Class 5 girl uncovers centuries-old hero stone in Belagavi Village

Pic: Laxmi Humbi along with hero stone and villagersBelagavi: A 11-year-old schoolgirl from Mallammana Belawadi village in Bailhongal taluk brought to light a centuries-old hero stone that villagers long worshipped as a local deity. The discovery drew the attention of historians and locals alike.The stone, found near the Hanuman temple in the village, was for decades worshipped by residents as an idol of Shani. However, Lakshmi Prakash Humbi, a Class 5 student, noticed unusual carvings on the stone and pointed them out to the elders, leading to the realisation that it was, in fact, a historical hero stone. According to locals, the imagery on the stone is closely associated with the legendary warrior queen Belawadi Mallamma, though historians hold differing views. The hero stone is divided into three panels. The first depicts a warrior fighting enemies to protect cattle. The second panel shows celestial nymphs escorting the fallen hero to Kailash with dance and musical instruments, symbolising his passage to the divine realm. The third panel portrays the hero attaining heaven, where a Shivalinga and Nandi are depicted, with two celestial beings worshipping the Shivalinga. Images of the sun and moon on either side symbolise the eternal remembrance of the hero's sacrifice. Lakshmi said she became curious after noticing the carvings while visiting the temple. "I often heard stories about Veera Rani Belawadi Mallamma, who fought bravely to rescue cattle allegedly taken away during conflicts involving the forces of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. When I looked closely at the stone near the temple recently, I noticed carvings of a warrior protecting cows and told my father," she said. Initially, her father assumed it was merely a Shani idol. However, after Lakshmi repeatedly pointed out the carved scenes, elders of the village examined the stone and realised it was a historical memorial rather than an idol. Temple priest Balamma Poojeri said villagers offered prayers to the stone for years without recognising its historical significance. "Lakshmi's keen observation helped us understand that the stone had an important historical background," she said. Lakshmi's father explained that the stone originally stood near the old Hanuman temple. When the temple was rebuilt, it was shifted outside and remained there largely unnoticed until Lakshmi drew attention to it. Following her observation, villagers cleaned the stone and began discussing the need for further study. Local historian Prof Mahantesh Uppin described the discovery as significant, noting that the carvings appear to depict a warrior defending cattle — a theme often associated with regional legends. Former GP president Chandrakant Karimani said experts are being consulted to verify whether the stone depicts a scene related to Belawadi Mallamma's battles with the Marathas. "Our elders decided to conduct further study. If such stones found in the region are collected and preserved in a museum, it will greatly aid research on Mallamma's history," he said. Historians and epigraphists from Dharwad, including researcher Balappa Irappa Chinagudi, believe the sculpture may be a ‘Turugol Veeragallu' — a hero stone commemorating someone who died protecting cattle. Such memorial stones typically feature 3 panels depicting a battle, the hero's death, and his symbolic ascent to heaven. Chinagudi, however, suggested that stylistically the stone could date back to the 12th or 13th century, indicating that it may predate the era associated with the legend of Belawadi Mallamma. The find nevertheless highlighted the need to identify and preserve historical artefacts scattered across rural areas.