JOIN USA five-feet tall statue of Bahubali was discovered at Hosakote in the taluk recently. The workers digging the land for constructing a wall unearthed the statue.
Hosakote was a popular Jain pilgrimage centre long ago, where Jain seers resided.
Works were on to construct a compound around an 18-ft Bahubali statue when this five-feet statue was discovered. Several mantaps, statues, and idols related to Jain culture have been excavated in the region. Hosakote, which was a huge village lost its importance after Kannambadi Katte (Krishnaraja Sagar dam) was constructed. The people here established the Kurubara basti and Hosakote basti at an elevated place.
The people of the villages have been demanding research as it is expected that many more such statues may be lying beneath. Tahsildar K Rathna said that a letter has been written to the government to develop the village, keeping in view its historical significance.