Ancient Backdrop of Tulunadu
Several places of the district have come to light, as they are
referred to, in the folk and mythological literary sources, popularly
known as local legends. The Poet Laureate of the Nation M. Govinda Pai,
who belongs to the west coast, had attempted to identify the origin of
the west coast and informs about the reference to 'Tulunadu' and
'Mudagara' or 'Mogera' in the Vishnuparva of
Harivamsa, written during third century A.D.
By Govinda
Pai himself, the west coast area, starting from North Kannada district
to Kanyakumari, was inhabited by an exotic people called Nagas, who
were primarily the serpent worshippers (Nagaradhane). These serpent
worshippers consider themselves as immigrants from Nagarkhand area and
belonged to Sankha-kula. Several Sanskrit poems refer to Jimuthavahana
has also some evidences relating to Sankha-Kula, support this contention
Nagamandala mode of serpent worship, which is being observed in
Dakshina Kannada. Dr. B.A. Saletore had clearly stated that 'nitrius'
referred to by Pliny is River Nethravathi; and 'Baras' named by Pliny
clearly tallies with Basaruru in Dakshina
Kannada. Yet another Geographer Ptolemy(A.D.150) has referred to certain
places on the coast of Tulunadu. He has stated that a place called
'Mooganur' is located at the junction of the river called 'Barios'.
This Mooganur is believed to be the present day Mangalore.
Pre-historic Period
Pre-historic remains, found in the undivided Dakshina Kannada
district, have brought to light several curious facts. Pre-historic
sites belonging to various cultural stages have come to light in
different parts of the Deccan plateau in South India. Although they are
conspicuously absent in the coastal Dakshina Kannada district, yet in
Dakshina Kannada, North Kannada and Udupi, the three coastal districts
of Karnataka, archaeological remains have come to light. On the basis of
the Topographical studies, the coastal Karnataka is divided in to 1.
Coastal Area, 2. areas surrounded by hills and hillocks and 3. The
Western Ghats. This district has, the land mass naturally extending from
North to South, and the undulated area stretching east to west, from
the Arabian Sea to the Western Ghats. Geologist have divided the west
coast of Karnataka, on the basis of geography, into Cambrain, Dharwr
schists, Dolarite Senozic boulders and the lithic layers. Ribers,
originating from western ghats, on the eastern part of the district,
flows from east to west with their length approximating to less than
150-160 kms. Generally, Dakshina Kannada district experiences incessant
rains during North-east monsoon season ( recording on an average, the
highest rainfull of 3930mm), with very high humidity, and records very
high temperature during the summer season.
Courtesy by: Udupitourism.com
