BELGAUM: Noted research scholar and former vice-chancellor of Kannada University Dr M M Kalburgi has challenged the opinion of archaeological experts on the ‘Annigeri skulls’ that the large number of skulls found at Annigeri stood testimony to the natural calamities like famines that occurred enturies ago.Dr Kalburgi, who spoke with Express on Saturday, said these skulls belonged to Veera Maheshwara bhagtas (devotees) who have sacrificed their heads in front of an idol of Veera Bhadra Devaru, which was believed to be immensely powerful.Dr Kalburgi asked if the reason behind these skulls were natural calamities, then why skulls were not found in other parts of the Deccan Plateau in large numbers. He said these skulls were arranged in a row on a platform which showed that there was some religious background to it.If people died due to famine or drought, the bodies could not be buried in a row and in a particular ‘Chowk’, he said, adding that a famine or drought could not cut people’s heads.Kalburgi said the carbon in the skulls dated back to the 13th century as proved by Bhubaneswar Laboratory. An ancient stone inscription (Sheela Shashan) dating back to 1184 AD was found at Purad Veerbhadra Devalaya at Annigeri, which described that Veera Maheshwara devotees led by Veera Goggideva were living in the area and they had destroyed several Jain basadis and established Shivalingas there.Those Veera Maheshwaras destroyed several basadis located at Abbaluru (Haveri), Ingalgi (Gulbarga) and Kudutini (Bellary). They destroyed several places of worship of other religions at Pariyallige, Unakallu and Analewad villages and established Shivalingas there. This incident was recorded in Talikotisashana, Dr Kalburgi said. He gave examples from ‘Kovur Bommayyan Ragale’ written by poet Harihar, in which, he said, about 300 Veera Maheshwara’s sacrificed their heads in front of Shivalingas.Kalburgi said Veera Maheshwaras were assigned on a particular mission (destroying temples which were not of Lord Shiva) and after completing their mission, they were to sacrifice themselves in front of Shiva temple or Veerabhadra temple.After the sacrifice, others would collect the heads of these devotees and keep them on a chowk and a samadhi was constructed on them, which was later worshipped by other bhagtas. Dr Kalburgi said the skulls found at Annigeri were a proof of a mass sacrifice of about 600 Maheshwara devotees.He said the archaeologists should study the cultural, social and religious practices of the Veera Maheshwara cult, which was prevalent in and around Annigeri.
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