Udupi: Perduru is a small village in the Udupi taluk of the Udupi district in Karnataka. It is a great abode of Anantapadmanabha who was a very famous god in the Bhagavata cult in the west coast of India. Here in this temple very recently a metallic doorframe of Vijayanagar period having the sculptures of ten incarnation (Dasavatara) of Lord Vishnu was discovered says Prof. T. Murugeshi a retired Associate Professor in Anceint History and Archaeology and Founder Trustee of Adima Kala Trust (R.), Udupi, in his press release here today.
The doorframe is about 4.5 feet in height and 3.5 feet in width. At the centre the Gajalakshmi is seated along with two elephants. From the bottom of the right side of the doorframe the Hanuman was depicted standing in salute pose and on his above a mythical animal vyali, above on the Mathsya the first incarnation of Lord Vishnu as Fish. Next is Kurma as turtle, Varaha as pig, and Vamana. At the centre Gajalakshmi shown seated on a high platform in Abhaya and Varada mudra. The two elephants are on either side showering the sacred water on her and the Sun and Moon Shown above the elephants. Next is shown Parashurama, who is followed by Rama. After Rama, cheese holding Kalingamardhana Krishna is depicted. He is followed by Buddha standing in naked form and lastly the Kalki. After the ten incarnations the Garuda is shown standing in salute pose.
Historical Importance:
An epigraph located in the inner enclose of the temple belongs to the reign of Krishnadevaraya an emperor of Vijayanagar. He was lavishly donated to the temple and appointed an officer Surappayya to look after the administration of the temple in 1519 A.D. It was during of his tenure the whole temples was renovated in stone and suppose to be this dasavatara doorframe also done.
The emperor Krishnadevaraya was conducted the successful expeditions on the Gajapati’s of Orissa and brought the cheese ball Krishna as his war trophy to the capital. He built a magnificent temple for Krishna in capital Hampi and cheese ball Krishna worship become widespread in the empire. In the above said doorframe also cheese ball Krishna is shown as eighth incarnation support our view that it was the creation of Vijayanagar period. Standing Buddha in necked form is also quite interesting. Similar sculpture is found on Vidyashankara temple, Sringeri. The sculptural styles also are in Vijayanagar style. I am thankful to Sri Pramod Rai Palaje, the president, administrator Sri Gururaj and all Trustees and team of Archakas of the temple for their support in this research.
I am also thankful to research team members of Adima Kala Trust (R.), Udupi, Shreyas Kolpe, Shreyas Bantakal, Gowtham Belman, Ravindra Kushwa, Shirva, Dhanush and Keerthan Udupi for their cooperation.