List of Architectural and Archaeologial Remains in Coorg (An Old Book)

On the 11th November 1891,I received a reference from the Governme , of Madras on a letter from the Government of India directing that an examination of the archaeology and epigraphy of Coorg should be made, with a view to the preparation of lists of monuments worthy of being conserved. These lists of monuments worthy of being conserved. These lists were submitted to that Government.

The Government of India has laid down the principle that such lists must generally pass through three stages before they reach completion: “(a) The first is the preparation of an initial list of all ancient remains or buildings of presumably archaeological interest in each district or province by district officials and officers of the Archaeological Department, or such other agency as the provincial authorities may determine. The list may possibly be incomplete when first drawn up, but additions may be made to it at any time. It would form the basis on which archaeological officers would arrange their plans of survey.

(b) The second is the revision of the initial list by officials of the Archaeological Department, whose duty it is to advise and suggest which of the objects are of sufficient archaeological interest to be worthy of repairs or conservation. It may or may not be necessary that a local examination of the buildings should at this stage be made by the archaeological officials. (c) The third is the final selection under the orders of the local Government, of those buildings or remains which they may determine to be worthy of being repaired or conserved.”

With reference to Coorg, I pointed out that, prior to such an examination, and, with the view of making any tour as comprehensive as possible, rough lists of all antiquities should first be prepared by the taluk officials. On this, a tour could be arranged. As the architectural or archaeological value of a building or other ancient monument is but faintly appreciated by most of those who were to prepare these list; and thus to prevent unnecessary labour in the preparation of detailed statements or opinions likely to be of little value, it was suggested that only the name, position and kind of monument should given. The presence of inscriptions or stone-carving would help to indicate monuments likely to be of value. On these lines, lists were prepared by the village officials, and are now herein embodied.

They cannot therefore be considered in any way complete or even accurate, and are simply preliminary to final lists, such as can only be made after an inspection by those competent to decide on the value of any monument. Even such as they are, it is at places evident that full information has not been given. Thus, inscriptions are mentioned as being near “a temple “would never have been made. Again Mr. Rice mentions there are altogether 863 temple would never enumerate about 195. The importance of a temple is judged , not by its age or architecture, but by its reputed sanctity. A deserted temple is considered of no value. Again some remains mentioned in the Gazettecr, have been overlooked by those preparing these more recent lists. The taluks, nads and villages are given alphabetically; and the distances of places marked on the ordnance map in straight lines. The various classes of remains which exist in Coorg are described in the Gazettecr (pp.297-306) and may be briefly referred to.

Pre-historic sepulchral remains are numerous. Their structure and contents are similar to others found over widely distributed tracts of Southern India. Their names also are similar; they are known as Pandu-pare, pare Kallu, Pandava parekallu (stones of the Pandavas, evidently dolmens or stone circles0 and Pandavaramane (houses of the Pandavas, seemingly kistvaens). Sometimes the kistvaens are divided into two chambers and are situated singly or in groups. The relics usually found are peculiarly shaped pottery, containing earth, bones, iron spears and beads. Carved and inscribed stones.-These are of several kinds, of which the following are the principal:- (1) Kolle kallu or virakallu are the tombs of warriors slain in battle. The lists would show them to be most numerous near the Kadangas or ancient earthen fortifications. They are large slabs of granite with the front side divided into three sculptured compartments, as are those so numerously found in certain parts of the Huvinahadgalli taluk of the Bellary District. The lowest compartment represents the battle; the middle one shows the deceased being conveyed to heaven; and in the upper one, he is seated before a linga or other emblem. Similar, but more coarsely sculptured stones are erected in the north of Coorg at the present day.

(2) Masatikallu.- Stones erected to the memory of women who have committed sati.

(3) Nagakallu, inscribed stones-usually at the foot of trees, for serpent worship.

(4) Sasanakallu, inscribed stones.- Some are cut on large detached slabs of granite, others on the walls of temples. Among those in the present lists are some described as being in a language or character unknown to the village officials. Presumably these inscriptions are of ancient date.