The District Museum at Raichur is one of the best museums maintained by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums with a good collection of sculptures. The temples and sculptures of this region attracted the attention of scholars since more than hundred years ago. Recent publication of the directorate on the temples of Raichur and Bellary Districts authored by Dr. Channabasappa S. Patil has already been placed before the scholars. The present work is mainly concentrated on the study of sculptures exhibited in the Raichur museum, collected from various places in the Raichur district. This book it hoped would benefit research students and scholars.
Dr. D.V. Devaraj, the present Director of Archaeology and Museums has not only kindly agreed to publish it but has given constant support and encouragement. Hence I am highly grateful to him. I gratefully acknowledge the suggestion made by Late Dr. B.R. Gopal, Professor of history (Rtd.), Krishnadevaraya University, Anantpur, Dr. A. Sundara and to Dr. A.V. Narasimha Murthy, Dr. K.V. Ramesh, Dr. H.R. Raghunath Bhat for all their active support in completing this task of academic interest. Shri. M.L. Shivashankara, Additional Director of Archaeology and Museums has taken interest in bringing out this publication. I am thankful to all of them.
Shri. S.M. Powar is the first Curator of this Raichur museum. As a curator he strove hard to develop this museum. During the period of my stay at Raichur Shri. S.M. Powar has given full co-operation in completing this work. Shri. G.B. Hoogar, Photographer of Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Mysore, has prepared the prints of the photographs. Shri. C. Kuppachari, former artist cum photographer of the Directorate has prepared the sketches and drawings, Shri. Shrinivasamurthy of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Hampi, has typed this manuscripts neatly. Shri. Balasubramanya, Reader in Archaeology, Kannada University, Hampi has given the suggestions in respect of Watgal excavations. Shri. K. Shankar, Zilla Panchayat Office, Raichur, has given co-operation by providing the library facilities. Shri. Sharadaprasad, Department of Kannada, University of Mysore, has also helped me in bringing out this publication. In the same way I cannot forget the co-operation and suggestions given by Shri. Sheshanarayana, Assistant Curator of the Directorate. My grateful thanks are due to all of them.
Museums are not only essential to save and store our art treasures but also useful for the scientific research, education, conservation and enjoyment. The museum at Raichur is devoted to the regional history covering the cultural, sociological and historical aspects of Raichur district. It is serving the most useful purpose of educating the people.
Pre-historic and early historic antiquities, sculptures and paintings are the most important sections in the Raichur museum. A well planned study giving a scientific approach was a long felt need and now Dr. K.G. Bhatsoori of the Department of Epigraphy, Kannada University, Hampi has studied meticulously the objects in the museum. This publication is mainly restricted to the study of sculptures in the museum. The sculptures in the museum are of great interest to both scholars and laymen.
The Directorate has a plan of publishing the catalogues of all the museums. This publication is the second attempt in this direction written by Dr. K.G. Bhatsoori. The Directorate feels very happy to bring out this book by Dr. K.G. Bhatsoori, who has evinced keen interest and put in his efforts in collecting the relevant data. I wish him more success.
I am beholden to Dr. V. Prakash, Director, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, for taking up the printing work in their press. Shri. K.A. Ranganath, Head and Shri. S. Umesh, Technical Officer with the assistance of Sriyuts G. Venkateshan and C.N. Janardhana of FOSTIS of CFTRI have executed the printing of this publication with promptness and neatness. We are immensely are thankful to them.
Museums preserve the rare distinction of housing the documents of the human achievements of the past. The Museums are undoubtedly the places where our Art treasures and heritage are saved and stored. This enables the people to see and appreciate our rich art heritage. Museurn objects through research and exhibition not only throw light on the relics of the past but also make them alive and link them with the present, so that the future generations can make use of the vast experience and knowledge of the past to shape a better future for themselves (Leela Nair, 1979, p. 19).
Undoubtedly the development of Museums in our country in general and Karnataka in particular has been rather poor. Our Museums are still referred as storehouses. It was the desire of the government to have a building of its own to commensurate with the wealth of the Museum. The Art and Archaeological Museum in Raichur is still in a rented building, located in the Goal market area, near the St. Mary's Convent School. This was established on the eighteenth August, 1978.
Display Technique: The collection of this Museum is mainly confined to the Art and Archaeology of this region. The main object of the Museum is to collect, preserve and exhibit. It represents the changing pattern of public reorientation and communication approach as against the object-oriented traditional functions of Museums (Bhatsoori K.G., 1995, P.2). The Art and Archaeological remains including pre-historic antiquities, coins, paintings and sculptures are displayed. The sculptures are displayed in the Museum in a chronological as well as sectarian order.
Hindu (935)
Agriculture (118)
Ancient (1085)
Archaeology (754)
Architecture (563)
Art & Culture (910)
Biography (702)
Buddhist (544)
Cookery (167)
Emperor & Queen (565)
Islam (242)
Jainism (307)
Literary (896)
Mahatma Gandhi (372)
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