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Udupi: The remains of an 800-year-old temple have been found near Beedinagudde Dumping Yard here, according to head of the Department of Archaeology at MSRS College, Shriva, T. Murgeshi.

STEEPED IN HISTORY:The ‘panipeetha’ (right) and the ‘somasutra’ (left) said to belong to an 800-year old temple found near Beedinagudde in Udupi

Prof. Murgeshi said here on Monday that a “paanipeetha” (pedestal used for installing idol), two fallen stolen pillars, about six stone slabs and a “somasutra” (a structure used in temples) had been found near the yard. Half the “paanipetha” had got stuck in a tree near the site, which was about five feet above the ground level, he said.

He said the area was called “Manjanady” and it belonged to the Shaiva cult. The Shaiva cult was popular in this region in 10th and 11th centuries. “It is difficult to ascertain whether it is a Shiva temple or a temple of a goddess. The clearing of the debris will offer a clear picture”, he said. Prof. Murgeshi said the area belonged to the Chitpady Ballals, who were feudal lords. “Based on our preliminary investigations of the remains, we feel that the temple is at least 800 years old,” he said.

Prof. Murgeshi’s team, which studied the remains, comprised Kallianpur Milagres College history lecturer Prashanth Shetty and Kadiyali Kamalabai School teacher Sridhar Bhat. “We were given information about the remains of this temple by the secretary of the Udupi Zilla Nagarika Samiti Nityananda Volakadu,” he added.