12th century multi-lingual inscription of Hoysala period found at Pandavapura in Karnataka

A uncommon multi-lingual chromatic inscription dating to the 12^th period reign of Hoysala king Narasimha I has been discovered extracurricular the Mahalakshmi temple astatine K. Bettahalli colony successful Pandavapura taluk of Mandya territory successful Karnataka.

The inscription is carved connected achromatic granite that measures astir 2 feet successful width and two-and-a-half feet successful height. It consists of 9 lines of text.

“Estimated to beryllium astir 850 years old, it is simply a multi-lingual inscription written successful Kannada publication employing Kannada, Tamil and Sanskrit languages,” said Dr. Shashidhara C. A., an archaeologist, who undertook a tract exploration aft being alerted by K. S. Mahadevagowda, a retired teacher residing successful the area.

The Mahalakshmi temple extracurricular which the inscription was recovered was primitively constructed during the Hoysala period, and aboriginal renovated.

The inscription opens with the auspicious invocation ‘Svastishri’ and bears embossed carvings of Vishnu’s emblems – the conch (sankha) and discus (chakra). It records that during the reign of Hoysala king Narasimha I, Karikundi Tillai Koottandi, who served arsenic dandanayaka (military commander), donated the territory of Mudana Battahalli (present time K. Bettahalli) for the intent of conducting temple festivals and rituals astatine the Vittirunda (Krishna) temple astatine Sri Yadava Narayana Chaturvedi Mangala (modern-day Kere Tonnuru).

“It is apt that this onshore assistance was executed by Karikudi Tillai Koottandi. This inference is supported by different inscriptions from the reign of Narasimha I associated with the aforesaid Krishna temple, which grounds further donations of villages by Karikudi Tillai Koottandi for maintaining the Nandadipa”, according to a statement.

Inside the sanctum of the Mahalakshmi Temple astatine K. Bettahalli, an inscription carved connected the pedestal beneath the sculpted feet of the goddess reads ‘Sri Mahalakshmi Deviyaru’ executed successful the Hoysala play script.

Also, adjacent the Balipitha (sacrificial altar) wrong the temple complex, a soapstone kalasha sculpture is preserved. “This sculpture was primitively installed atop the temple’s sikhara (tower) during the Hoysala period, but is present successful a breached condition”, according to the statement.

“At present, the kalasha chromatic and the inscribed pedestal beneath Mahalakshmi’s feet represent the lone surviving architectural and epigraphical grounds confirming the temple’s Hoysala origin. Additionally, 2 leader stones (viragallu) depicting scenes related to warfare, cattle raids, and penbuyyal (erected successful representation of the men who laid down their lives protecting the modesty of women) are recovered connected some sides extracurricular the temple compound wall”, according to the statement.

Professor M. N. Talwar, Project Director, Centre of Excellence for Studies successful Classical Kannada, Mysuru, nether whose enactment the exploration enactment was carried out, stated, “...From this discovery, 1 whitethorn infer the adjacent narration that existed betwixt Kannada and Tamil languages, and betwixt Kannadigas and the Tamil commandant Karikudi Tillai Kootandi. It stands arsenic wide grounds that Tamilians besides served arsenic subject commanders successful the armies of the Hoysala kings successful the Kannada region”.

Senior archaeologist, Mysuru, Professor N. S. Rangaraju said different inscriptions from Tonnur amusement that Dandanayaka Karikudi Thillai Kuttandi made much onshore donations to the aforesaid deity — lord Krishna. “One of the grounds states that helium bought onshore for 80 gadyanas from a antheral named Keshava Dikshita, and past donated that onshore to the deity. The inscription besides notes that members of the colony assemblies of Tailur and Maduru were witnesser to the donation,” helium added.