Idol is of mythical unicorn'

Udupi, June 19: T. Murgeshi, lecturer in the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology at MSRS College, Shirva, and folklore expert S.A. Krishnayya on Saturday reiterated their stand about an idol of mythical unicorn found by them at Kalya near Nitte in Karkala taluk of Udupi district. Both Mr. Murgeshi and Mr. Krishnayya had on June 13 said that the unicorn idol was a combination of elephant, bull, and horse. The right forelimb of the idol was designed like an elephant leg. The right hind limb looked like a bull's leg. The idol had a horse face and that it looked like a horse at a first glance, but on a closer examination it was a composition of different animals, they had said.

But this was challenged on June 15 by the artist Purushotham Adve who said the idol was that of a horse only and not a composition of different animals. He questioned the claim that the idol “is the only one of its kind found in the country so far” and demanded to know the basis for such a statement and archaeological proof for it.

Mr. Murugeshi and Mr. Krishnayya told presspersons here on Saturday that they had sent the photographs of the idol to the former Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History and Epigraphy, Karnataka University, Dharwad, A. Sundara after Mr. Adve challenged their contention. Prof. Sundara said he would have to do a comparative study of both the claims before coming to any conclusion. “I will have to study Indian Art right from 1st Century B.C. Combination of birds or animals are common in Indian Art. It will take at least two days for me to come to any conclusion,” he said.