RESEARCH PAPER ON
‘KUDOPI ROCK ART GALLERY’
AN EVIDENCE OF PREHISTORIC SHAMANISTIC PRACTICE?
PETROGLYPHS ON LATERITE SURFACE IN
IN MAHARASHTRA
BY
SATISH LALIT, MUMBAI
An Amateur Rock Art Lover,
Life Member,
ROCK ART SOCIETY OF INDIA (RASI)
(Except Referred Sources and articles)
By Satish Lalit
Cell : 09422413800.
satishlalit@gmail.com
(Please note, this paper is prepared by an amateur rock art
lover and not by a professional archaeologist. The aim of this paper is to
present Kudopi site to rock art lovers and archaeologists and make awareness
among people about our heritage.)
(This paper was presented at the 17th Congress of RASI at
Badami, Karnataka on 16, 17 & 18th Nov. 2012 with help of a PowerPoint
presentation.)
====================================================================
KUDOPI ROCK ART GALLERY
PETROGLYPHS ON LATERITE SURFACE
IN COASTAL DISTRICT SINDHUDURG
IN MAHARASHTRA
Satish Lalit
Abstract:
A petroglyph site on
laterite has been discovered in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra by the
author in 2012. Sindhudurg, the southernmost and coastal district in
Maharashtra, is a narrow, hilly strip of land between the Sahyadris (Western
Ghats) and the Arabian Sea. Nearly 50 petroglyphs, deeply carved on Laterite
surface are found at Hiwale and Kudopi villages in Malwan Tehsil. The figures
include human, fish, animals, spiral circle, ring and above all a 15 feet image
of Mother Goddess. It is the first discovery of its kind on laterite surface in
Maharashtra. These Petroglyphs may be dated back to Neolithic age. Some the
images found here may be an evidence of pre-historic shamanism. Interestingly,
in the present era also shamanism is practiced at some places in this district.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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 50 petroglyphs carved on laterite surface which includes human
figurines, fish, animals, spiral circle, ring and above all a 15 feet image of
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 bordered by the Arabian Sea on the West and Sahyadri hill
ranges to the East with a total area of 5,207 Sq.KMs. 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 Site: The
Rock Art site is at Kudopi village which lies between west coast and Sahyadri
Mountains. 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 at
Chindar village, 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 September and
average rainfall 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.
Kudopi’s “Hill of the Dolls”:
The Kudopi site in Sindhudurg
district, which I had brought into light for the first time, where we can see
more than 50 petroglyphs on a huge laterite plateau. Kudopi is a small village
in Malvan tehsil of Sindhudurg district. (Fig. 3 Map) 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 12 km away to the west. These petroglyphs can be
dated back to the pre-historic Neolithic period. The site contains more than 50
forms of 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 geometrical 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 shown. 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. There is an interesting
figure of an animal from cat family (may be a tiger) with its long tail. Also
we can see a giant bird in takeoff position with spread wings.
Bird’s foot marks: Here we can see a pair of foot marks
of a bird, looks like a duck with three fingers, which are joined to each
other. This figure is made pecking out the stone. The size is approx. 3X3 feet.
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. 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.
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: wikipedia)
Is shamanism a religion? The practice of shamanism is a
method, not a religion. It coexists with established religions in many
cultures. It's true that shamans are often in animistic cultures. Animism means
that people believe there are spirits. So in shamanic cultures, where shamans
interact with spirits to get results such as healing, it's no surprise that
people believe there are spirits. But the shamans don't believe in spirits.
Shamans talk with them, interact with them. They no more "believe"
there are spirits than they "believe" they have a house to live in,
or have a family. This is a very important issue because shamanism is not a
system of faith. (Ref: wikipedia)
Rock art sites on the western coast
The western coast of India has a
vast stretch of laterite deposit. It has the credit of having petroglyphs
engraved on its surface, so far a unique feature in the world. The famous
petroglyph site is in South Goa at Usgalimal, also called Panasaimol, near
Sanguem on Kushavati river.
The Second one is Virdi, on Maharashtra-Goa
border. Here a pig, a giraffe like animal locally called Zebu, and a couple of
humped bulls were found carved on a wall like huge basalt boulder.
Unfortunately this huge boulder is destroyed two years ago while constructing a
dam. Luckily, I have photographed it earlier. The third one is at Hiwale in
Sindhudurg. Here we can see nearly ten figures.
There
are some more such petroglyph sites on laterite surface on the western coast
such as Niwali, Khanawali (Rajapur) and
Palshet (Guhagar) in Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra. A complicated map (?)
like figure has been found at Niwali. There must be some form of lineage
between all these sites.
Conclusion:
The rock art site in Sindhudurg district is the first discovery of its kind
on laterite surface in southern coastal Maharashtra. In terms of forms,
technique and antiquity of the figures the Sindhudurg rock art site is in
continuity of the already known rock art sites on laterite in the coastal Goa.
It suggests that the pre-historic tribes dwelling 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.
+Mother+Goddess.JPG)
+Human+Figure.JPG)
+Human+Figure.JPG)
