Hoysala era sculpture found at temple premises in Thirthahalli village

SHIVAMOGGA: A two-metre tall sculpture, believed to the from the Hoysala era, has been found on the premises of the Veerabhadreshwara temple at Aaraga village in Thirthahalli taluk. The sculpture depicts a sword fight scene.

The stone sculpture was found the director of the archaeological museum at Hampi, Dr Shejeshwar, was surveying the temple premises. The sculpture comprises two parts with one part of the carving depicting the Garudaveera astride a horse holding a sword while an attendant is holding an umbrella, giving the impression that the horse rider is a rajapramukh.

In the second portion, a warrior is seen standing with a severed head with a sword in the right hand. Next to this is a woman holding the head. This is one of the rare sculptures of a beheading and is called the Garuda Sthamb.