At the ancient Adoor Mahalingeswara temple in Kasaragod district, every visit offers a journey into history. Alongside its deity, centuries-old inscriptions, and unique architecture, two old cannons preserved in the temple courtyard stand as a silent reminder of a turbulent past, adding another layer to the temple’s rich historical legacy.

The temple, located in Delampady Gram Panchayat, is already renowned for its 10th-century origins, its three-tiered Gajaprishta (elephant-back) style architecture, the famous Adoor inscription, an intricately carved Balikkal (sacrificial stone), and the Sathyakallu (oath stone). The presence of the historically significant cannons has further enhanced the site’s archaeological importance.

The cannons drew scholarly attention when Nandakumar Koroth, Head of the Department of History at Nehru Arts and Science College, Kanhangad, visited the temple to study the Adoor inscription.

According Dr. Koroth, both are made of an alloy that may date to the 18th century or even earlier. One cannon measures 96 centimetre in length, including its handle for directional movement, while the second is 90 centimetre long. Each has side trunnions designed for mounting on wheeled carriages, while a small opening on the top was used for loading gunpowder.

“The comparatively small size of the cannons suggests that they were probably mounted on wheels and used as mobile field artillery during military campaigns,” Dr. Koroth said.

He noted that the cannons bear no visible foreign insignia, manufacturer’s mark, or date of production. The absence of European markings indicates they may have been locally manufactured and probably predate British rule in South Canara, which was established around 1800, he said.

The origin of the cannons, however, remain a mystery. No inscription or historical record directly links them to any ruler or military campaign.

Temple renovation committee volunteer Balakrishnan Adoor said local tradition associates the cannons with the military expedition of Tipu Sultan in the late 18th century.

“According to oral tradition, Tipu Sultan reached the temple during one of his campaigns against local rulers. He is believed to have intended to plunder the temple after defeating a regional chieftain and expanding his kingdom,” Mr. Balakrishnan said.

There are no written records to authenticate the legend or establish that the cannons belonged to Tipu Sultan. They are believed to have been abandoned here during that period, but there is no evidence to prove it, he said.

Mr. Balakrishnan said the heavy cannons were originally found elsewhere within the temple compound and were later shifted to their present location for protection. Local residents also recall that large iron balls, believed to be cannonballs, were unearthed during excavation works around the nearby temple and school premises several years ago.

Kannada scholar and historian N. Radhakrishna, who has studied the temple’s inscriptions, said the temple’s epigraphs document donations made by rulers of the Kumbla dynasty, including Kattillamma and King Gunyappa Rasa, particularly to the temple’s sacrificial stones.

“The inscriptions are well documented, but there is no inscription or historical record explaining how the cannons reached the temple. We only know that they are old,” he said.

Mr. Radhakrishna said the temple itself dates back to the 10th century, while some inscriptions belong to the 17th or 18th century, probably marking later renovations.

“There is no documentary evidence linking these cannons to Tipu Sultan or any particular battle. Similar traditions exist in other temples, but historical proof is absent,” he said.

Published - August 08, 2026 11:41 am IST