‘KUDOPI ROCK ART
GALLERY’
PETROGLYPHS ON LATERITE SURFACE IN
COASTAL DISTRICT SINDHUDURG
IN MAHARASHTRA
BY
SATISH
LALIT
pashankala.blogspot.in
satishlalit@gmail.com
09422413800
==================================
Abstract: The southernmost and coastal Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra is a narrow, hilly strip of
land between the Sahyadris (Western
Ghats) and the Arabian Sea. Famous for its natural beauty, this district is
now on the map of Ancient Rock Art also. Recently, Petroglyphs on Laterite
surface in large numbers are found at Hiwale
and Kudopi villages in Malwan Tehsil. This treasure was for the
first time brought to light by the author. The Petroglyphs include human
figurines, fish, animals, spiral circle, ring and above all a 15 feet image of
Mother Goddess.
=======================================================
Here is good
news for rock art enthusiasts in India. The southernmost coastal district of Sindhudurg in Maharashtra is now on the map of rock art. A petroglyphs site is
found in this district in Kudopi village
in Malvan tehsil. The site consists
of nearly 30 petroglyphs carved on laterite surface which includes human
figurines, fish, animals, spiral circle, ring and above all a 15 feet image resembles
to Mother Goddess.
Location:Sindhudurg
district
is situated between Latitudes 15.37 and 16.40 North, and longitudes 73.19 and
74.18 East. It is boarded by the Arabian Sea on the West and Sahyadri hill ranges to the East with a
total area of 5,207sq.km.Sindhudurg
is in the Konkan area of Maharashtra having picturesque stretch
of land on the west cost of India, endowed with the beautiful seashore,
picturesque Mountains and scenic natural beauty and known for tropical fruit
like the world famous Alphonso mangoes, cashews etc.
The Rock Art site
is at Kudopi village which lies
between west coast and SahyadriMountains.
The coast of Arabian Sea is approx. 12 KMs. The location is at 16°15”50.00 N
and 73°30”44.00 E at an altitude of 280 ft. from MSL (Mean Sea Level). It can
be approached by Mumbai-Goa National Highway (NH 17), Konkan Railway and the
nearest airport is Bambolim, Goa. Nearest
city is Kanakawali (30 KMs) on NH 17.
After reaching Kanakawali you have to
turn westwards on Achara road, then
take right turn atChindarvillage,
from here Kudopi is 6 KMs. Kanakawali is an important station on
Konkan Railway.
Climate: The climate of this place is mainly
humid. Min. temp. is 16.3 Celsius and
max. temp. is 33.8 Celsius. Sindhudurg witnesses rain for full four months
June, July, August and Septemberand averagerainfall is 3,287mm.Most of the
district area covered by dense rain forest, Amboli
hill station area is most suitable habitat for wild animals like leopard, wild
cats, rabbits, wild hen and sometimes wild buffalo also appears in winter
season. Wild buffalos come down from Radhanagri
forest (Kolhapur District) for search
of food and water. Recently Elephants are also making entry into Sindhudurg District from Karnataka state through Khanapur jungle. This is the first time,
elephants finding habitation in Maharashtra
state.
Rock
Art on West Coast of India:
Along with West
Coast of India there are many known and unknown Rock Art Sites. The only famous
site is in South Goa at Usgalimal,
also called Panasaimol,near Sanguem.This
site of a prehistoric riverside nomadic fishing camp of the people of “Kushavati culture” at Panasaimol, Sanguem was discovered and
reported in 1993. Kushavati is the
name of the river, which flows near the site. More than 125 forms were found
scattered in the area.
The Second site is Virdi, on Maharashtra-Goa border. At Virdi we can see some animals carved on a wall like huge basalt
stone. Here we can see a pig, a giraffe like animal locally called Zebu, and a couple of humped bulls.
Unfortunately this huge stone is destroyed five years ago while constructing a
dam. Luckily, I have photographed it earlier. The third site is at Hiwale in Sindhudurg. Here we can see human figures, birds, fish and circles.
The count is around ten. Another site is at Niwali
in Ratnagiri district. Here we can see
a complicated map. There are also some sites like Khudi (Malvan), Malapwadi, Mervi (Nivali), Upale,Khanawali (Rajapur),
Palshet (Guhagar) on the west coast. We can see a lineage between all these
sites.
Kudopi’s
“Hill of the Dolls”:
The Kudopisite in Sindhudurg district, which I had brought into light for the first time,where
we can see more than 30 petroglyphs on a huge laterite plateau.Kudopi is a small village in Malvan tehsil of Sindhudurg district. The site is situated on top of a hill locally
known as “Bawlyanche temb”(in Marathi) means ‘the hill of dolls’. A
river flows below the hill and there is small settlement of locals. The site is
secluded and the petroglyphs are carved on laterite surface. The coast is about
25 km away to the west. These petroglyphs can be dated back to the pre-historic
Neolithic period. The site contains more than 30 petroglyphs spread over the
area of approx. half acre and some of them being as large as 20X15 feet in dimensions.
The drawings consist of human figurines, circles and other symbolic abstract
designs.
Human
Figurines: On
Kudopi plateau there are two human figurines. The first one is 3X4 feet in size
and has a frame around it. The other human figure is of the size of 5X3 feet.
Circles: There are five types of circles found
here. One is spiral and has a diameter of 40 inches. Other one is 30
inches diameter and it is abraded, except at center. Third circle is like a
ring and has diameter of 40 inches. The fourth circle found here is made by
digging 4 inches deep. The diameter is 8 inches. The last one is oblong and
inside it has two round mounds.
Fish:
There
is a pair of fish artistically carved; even the artist has shown the water body
also. The fish are swimming in a row, one behind the other. Their fins are
beautifully carved. The length of the fish is 10
inches. Interestingly, they are moving towards the west, which is incidentally
seaside. There is one more image of fish, a big one, around 3 feet in length.
The species shown here is different than the earlier pair.
Mother Goddess
(?): This is the
most amazing and interesting image of Mother Goddess (?). Here we can see, not
so proportionate, image of Mother Goddess holding her baby in both hands
.Mother Godess (?)
The ‘V’ carved
on her body indicates her femininity. The primitive communities were
predominantly female dominated and the tribes were mostly headed by women. In
that era women were accorded a high status, were revered and worshipped by
human tribes. The concept of Mother Goddess is common worldwide.
Geometrical Images: At Kudopi there are some abstract and geometrical images, which are very
difficult to decipher. One such huge geometrical image is of a freehand style.This image is
artistically carved. It looks like this image is of some religious importance
or may be used for practicing shamanism.
Geometrical
carvings in freehand style
It looks like that these pre-historic
people were practicing shamanism in whatever form and they made these abstract
images as part of their rituals. It may be noted that Shamanism is still
practiced in some part of Sindhudurg district and People here believe in ghosts
and spirits.
Shamanism: Shamanism dates
back to some 10,000 years and is the first spiritual practice known to the
world. It was used as a problem-solving technique if it is understood and
translated into modern times.The word "shaman" originates from the
Tungusic language of Siberia. The word "shaman" refers to a person
who makes journeys to non-ordinary reality in an altered state of
consciousness. Although the term is from Siberia, the practice of shamanism
existed on all inhabited continents.
Shamanism was, and is still practiced, by
people around the globe. Shamanism existed before religions and as the
well-known anthropologist, Dr. Michael Harner, mentioned, the main elements of
this ancient technique have very similar structures around the globe. *(Ref:
2)
Recently, some more sites are explored by amateurs at Khudi, Girye
in Sindhudurg and at Upale, Khanawali, Mervi, Malapwadi (Niwali) in Ratnagiri
district.
Conclusion:To conclude, the lineage
between known rock art sites along the west coast suggests that the
pre-historic tribes who dwelled in this coastal area must have travelled across
the coastal corridor. And while moving or migrating they have left behind their
footprints in the form of rock art. To preserve it is everybody's duty.
000000000000
References:
*(Ref.:
1)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamanism
*(Ref: 2)
http://www.shamanism.org/articles/article01.html
