Jain Tirthankara sculpture, stone pillar found in Hassan

Konanur (Hassan dist): A sculpture of a Jain Tirthankara and a stone pillar have been discovered on land adjacent to Basaveshwara Temple in Sulugodu village, under Konanuru hobli, Arkalgud taluk, Hassan district.

The farmers were using a tractor for agricultural activities on the land near Basaveshwara temple when a stone pillar and the Tirthankara sculpture were found on Monday.

Several such sculptures, related to Jainism, have been found in the village a number of times. In 2015, two sculptures of young women holding a 'chamara' and a pillar were found. Last year, a soapstone statue of Kalabhairava, stone lamps, pillar and a manuscript were found.

A statue with a similarity of Mahaveera was also discovered and the villagers have protected it by placing it near the temple.

The residents of 15 villages of Hemavathi backwaters have been living at Sulugodu Somavara village since 1963. Hence, they are not aware of any historical background of the village. The authorities concerned should conduct excavations in the village as a number of sculptures are being discovered and protect it, the villagers opined.