prakash Shetty, history lecturer of Milagres College also helped in finding the relic.

There is also a picture of flower carved above the arms. Eight lines of epigraph are written in Kannada script. Exactly under this writing a male and female are sitting in a postulated position with the headgear of the period.

The relic is now kept in Bhandarkars College Kundapur under the guidance of Prof Uday Kumar and Prof K Gopal of History department.

  

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Comment on this article

  • M. D'Mello, Toronto

    Mon, Oct 25 2010

    Interesting find.

    History:

    The mastikallu (maha-sati kallu) is usually erected when the widow performs 'sati'on her husband’s death, especially if she does not have children.

    Keladi Ruler Sadasiva Nayaka reigned from 1509 -1567 and he had also extended his rule to Barakuru (kundapura included), Mangaluru in Kanara during his rule. Probably Gourakka belonged to the village where this Masti kallu was found?

    Sadasiva had two sons, Dodda Sankanna, who ruled for a short period from 1567-1570, less than three years. He must have died young and prematurely? Prompting his wife Gaurakka to perform ‘sati’? This is a possibility. The male and female figures (Sankanna and Gourakka) seated together, further adds to this belief. The term ‘Maduvalige’ what does this mean?

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