Begur (Bengaluru) Inscriptions and Herostones
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Begur is one of the oldest localities in Bengaluru, the inscriptional evidence and heritage monuments of the place is testimony to its inhabitation at least since the 10th Century CE. It is home to Bengaluru's oldest temple, the Panchalingeshvara temple, a temple constructed during the period of rule of the Western Gangas also houses most of the inscriptions and herostones that are documented in Begur. One of the most notable inscription here is the Begur 900CE Pervvonashetti & Buttanapati's Herostone With Inscription which records the name "Bengulooru" verbatim, the first written record of the name "Bengaluru".[1][2][3] The strong presence of Jainism in the region can also be attested by the evidence of Jaina Sculptures and in the documentation of three inscriptions, the Begur 900CE Tondabbe Sanyasana Inscription which records Tondabbe, the daughter of a Ganga chieftain Nagatara who died by the ritual of Sanyasana, a Jaina ritual of voluntary death,[4][3] Begur 1426CE Chokkinaya Jinalaya Inscription which records a donation to the Basadi,[5][6] Begur 950CE Paramanandi Bhataraka inscription, content not known due to published incomplete reading of the text[7][8] are documented in Epigraphia Carnatica, of which only one is physically present and the status of the other two are not known.[9] Of others, an Ooralivu herostone inscription which records the courageous death of a man who died defending his village, an inscription recording the construction of the Somanatha temple in Bempur by Nagatara were documented and published and several other herostones without inscriptions and lay Jaina and other sculptures have been found and documented in Begur. Nagatara was a very important chieftain under the Western Gangas who administered the region from his seat in Begur, he was responsible for the construction of the Nageshwara temple, the oldest extant structure of the temple complex in Begur and is documented in over 15 inscriptions not only in Begur but also other parts of Bengaluru.
Discovery and Dating
[edit]The inscriptions that were found in Begur have been mostly documented and published in Volume 9 of Epigraphia Carnatica, a compendium of inscriptions in Karnataka by B.L Rice, all the inscriptions have been paleographically dated to c. 900CE as there is no mention of dates in the inscriptions, all the inscriptions and herostones were 3D scanned and archived by the Mythic Society's 'Bengaluru Inscriptions 3D Digital Conservation Project'.
Begur 900 CE Nagatara's Somanatha Temple Construction Inscription
[edit]This Kannada inscription records the construction of the Somanatha temple in Bempur (presently Begur) by Nagatara, a western ganga chief of the 10th century CE. Somanatha temple, now known as the Nageshwavara temple, stands within the Begur Panchalingeshvara temple complex. This complex is also home to several other temples, including the Nagareshwara, Choleshvara, Kalikamba, Karneshwara, Parvati, Kali-Kammateshwara and Suryanarayana temples.[10] These other temples were constructed after the Somanatha temple. According to the inscription, Nagatara, who served as the chieftain of Begur (called Bempur in the inscription) during the 10th century CE built the temple as a commemoration of his triumph over Beeravarma. As a gesture of devotion, he entrusted the temple to a revered Divyasakti Bhatta by performing a ceremonial foot-washing (kālaṃkaḻci) ritual and granting him authority over the temple, the inscription mentions that Nagatara made donations to the temple in the form of tax revenues and lands which are mentioned as Khandugas, a unit of measurement for area. The specific details of the grant is illegible. It contains various warnings regarding the violation of the grant, along with incentives to safeguard it. This inscription is present in the precincts of the Panchalingeshwara temple complex.[11]
Physical Characteristics
[edit]The inscription is 93 cm tall and 95 cm wide, the Kannada characters are 3 cm tall, 4 cm wide and 0.27 cm deep. This inscription was identified during field surveys based and published by historian Dr. Devarakonda Reddy in Itihasa Darshana Vol 3, a journal published by the Karnataka Itihasa Academy, Bengaluru.[12]
Transliterations of the text
[edit]The transliterations has been published by the Epigraphia Carnatica, the text below is the recent rereading of the inscription published by Mythic Society.
| Line
Number |
Kannada | IAST |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ಄ ಸ್ವಸ್ತಿ ಸಮರ ಜಳಧಿ ಮಥನ . . . . . . . . . . | ಄ svasti samara jal̤a̤dhi mathana . . . . . . . . . . |
| 2 | ಭುವನ ಕೊಳ್ಗಣ್ಡಂ ಶ್ರೋಣೀತಪುರವರೇಶ್ವರ . . . . . . . ಶ್ವರ . | bhuvana kŏl̤ga̤ ṇḍaṃ śroṇītapuravareśvara . . . . . . . śvara |
| 3 | ಪಗಾತ್ಮಜಂ ಹರ ವೃಷಭ ಲಾಂಚನಂ ತ್ರಿಫ್ತಾತ್ಥಿಕಾಂಚನಂ ಬಲಿ | pagātmajaṃ hara vṛṣabha lāṃcanaṃ triphtātthi kāṃcanaṃ bali |
| 4 | ಷಣಂ ನನ್ನಿ ಪೆರ್ಬ್ಬಾಣಂ ಸಮರಪ್ರವೀಣ ಕಾಮಿನೀಕಾಮಂ ಮ . | ṣaṇaṃ nanni pĕrbbāṇaṃ samarapravīṇa kāminīkāmaṃ ma . . |
| 5 | ಸತ್ಯರಾಧೆಯಂ ಸಾಮನ್ತಸುನ್ದರಂ ಲೀಳಾಪುರನ್ದರಂ ಘಟೆಯ | satyarādhĕyaṃ sāmantasundaraṃ līl̤āpur ̤ andaraṃ ghaṭĕya |
| 6 | ಶ್ರೀಮತ್‌ ನಾಗತರಂ ಬೀರವರ್ಮನಂ ಸಾಧಿಸಿ ಬಲ್ಲವರಸ ರಟ್ಟ ಪ . . | śrīmat nāgataraṃ bīravarmmanaṃ sādhisi ballavarasa raṭṭa pa . . |
| 7 | .(ಬೆಂ)ಪೂರೊಳ್‌ ಸೋಮನಾತನ ದೇಗುಲಮಮ್ಮಾಡಿಸಿ ದಿವ್ಯಾಸಕ್ತಿ ಭ . | .(bĕṃ)pūrŏl̤ somanā ̤ tana degulamammāḍisi divyāsakti bha |
| 8 | . ಲ್ಲಾ ಕಾಲಕ್ಕಂ ತೆಱೆಯಾ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಕಾಲಂಕೞ್ಚಿ ಧಾರೆಯೆಱೆದು ಬ . . | llā kālakkaṃ tĕṟĕyā biṭṭu kālaṃkaḻci dhārĕyĕṟĕdu ba . |
| 9 | ಕ್ಕೆಞ್ಚಟ್ಟಗೆಯೂ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಕವಿಲನರೆಯದಾಯಮಂ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಪ | kkĕñcaṭṭagĕyū biṭṭu kavilanarĕyadāyamaṃ kŏṭṭu pa |
| 10 | . ತ್ತು ಖಣ್ಡುಗಂ ಮಣ್ನುಮಂ ಸರ್ವಭ್ಯನ್ತರ ಸಿದ್ಧಿಯಾಗಿರೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟನ್‌ . . | . ttu khaṇḍugaṃ maṇnumaṃ sarvabhyantara siddhiyāgirĕ kŏṭṭan . |
| 11 | ಸಿಯುಮನೞಿದೊಂ ಪಂಚಮಹಪಾತಕಂ ಄ ಸ್ವದತ್ತಂ ಪರದತ್ತಂ ವಾ . | siyumanaḻidŏṃ paṃcamahapātakaṃ ಄ svadattaṃ paradattaṃ vā . |
| 12 | ದಾನಂ ತ್ರಯಃ ಪತಕ ಯೋ ನರ || ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಸ್ವನ್ತುವಿಷಂ ಘೋರಾನಾದಿ | dānaṃ trayaḥ pataka yo nara || brahmasvantu viṣaṃ ghorānād |
| 13 | ಹನ್ತಿ ದೇವಸ್ವಂ ಪುತ್ರ ಪೌತ್ರಿಕಂ || ಈ ಶಾಸನಮಂ ಬಿೞ್ದೆಬಟ್ಟಗಿ ಕಡು | hanti devasvaṃ putra pautrikaṃ || ī śāsanamaṃ biḻdĕbaṭṭagi kaḍu |
| 14 | ದೆವುದುಈ ಕೊಡಂಗೆಯ್ವೋನುಣ್ಬಾತಂನೀ ದೇಗುಲಂಗಳಾ ಪಡಿಸಲಿ . | dĕvudu ī kŏḍaṃgĕyvonuṇbātaṃnī degulaṃgal̤ā̤ paḍisali . |
Begur 900 CE Nagatara's Herostone
[edit]One of the most ornate Herostones in Bengaluru, this herostone is paleographically dated to c. 900CE.[13] The hero-stone with a richly sculpted battle panel has a Kannada inscription written in the same language, this inscription records a battle at Tumbepadi, it may be today's Tumbadi in Tumkur district, between Aiyyapadeva and other feudatory rulers on one side and Biramahendra on the other side. The herostone commemorates Nagatara, a prominent Western Ganga chief of Begur, Nagatara was also one of the titles given to dedicated servants of the king who were willing to lay their lives for the King. The Nagatara rushed forward to fight on knowing that their side were going to lose and was killed by an elephant's pierce after which Ereyappa who ruled Gangavadi-96000 gave the title of Nagatara to Iruga and donated twelve villages of Bempuru. The names of these twelve villages are Bempuru (today's Begur), Tovaguru (today's Togur), Puvinapullimangala (Hulimangala), Kutanidunalluru, Nalluru, Komarangundu, Iggaluru, Dugmonelmalli, Galanjavagilu, Saraki (same name used today) Elkunte, Paravuru and Kudale (Kudlu). Gangavaadi-96000 was a very large administrative unit formed by the Western Gangas that included large parts of the old Mysuru region. This inscription has been documented in Epigraphia Carnatica Vol-9.[14] This herostone is currently housed in the Government Museum, Bengaluru.[15]
Physical Characteristics
[edit]The inscription is 208 cm tall and 200 cm wide, the Kannada Characters are approximately 5 cm tall, 4 cm wide and 0.26 cm deep(shallow depth).
Transliteration of the text
[edit]The transliterations has been published by the Epigraphia Carnatica the text below is the recent rereading of the inscription published by Mythic Society.[14]
| Line
Number |
Kannada | IAST |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ಸ್ವಸ್ತಿ ಸಮಸ್ತ ಭುವನ ವಿನೂತ ಗಙ್ಗಕುಳ ಗಗನ ನಿರ್ಮ್ಮಳ ತಾರಾಪತಿ ಜಳಧಿ ಜಳವಿಪುಳ ವಳಯಮೇಖಳ ಕಳಾಪಾಳಂ | svasti samasta bhuvana vinūta gaṅgakul̤a ̤ gagana nirmal̤a t ̤ ārāpati jal̤adhi jal̤a̤vipul̤a val̤a̤yamekhal̤a kal̤āpāl̤aṃ |
| 2 | ಕ್ರಿತ್ಯೈಳಾಧಿಪತ್ಯ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀಶ್ವಯಂ ವೃತಪತಿತಾಳ್ವಾದ್ಯಗಣಿತ ಗುಣ ಗಣ ವಿಭೂಷಣ ವಿಭೂಷಿತ ವಿಭೂತಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಮದೆಱೆಯಪ್ಪರಸರ್‌ | krityail̤ādhipa ̤ tya lakṣmīśvayaṃ vṛtapatitāl̤v̤ādyagaṇita guṇa gaṇa vibhūṣaṇa vibhūṣita vibhūti śrī madĕṟĕyapparasar |
| 3 | ಪಗೆವರೆಲ್ಲಮಂನ್ನಿಕ್ಷತ್ರಮ್ಮಾಡಿ ಗಙ್ಗವಾಡಿ ತೊಮ್ಭತ್ತಱುಸಾಸಿರಮುಮನೇಕ ಛತ್ರಚ್ಛಾಯೆಯೊಳಾಳುತ್ತಮಿೞ್ದು ಬೀರಮ | pagĕvarĕllamaṃnnikṣatrammāḍi gaṅgavāḍi tŏmbhattaṟusāsiramumaneka chatracchāyĕyŏl̤ā̤l̤utt̤ amiḻdu bīrama |
| 4 | ಹೇನ್ದ್ರನೊಳ್ಕಾದಲೆನ್ದು ಅಯ್ಯಪದೇವಙ್ಗೆಸಾಮನ್ತಸಹಿತಂ ನಾಗತ್ತರನಂ ದಣ್ಡುವೇೞ್ದೊಡೆ ತುಮ್ಬೆಪಾದಿಯೊಳ್ಕಾದಿ ಕಾಳೆಗ ಮಿಮ್ಬ | hendranŏl̤k̤ādalĕndu ayyapadevaṅgĕ sāmantasahitaṃ nāgattaranaṃ daṇḍuveḻdŏḍĕ tumbĕpādiyŏl̤k̤ādi kāl̤ĕg̤ a mimba |
| 5 | ೞಿದೊಡೆ ಆನೆಯೊಳಾನ್ತಿಱಿದು ಸತ್ತೊಡದಂ ಕೆಳ್ದೆಱೆಯಪಂ ಮೆಚ್ಚಿ ಇರುಗಙ್ಗೆ ನಾಗತ್ತರವಟ್ಟಂಗಟ್ಟಿ ಬೆಂಪೂರ್ಪ್ಪನ್ನೆರಡು | ḻidŏḍĕ ānĕyŏl̤ān̤ tiṟidu sattŏḍadaṃ kĕl̤dĕṟ ̤ ĕyapaṃ mĕcci irugaṅgĕ nāgattaravaṭṭaṃgaṭṭi bĕṃpūrppannĕraḍu |
| 6 | ಮಂ ಶಾಸನಬದ್ಧಂ ಕಲ್ನಾಡಿತ್ತನವಾವುವೆನ್ದೊಡೆ || ಬೆಂಪೂರು|| ತೊವಗೂರು ಪೂವಿನಪುಲ್ಲಿಮಙ್ಗಲ ಕೂತನಿಡುನಲ್ಲೂರು | maṃ śāsanabaddhaṃ kalnāḍittanavāvuvĕndŏḍĕ || bĕṃpūru|| tŏvagūru pūvinapullimaṅgala kūtaniḍunallūru |
| 7 | ನಲ್ಲೂರು | ಕೊಮ | nallūru | kŏma |
| 8 | ರಂಙ್ಗುನ್ದು || ಇ | raṅgundu || i |
| 9 | ಗ್ಗಲೂರು || ದು | ggalūru || du |
| 10 | ಗ್ಮೊನೆಲ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ | gmŏnĕlmalli |
| 11 | ಗೞಂಜವಾ | gaḻaṃjavā |
| 12 | ಗಿಲೂ | gilū |
| 13 | ಸಾಱಕಿ | sāṟaki |
| 14 | ಎೞ್ಕುಣ್ಟೆ ಪರವೂರು | ĕḻkuṇṭĕ paravūru |
| 15 | ಕೂಡಲೆ | ಇನಿತುಮ | kūḍalĕ | inituma |
| 16 | ಪೊಲಮೇರೆ ಸಹಿತ | pŏlamerĕ sahita |
| 17 | ಮಿತ್ತನೆಱೆಯಪಂ | mittanĕṟĕyapaṃ |
| 18 | ಶವುಚರನ್ನಾಗರಂ | śavucarannāgara |
| 19 | ಙ್ಗೆ ಮಙ್ಗಳ ಮಹಾಶ್ರೀ | ṅgĕ maṅgal̤a mahāśri |
Translation
[edit]The translation is published in the Epigraphia Carnatica Volume 9.[5] The text reads as follows,
"Be it well. When, a spotless moon in the sky the Ganga-kula praised in all the world, the self-chosen lord of the Lakshmi of sovereignty over the earth decorated at her waist with a zone of the wide circle of the waters of the ocean, his greatness adorned with the ornament of these and a host of countless virtues, Srimad Ereyaparasa, having made all his enemies powerless, was ruling the Gangavadi Ninety-six Thousand under the shadow of one umbrella, on ordering Nagatara along with his feudatories and the army to Ayyapa-Deva in order to fight against Bira Mahendra, fighting in tumbĕpādi when the battle was losing ground, going close up among the elephants, he slew and died.
Hearing that, Ereyapa was pleased, and binding the Nagattara crown on Iruga, gave him the Bempur Twelve, secured by a sasana, as a kalnāḍ. Those are as follows, bĕṃpūru, tŏvagūru, pūvinapullimaṅgala kūtaniḍunallūru, nallūru, kŏmaraṅgundu, iggalūru, dugmŏnĕlmalli, gaḻaṃjavā, gaḻaṃjavāgilu, sāṟaki, ĕḻkuṇṭĕ, paravūru, kūḍalĕ. Thus much, with the fields anp boundaries, did Ereyapa give for the dutilul Nagatara, maṅgal̤a mahāśri."
Begur 900 CE Pervvonashetti & Buttanapati's Herostone With Inscription
[edit]
One of the most significant inscription of not only Begur but also to the history of Bengaluru, this 10th century CE Kannada inscription has the mention of "Bengulooru", the first ever mention of Bengaluru, proving the antiquity of the city's name. This inscription was erected in memoiam the heroic death of Nagatara's sons, Pervvonashetti and Buttanapati, in the battle of "Bengulooru". The inscription mentions term "manĕvagati", refers to a hereditary servant who serves another's family and is used for Pervvonashetti while the term vagati is used for Buttanapati differentiating the adopted son from the biological son.[16] This inscription is published in Volume 9 of Epigraphia Carnatica.This inscription along with others was in a negligent condition in the precinct of the temple, in 2018 INTACH Bengaluru Chapter taking cognizance, installed a protective glass gazebo on the southern side of the temple. The historical significance of this inscription was commemorated during the Lalbagh Republic Day flower show in 2023.[17][1][2] This inscription is currently housed in the Panchalingeshwara temple complex.[18][19][11][20]
Physical Characteristics
[edit]The inscription is 125 cm tall and 68 cm wide, the Kannada Characters are 7.6 cm tall, 7.4 cm wide and 0.27 cm deep.
Transliteration of the text
[edit]The transliterations has been published by the Epigraphia Carnatica, the text below is the recent rereading of the inscription published by Mythic Society.[1]
| Line
Number |
Kannada | IAST |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ಶ್ರೀಮತ್‌ ನಾಗತ | śrīmat nāgata |
| 2 | ರನ ಮನೆವಗ | rana manĕvaga |
| 3 | ತಿಂ ಪೆರ್ವ್ವೊಣಶೆಟ್ಟಿ | tiṃ pĕrvvŏṇaśĕṭṭ |
| 4 | ಬೆಂಗುಳೂರ ಕಾಳೆ | bĕṃgul̤ūr̤ a kāl̤ĕ |
| 5 | ಗದೊ. ತಾ . ಳ್ನಾಗ | gadŏ. tā . l̤nāg ̤ a |
| 6 | ತರನ ಮಗಂ ಬುಟ್ಟಣ | tarana magaṃ buṭṭaṇa |
| 7 | ಪತಿ ಸತ್ತಂ | pati sattaṃ |
Begur 900 CE Tondabbe Sanyasana Inscription
[edit]
It is one of the very few inscriptions documented in Bengaluru which belongs to the Jaina religion, this Kannada inscription records that Tondabbe, a jaina woman and Nagatara's daughter Tondabbe died by the ritual of Sanyasana, a voluntary ritual leading themselves to death that is followed by Jains. In sanyasa-marana, the person first renounces their dwellings - homes in the case of householders or Sanghas in the case of monks and nuns. They then accomplish samādhi by freeing themselves from attachment to food and body.[21] It is paleographically dated to c. 900CE. The inscription starts with the symbol ಄ for siddham, which literally means "success has been attained" followed by the invocatory "bhadramastu jina sasanaya" meaning prosperity to the Jain doctrine. This inscription has been documented in the Epigraphia Carnatica.[4] It can presently be found inside the Begur fort.[22][23][24]
Physical Characteristics
[edit]The inscription is 148 cm tall and 38 cm wide, the Kannada characters are approximately 4 cm tall, 4.7 cm wide and 0.21 cm deep.
Transliteration of the text
[edit]The transliterations has been published by the Epigraphia Carnatica, the text below is the recent rereading of the inscription published by Mythic Society.
| Line
Number |
Kannada | IAST |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ಄ ಭದ್ರಮಸ್ತು ಜಿ | ಄ bhadramastu ji |
| 2 | ನ ಸಾಸನಾಯ ಶ್ರೀ | na sāsanāya śrī |
| 3 | ಮತ್ ನಾಗತರನ | mat nāgatarana |
| 4 | ಮಗಳ್ತೊಣ್ಡಬ್ಬೆ ಸ | magal̤tŏ̤ṇḍabbĕ sa |
| 5 | ನ್ಯಾಸನಂಗೆಯ್ದು | nyāsanaṃgĕydu |
| 6 | ಮುಡಿಪಿದಳ್ | muḍipidal̤ |
Translation
[edit]The translation of the text is published in Epigraphia Carnatica.[25] The text is as follows,
"Nagatara's daughter Tondabbe, ending her time in the manner appointed, died."
Begur 900CE Tondabbe's Husband's Herostone With Inscription
[edit]This is a Herostone with a sculpture depicting a typical self sacrifice showing a calmly seated male, with a large cut in the neck to indicate severing and another person standing alongside carrying a large heavy sword like device to chop of the head of the hero, it is also with a Kannada inscription in the Kannada script and language, it is dated to the c. 900CE paleographically and contains only a few concluding lines of an inscription, with the rest of the text missing due to damage, It commemorates the death of a heroic individual who self sacrificed himself after performing his duties, Combining the imagery on the hero stone and the text from the Epigraphia Carnatica Vol 9 reading, it can be inferred that the hero was Nagatara's daughter Tondabbe's husband. The violent portrayal of death of the man imply that he was not a Jain, whereas his wife Tondabbe adhered to the Jain faith. It can presently be found in the Panchalingeshwara temple complex.
Physical Characteristics
[edit]The inscription is 95 cm tall and 91 cm wide. The Kannada characters are approximately 4 cm tall, 3 cm wide and 0.24 cm deep (very shallow depth).
Transliteration of the text
[edit]The transliteration in both Kannada and IAST has been published in the Epigraphia Carnatica, however in Mythic Society's recent re-reading have only documented the last three lines in full as the inscription is damaged, the text in the table has been taken by both the Epigraphia Carnatica and Mythic Society's re-reading.[26][27]
| Line
Number |
Kannada | IAST |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ನಾಗತ್ತರನ | nāgattarana |
| 2 | ಮಗಳ್ಕೊ | magal̤k̤ŏ |
| 3 | ಣ್ಡಬ್ಬೆಯು | ṇḍabbĕyu |
| 4 | ಕತ್ತವ್ಯ | kattavya |
| 5 | ವೇಳೆಗೊ | vĕl̤ĕg̤ŏ |
| 6 | ಣ್ಡು ಸತ್ತಂ | ṇḍu sattaṃ |
Begur 900CE Bydukura Kerega Turugol & Uralivu Herostone
[edit]It is a Turugol herostone with a Kannada inscription, 'Turugol' refers to the act of 'cattle raiding', which involved the theft of cattle, these type of herostones commemorate the men who defended their cattle against thieves and died. This Kannada inscription dated to the c. 900CE paleographically, records the courageous death of one Bydukura Kerega during an attack to destroy a village (uralivu) and also mentions that Bydukur Kerega was the brother in law of a Tengalamadaka Gamunda. This inscription has been documented in Epigraphia Carnatica Vol 9.[28] The rereading of the inscription has been published by Mythic Society. Presently this herostone is in the Government Museum, Bengaluru.[29]
Physical Characteristics
[edit]The inscription is 212 cm tall and 139 cm wide. The Kannada characters are approximately 4 cm tall, 5 cm wide and 0.18 cm deep (extremely shallow depth). The herostone intricately divided into three sections. Each section divided by a thick horizontal rib-like section on which an inscription is meticulously carved, they depict a different scene associated with the hero's demise and afterlife. The bottom section of the sculpture represents a fierce fight or poised to face a formidable opponent, the hero's body is shown pierced by two arrows. In front of him lie the lifeless bodies of two men, stacked one on top of the other. Behind the hero, three small cow sculptures are placed, adding to the context of the scene. The middle section of the sculpture has a dynamic depiction of the hero rising towards heaven besides whom apsaras graciously hold his hands, guiding him on his celestial journey. The top section of the sculpture depicts the hero seated on a stool within a beautifully canopied structure. He is being served by apsaras who hold chamaras (flywhisks), a symbol of honor and reverence.
Transliterations of the Text
[edit]This transliteration has been documented in Epigraphia Carnatica Vol 9.The text below in the text is the Mythic Society's rereading.
| Line
Number |
Kannada | IAST |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ಸ್ವಸ್ತಿಶ್ರೀ ತೆಂಗಾಲಮದಕಇದು . ಗಾಮುಣ್ಡನ ಮಯ್ದುಂ ಬಯ್ದುಕೂರ ಕೆಱೆಗನ | svastiśrī tĕṃgālamadakaïdu . gāmuṇḍana mayduṃ baydukūra kĕṟĕgana |
| 2 | ಊರಾೞಿವಿನೊಳ್ಗೆಲೆ ಕಾದಿ ಸತ್ತ ಆ . . . . . . ಳ | ūrāḻivinŏl̤g̤ĕlĕ kādi satta ā . . . . . . l̤a |
Begur 1400CE Nagareshwara Temple Gowdu Sonnappa
[edit]It is a Kannada inscription dated to c. 1400CE paleographically, it is a donatory inscription and records the donation of various articles essential for temple rituals to the Nagareshwara temple. The items donated by Gauda Sonnappa, son of Chellandi Setti of Behur, include a Hariyaana (plate), an Addanige (low three-legged stool for placing a plate), a Gampinavarathi (an unidentified arati type), a Dhooparati (stand for burning dhoop incense), a Battalu (a bowl) and a Shanku(a conch). It is published in the Epigraphia Carnatica Volume 9. It can presently be found in the Panchalingeshwara temple complex.[25][30][30]
Physical Characteristics
[edit]The inscription is 77 cm tall and 30 cm wide. The Kannada characters are approximately 4.1 cm tall, 3.6 cm wide and 0.27 cm deep (shallow).
Transliterations of the Text
[edit]It is published in the Epigraphia Carnatica Volume 9.[25][30] The text below in the text is the Mythic Society's rereading.
| Line
Number |
Kannada | IAST |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ಸ್ವಸ್ತಿ ಶ್ರೀ ನಗರೇ | svasti śrī nagare |
| 2 | ಶ್ವರ ದೇವರಿಗೆ ಬೇ | śvara devarigĕ be |
| 3 | ಹೂರ ಚೆಲ್ಲಾಂ | hūra cĕllāṃ |
| 4 | ಡಿ ಸೆಟ್ಟಿಯ ಮ | ḍi sĕṭṭiya ma |
| 5 | ಗ ಗಉಡು ಸೊ | ga gaüḍu sŏ |
| 6 | ಂಣಪ್ಪನು ಕೊ | ṃṇappanu kŏ |
| 7 | ಟ್ಟ ಉಪಕರಣ | ṭṭa upakaraṇa |
| 8 | ಹರಿಯಾಣ ಅ | hariyāṇa a |
| 9 | ಡ್ಡಣಿಗೆ ಗಂಪಿ | ḍḍaṇigĕ gaṃpi |
| 10 | ನವಾರತಿ ಧೂಪಾ | navārati dhūpā |
| 11 | ರತಿ ಬಟ್ಟಲು ಶಂ | rati baṭṭalu śaṃ |
| 12 | ಕು | ku |
Translation
[edit]The text of translation is published in the Epigraphia Carnatica.[25] It reads as follows,
"Be it well, For the god Nagaresvara, Behura Challandi-Setti's son Gaudu-Sonnappa gave vessels (namely) — a tray, a tripod, a bowl for the wave-offering of perfume and incense, and a conch-shell."
Begur 1426CE Chokkimayya Jinalaya Inscription
[edit]
It is a Jaina Kannada donatory Inscription of the 15th century CE which records the grants to the Chokkimayya Jinalaya, a Basadi which existed in Begur at that time by one Nagiya Kariyappa dandanayaka, the titular 'dandayaka' was a military position.[31] The inscription is especially interesting as it was discovered in Shravanappana Dinne as documented in Epigraphia Carnatica, Shravanappa is a colloquialization of śramaṇa, a Jain monk, indicating how some place names retains the distant past even even after a significant temporal separation.[9] Though this inscription has been documented, its present physical status remains unknown.[32][5][6][33]
Transliteration of the text in English
[edit]The text was published in the Epigraphia Carnatica.[6] It reads as follows,
"srimat-parama-gambhira-syad-vadamogha-lanchhanam | jiyat trailokya-nathasya sasanam Jina-sasanam ||
svasti Saka-varusha 1349 neya Parabhava-samvatsaradalu sri-Mula-sanghada Desiya-ganada Kondakundauvayada Pustuka-gachchhadi srimatu Pra........siddhanti-devara shishyarappa srimachchhubhachandra-siddhanti-devara gudda Chakkimayyaua Nagiya Kariyappa-danda-nayakar appa danda Morasu-nadalvandekadi Kaliyur-agrahara kotta sarva-badha-pariharavagi Chokkimayya Jinalayam chandradityarullannaka salvantagi......dharmamanadasuvantagi (usual imprecatory phrases) srima...............ndanayaka Chokkimayya.............radu nilisidanu kalu ...... madisikotta."
Translation
[edit]The text was published in the Epigraphia Carnatica.[5] It reads as follows,
"Having the supreme profound syad-vada as a fruit-bearing token, may it prevail, the doctrine of the lord of the three worlds, the Jina doctriue. Be it well. (On the date specified), of the sri-Mula-sangha, Desiya-gana, Kondakundanvaya and Pustuka-gachha, Prasiddhanti-deva's disciple Subhachandra-siddhanti-deva's lay.disciple Chakkimayya's (son) Nagiya Kariyappa-dandanayaka when ruling Morasu-nad, made a grant (effaced) for the Kaliyur agrahara, that the Chokkiimayya Jinalaya might continne as long as sun and moon. Imprecations."
Begur 1300CE Vallala Jiyar Inscription
[edit]It is a Tamil inscription written in the Grantha script and a donatory inscription of the 14th century CE made by a Vallala Jiyar to the deity Tirunagesvaran of the Begur Panchalingeshwara temple for the procession of the deity carried out in the chittirai month for the benefit of his father Sembandai jiyar. The inscription is documented in Epigraphia Carnatica. The physical status of the inscription is not known.
Transcription of the text in English
[edit]The text was published in the Epigraphia Carnatica.[6] It reads as follows,
".........purva-pakshattu Dutiyaiyum S'evva .. kkilamai nal Vallaja-Siyarena engal nayanar Tirunagisvaram-u........l tamappanar Sembandai-siyarkku naDr-aga Sittirai-ttiru-nal elundarula amudupadi sattuppadi ullitta sevaikka......kke vittom idarku-ttappuna-van Gangai-kkaraiyir-kuraypasuvai-kkonran pavatte povan sri-Mahesvara-rakshai."
Translation
[edit]The text was published in the Epigraphia Carnatica.[5] It reads as follows,
(On the date specified), for the benefit of my father Sembandai-jiyar, I, Vallala-jiyar, made a grant for the god Tirunigesaramudaiyar to provide for offerings of rice, sandal and other requirements, and for a procession during the festival in the month of Sittirai. (Usual final imprecatory sentence). This grant is under the protection of Mahesvaras."
Begur 1262CE Rajaraja Karkata Maharaja Sokkanayan Inscription
[edit]It is a Tamil inscription written in the Grantha script and a donatory inscription of the 13th century CE. It records the grant of land to the deity Tirunagesvaram-udaiya mahadevar of the Begur Panchalingeshwara temple by Rajaraja Karkata maharaja Sokkanayan. The inscription is documented in Epigraphia Carnatica. The physical status of the inscription is not known.
Transliteration of the text in English
[edit]The text was published in the Epigraphia Carnatica.[6] It reads as follows,
"Svasti sri Rajaraja-Karkkata-maharaja Sokkanayanena Tirunagesvaram-udaiya Mahadevarkku Orriyavanapalli nanjai punjai narppal-ellaiyum devark........."
Translation
[edit]The text was published in the Epigraphia Carnatica.[5] It reads as follows,
"I, Rajaraja-Karkata-maharaja Sokkanayan, granted the wet and dry lands with their four boundaries in the village of Orriyavanpalli for the god Tirunagesvaram-udaiya Mahadevar."
Begur 1110CE Tamattandan Inscription
[edit]It is a Tamil inscription written in the Grantha script and a donatory inscription of the 12th century CE under the Hoysala rule. It records a grant to the Begur Panchalingeshwara temple by Tamattandan, son of Solavelar, a chieftain of the Morasunadu. It mentions the Begur lake as the Veppur Periya Ēri (Veppur's big tank), Begur was historically also known as Veppur, a tamilised form of the word.[34] The inscription is documented in Epigraphia Carnatica. The physical status of the inscription is not known.
Transliteration of the text in English
[edit]The text was published in the Epigraphia Carnatica.[30] It reads as follows,
"svastisri Poysala-Deva-rajya Mudikonda-Sola-mandalattu Rajendira-Sola-vala-nattu Murasu-nattu..............nattu gamundagalil Sola-velar magan Virudaraja-bayankara Murasu-nad-alvar magan Tamattandan ana Murasu.........rajan Veppur periya eri udaippa padan-kandaga-kalani devadanam aga nadapoguram. devadanam aga vittu ainnura-pon ner-madil-iduvittu i-kkoyilukku Era-battan magan Periyandan ana Narpattennayira-battanukku madapattiyam kaniy-aga ssada....kudattom inda dhanmam irikkuvan Gengai-karaiyil kurar-pasu-konran pavam-padu-van sri-Mahe........"
Translation
[edit]The text was published in the Epigraphia Carnatica.[25] It reads as follows,
"During the rule of Poysala Deva, Tamattandan, alias Murasu rajan, son of Murasu-nad-alvar, terrible to titled kings, who was the son of Sola-velar — one of the gamundas of Murasu-nadu in Rajendira-Sola-vala-nadu of Mudigonda-Sola-mandalam — granted certain lands (specified) below the big tank of Veppur as a devadana, caused a surrounding wall to be built at a cost of 500 pon, and gave certain lands to Periyandan, alias Narpattennayira-battan son of Era-battan, for conducting the duties of superintendent of the matha (madapattiyam) in this temple."
Begur 1270CE Alagiyar and Vilakkavayiran Inscription
[edit]It is a Tamil donatory inscription of the 13th century CE to the Begur Panchalingeshwara temple which records setting up of a goddess Tiruvidinachchiyar by an Alagiyar and a donation of a Lamp stand by Vilakkavayiran.The inscription is documented in Epigraphia Carnatica. The physical status of the inscription is not known.[15]
Transliteration of the text in English
[edit]The text was published in the Epigraphia Carnatica.[30] It reads as follows,
".......gapakkam-udaiyan magan Alagiyar elunda.. livitta Tiruvidi-nachchiyaruni Avudai........yum elundarulivittar Puvadara,- ril Vilakkavayiran itta dipa-pattiram idai padinettu."
Translation
[edit]The text was published in the Epigraphia Carnatica.[25] It reads as follows,
"pakkam-udaiyan's son Alagiyar set up (the image of) a goddess to be taken out in procession in the streets......Vilakkavayiran gave a lamp-stand weighing eighteen."
Begur 1294CE Kulottunga Sola Tagadadirayar Mara Sika Devar
[edit]It is a Tamil donatory inscription in the Grantha script dated to the 13th Century CE. It records the donation of offerings of rice for the god Kadikandiyaduram-udaiya-nayanarku of the Begur Panchalingeshwara temple by a Kulottunga Sola Tagadadirayar Mara Sika Devar. The inscription is documented in Epigraphia Carnatica. The physical status of the inscription is not known.
Transliteration of the text in English
[edit]The text was published in the Epigraphia Carnatica.[30] It reads as follows,
"svasti sri sarvabhuma-chakravattiga| sri-Posala-vira-Ramanata-Devarku 'yandu 40 vadu Adi-mada-mudal svasti sri Kulottunga-Sola Tagadadirayar Marasika-devarrena udaiyar Kadikandiyasuram-udaiva-nayanarku mun-nalil tiruppadimarr-illadapadiyale nam tiruppadimarru sellumpadikku nam-udaiya urgalil S'ikkanpajliy-eriyile kandaga-viraiyum Vettapajliy-eriyile kandaga-viraiyum Velluriy-eriyile iru-kandaga-viraiyum Idaiyiuril Munnilakuttaiyil kandagamum Tamaraikuttaiyil kanda-gamum aga viraiy-aru-kandagamum sandra-aditta-varai sella idukku vignam-panniavar Gamgai-karaiyil kural-pasuvai konra papattai. povan."
Translation
[edit]The text was published in the Epigraphia Carnatica.[25] It reads as follows,
"In the 40th year of the reign of the universal emperor sri-Posala-vira-Ramanadadevar , Aa there had been no provision made formerly for offerings of rice for the god Kadikandiyasuram-udaiya-nayanar, to provide for offerings of rice for the god, I, Kulottunga-Sola-Tagadadirayar Mara-Sika-devar, granted (from the date specified), to continue for as long as the moon and the sun exist, certain quantities (specified) of paddy from lands situated in different villages (named), (Usual final imprecatory sentence)."
Begur 1300CE Dhoopa Deepa Inscription
[edit]It is a Tamil inscription in the grantha script, it is a 14th-century donatory inscription which is only published with the last verses of the record, it includes various ritual materials like conch, lamp, incense, water cups and bell. The inscription is documented in Epigraphia Carnatica. The physical status of the inscription is not known.
Transliteration of the text in English
[edit]The text was published in the Epigraphia Carnatica.[30] It reads as follows,
"........parikalam kalum tanni-vattil nal diipa-dipa mani sangu sri-Mahesvara-rakshai i-dharmam...... "
Translation
[edit]The text was published in the Epigraphia Carnatica.[25] It reads as follows,
"water cups, incense-burner, lamp, bell and conch-shell to the temple. This charity is under the protection of Maheshvaras."
Begur 950CE Ravikanti Siddhanti's Inscription
[edit]It is an incomplete Kannada inscription dated paleographically to the 950 CE, the context or the meaning cannot be deduced from the reading. It is documented in the Epigraphia Carnatica Volume 9, its present physical status remains unknown.
Transliteration of the text in English
[edit]The text was published in the Epigraphia Carnatica.[8] It reads as follows,
".....Setti Raya-putra....na-siddhanta-bha......vara sishyar Kumaranandi-bhattara.....Kamapura Bida-kandada Madambapattana.....bhimukhagaliyar kramadinda viharisuttu...."
Translation
[edit]The text was published in the Epigraphia Carnatica.[25] It reads as follows,
"Raya's son.....disciple of.......Kumaranandi-bhatara, with his face towards Kamapura and Madambapattaua of the Bide-kanda, accoruing to custom wandering about....."
References
[edit]- ^ a b c https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.22764/page/n87/mode/1up?q=begur
- ^ a b https://archive.org/details/epigraphia-carnatica-vol.-9-supplement/page/n38/mode/1up
- ^ a b archive, From our online (January 18, 2018). "City losing memories etched in stone". The New Indian Express.
- ^ a b https://archive.org/details/epigraphiacarnat09myso/page/n323/mode/2up
- ^ a b c d e f https://archive.org/details/epigraphiacarnat09myso/page/n322/mode/1up
- ^ a b c d e https://archive.org/details/epigraphiacarnat09myso/page/n81/mode/1up
- ^ https://archive.org/details/epigraphiacarnat09myso/page/n324/mode/1up
- ^ a b https://archive.org/details/epigraphiacarnat09myso/page/n83/mode/1up
- ^ a b "Here lies the Bengaluru inscription..." Deccan Herald.
- ^ "ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಪರಂಪರೆ (ಇಬುಕ್)". MyLang.
- ^ a b https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=10MkVJhxpkbsDbhXxJpAS82KtKMI&ll=12.876804757011119%2C77.62651643892289&z=22
- ^ https://archive.org/details/kia.itihasadrashanas0000drsu/page/n175/mode/1up
- ^ Patrao, Michael. "Hero stones for the bravehearts". Deccan Herald.
- ^ a b https://archive.org/details/epigraphiacarnat09myso/page/n321/mode/2up
- ^ a b https://issuu.com/udayakumarp.l/docs/stoneinscriptionsofbangalore/36
- ^ https://alar.ink/dictionary/kannada/english/%E0%B2%AE%E0%B2%A8%E0%B3%86%E0%B2%AE%E0%B2%97%E0%B2%A4%E0%B2%BF
- ^ https://www.timesnownews.com/bengaluru/bengaluru-lalbaghs-republic-day-flower-show-to-begin-this-week-theme-to-reflect-citys-history-and-evolution-article-97047551
- ^ https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/preserving-the-citys-history-etched-in-stone/article19829252.ece
- ^ https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/bengaluru-herostone-will-be-shifted-to-city-musuem/articleshow/61010648.cms
- ^ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/1000-year-old-inscription-stone-bears-earliest-reference-to-bengaluru/articleshow/17446311.cms
- ^ https://isbnsearch.org/isbn/9789380607429
- ^ https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/know-your-city-begur-fort-historical-landmarks-existence-of-bengaluru-8291582/
- ^ https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/a-tale-bangalore-its-four-2283919
- ^ https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=10MkVJhxpkbsDbhXxJpAS82KtKMI&ll=12.877316355559765%2C77.63810455000001&z=15
- ^ a b c d e f g h i https://archive.org/details/epigraphiacarnat09myso/page/n323/mode/1up
- ^ https://archive.org/details/epigraphiacarnat09myso/page/n529/mode/1up
- ^ https://archive.org/details/epigraphiacarnat09myso/page/n80/mode/1up
- ^ https://archive.org/details/epigraphiacarnat09myso/page/n529/mode/1up?
- ^ https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=10MkVJhxpkbsDbhXxJpAS82KtKMI&ll=12.991711876622219%2C77.60942205404906&z=13
- ^ a b c d e f g https://archive.org/details/epigraphiacarnat09myso/page/n82/mode/1up
- ^ https://www.jstor.org/stable/44140708
- ^ https://archive.org/details/epigraphiacarnat09myso/page/n528/mode/1up
- ^ https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=10MkVJhxpkbsDbhXxJpAS82KtKMI&ll=12.87592505533096%2C77.62765585181913&z=17
- ^ https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/lakes-of-bengaluru-begur-lake-fight-existence-contentious-shiva-statue-waterbody-9003584/