CHAPTER -1

INTRODUCTION AND NAME OF THE PLACES

INTRODUCTION :

The present day city is now the headquarters of the Belgaum district of State and is also a seat of divisional commission of four

Districts. The district is located in the North -Western part of the state. It lies

between 15’.23’ and 16’.88’ longitudes and between 70’.28 latitude. The most

elevated portion of the district lies to the west and south along the line of

Sahyadri hills. The district is between 450 to 900 meters above MSL and

extends over an area of 13,379 KM. which is 6.99% of the total geographical

area of the state. In the south and along the banks of large rivers the Krishna,

the , and the Malaprabha the surface is pleasantly covered by

trees, solitary and in groups. The area of the district was 13,415 3q. km. The

district is surrounded by the State in north, Bijapur district in the

east, Dharwad and Uttara district in the South, Goa territory and

Maharashtra state in the west 2

It is well-known that, during the ancient period it was one of the flourishing cities. It has enjoyed all the privileges as it was under the dominant ruling dynasties of Karnataka viz., Chalukyas of Badami, the Rashtrakutas, Chaiukyas of Kalyana and the Kalachuris etc., including their feudatories like Rattas the Kadambas of Goa, the Shilaharas of Kolhapur and Seunas. The town Belgaum was called “Ikshuarama" in 9th Century A.D. For example an inscription 2 dated 805 A.D. mentions this place as Ikshugrama . Another record dated 1261

A.D. name this place as Ikshugrama Belgaum was also called “Venugrama" in 12th Century A.D. For example an inscription dated 1199 A.D. mentions this 4 place as Venugrama . It was made the capital city under the Rattas during the 12th Century Venu stands for bamboo which is abounded in this area where there were thick forests. The present name derived is from Velugrama or Venugrama (village of Bamboos) which was later termed as Belagugrama, Belugav and Ultimately Belgavi. It has two bastis (Temple) in later Chalukyas style. One of them Kamala Basti built in 1204 by one Bichana or Bichiraja, a minister of Kartavirya IV of Ratta dynasty5. On the opposite side, to the right of

Kamala basti is another ruined jaina temple without garbhagriha. It has temples like kapilesvara, Anathashayana, Maruti etc.. Apart from a copper plate grant of Chalukya Vijayaditya there are more than thirty epigraphs of the times from Rashtrakutas to the Kings of Vijayanagara. They give some interesting information regarding both the political and cultural history of the period under study. There are a few Scupltures and memorials also. Some of them are erected infront of the local temples and others are lying in different parts of the area. Belgaum was a place of importance in the ancient period. The inscription found here at present are very mearge. Hence to have a better perspective of the region, I have selected inscriptions from a few more places from region like, Badli, , Huli, Sirasangi, , , , Ramathirth, , Kerur, , , , , Halsi, , M.K.Hubli, Bhailhongal, , , Shankeshvar and Bedakihal which were also like part of Koondi -3000 and Halasige - 12000. With the help of these inscriptions, found in these places, an attempt is made here to give a picture of

Political, Social, religious and economic conditions of this region in the ancient period. Therefore, in this dissertation THE HISTORY OF BELGAUM DISTRIC" the chronological range that has been concerned is from the sixth century to the end of thirteenth century A.D. The Study of the present work is mainly based on numerous lithic and copper-plate inscriptions hailing from the Belgaum and its adjacent areas. The study of the temples and Scupltures of the region in addition to the other sources

have also been used while preparing this work. At least from the 9th and 10th Century onwards we get a regular

inscriptions in this region, which are mainly in Kannada and these yield the

informations for Political and Cultural history. But the published inscriptions form

only a small number compared to those that remained unpublished, and these

unpublished inscriptions have also been used along with published for writing

this dissertation.

The inscriptions are of immense important for writing the Socic -religion

history. Because the major Part of the inscriptions witnessed the establishments

of Agraharas, Ghatikasthanas, Brahmapuris, temples, mathas and their teachers

who were experts religious scriptures. In field of economic they give us the

informations about the agriculture, system of guild, revenue system and taxation

etc.. The inscriptions in the places mentioned below will give us the idea of the

important places spread over tiie districts in olden times.

SOUNDATTI:

It is well known that during the ancient period played an

important role not only in the history of the region but also in tiie history of Karnataka. The town savadatti was called Sugandhavarti in 9* Cent. A.D. For 6 example an inscription dated 875 A.D. mentions this place as Sugandhavarti. 4

Another record dated 1228 A.D7 names this place as Savandatti, During the period under study it was an headquarter of an administrative division called

Sugandhavarthi -12. It was a Rajadhani pattana i.e. Capital of the Rattas before they shifted their capital to Venugrama i.e. Belgaum. The place has more that six inscriptions of the Ratta chiefs of the period from 980 to 1229 A.D.. In view of some of them it was one of the famous Jaina centres during. Mention may be made here that there is one inscription at the g Bastigudi dated 875 A.D. Speaks about the construction of a Jinendrabhavana

The Saundatti inscription dated 1098 A.D. records a Jaina basadi i.e. temple of 9 Jinendra built by Kalasena of the Ratta family. At present there are a few temples viz., Ankesvara, purandesvara, Nagarakere Mallikarjuna, Vendatesvara,

Veerabhadra, Ulavi, Basavesvara, Maunesvara and Dyamava.

SIRASANGI:

Sirasangi a place historical importance is situated 20 k.ms. from the

Saundatti. The town Sirasangi was called “Risyasringa” or “Rishisringapura” or “Pirisingi" or “Hirishingi”, in 12th Century A.D. For example an inscription dated to 11 1186 A.D. mentions this place as Risyasringa and Hirisinge. Another record dated 1148 A.D name this place as Risisringapura and Pirisingi. It was commercial centre of Antiquity. The place is known for many temples such as

Kalmesvara, and Bhairavesvara or Kalamma. There are two inscriptions one

slab inscription standing before the Kalmesvara temple of Jagadekamalladeva

(II) is dated 1148 A.D. and registers a grant to one acharya Rudra Saktideva for 12 worship and repairs of the Gramesvaradeva temple. Another inscription of

Kalama temple is again a slab inception of and one of Tribhunamalla Vira-

Somesvar IV. It gives a mythological account of the place called as Risyasringa

included in Kalannur -30 (Kampana) division of the Kuntala country, and

mentioned that the village is made sacred on account of the temples of

Ramesvara Lakshmanesvara and Hanmantesvara installed by SriRama and 5

Lakshamana who after destroying the demons headed by Ravana camped at 13 hermitage of Ris yasringa on their way to Ayodhaya.

SOGAL: The present village Sogal situated 16 k.m. from Bailhongal is a place described to a sage sugola Muni who is believed to have lived here but one inscription dated 980 A.D. refers not to Sogal but to soval Solu, and So^4. The

Sogal temple has -dedicated to Somesvara. Boramma or Bhramarambha,

Doddappaiah and Venkatesvara. Near the Somesvara temple is a later

Chalukyan inscription dated 980 A.D. It is composed by a poet called

Kamaladitya, and refers to Emperor Taila II and Ratta Kartaveerya I perhaps he was the ruler than. It records a giant to Suvarnakshideva and kalamukha sage 16 Tribhuvana Singh Pandita by Kanchiyabbe of the Dhanaga (Kurubar) Family.

The record Says that tigers came to lend ears to the religious teaching of the 17 place. Sogal was the headquarters of division of 30 villages. On the hill nearly to the east is an old fortification called locally as Kadambarayana Kote, may be

of a Later Kadamba Kings.

HALSHI:

Halshi is a village in the Khanapur taluka of Belgaum district. Its ancient 18 19 name is given in inscriptions variously as palasika. Palasika and Halasige.

The name appears to have been derived from palasha in Sanskrit. It was the

secondary capital under the Goa Kadambas who ruled between 980 -1250 A.D.

Here Seven copper plates of there’s were located. It is one of the oldest towns in

the district with many monuments. During the days of Early Kadambas it was a centre of Jainism,

Vaishnavism and Shaivism. It was the headquarters of a very big province called

in inscriptions as Halasige -12000. Consisting parte of present day Dharwad

and Belgaum districts. 6

The place has temples dedicated to Bhuvahara Narasimha, Kapilesvara,

Suvamesvara, Kamalesvara, Hatakesvara, Gokarnesvara and a Jaina Basati.

The Bhuvaharanarasimha temple is a huge complex built in Later Chalukyan style. There are two garbhagrihas only the main garbhagriha of Narayana a

Sikhara built in Kadambanagar style. Facing Narayana image is another garbhagrah with a standing image of Varah installed in 1186 -87 A.D. by

Chalukya king Vijayaditya III. There is a stone inscription on the right side wail.

This inscription dat?d 1169 A.D. registers a gift of a village Sindavalli. It mentions that the temple was built by Sivachitta and one matayogi installed the image of Anant Vikrama Narasimha in 1169 A.D. at the instance of the Kings mother. In the same slab, there is another inscription of Vishnuchitta Vijayaditya

1172 A.D. recording the gift of a village Bhalika to the deity.

One of the earliest monuments in the place is the Jainalaya. According to

Halshi copper-plates of Mrigesvaraman (early Kadamba ruler) this Jinalaya was built by him during the 5th Cent. A.D. to celebrate the decline of the pallavas of

Kanchi Another copper plate of kadamba Ravivarma also gives details of more grants to the Jainalayaat palasika for the anoinment of god Jina. Yet another copper plate of some king also registers a land grant to Jinendra for 21 having obtained the favour at the feet of the mother Damakirti. But at present the Jinalaya is in a highly dilapilated condition.

KAKATI:

The place kakati is mention as kakatiyabada in a record dated 1250 A.D.

of yadava kanaharadeva. There is a view teat tee warangal

kakatiyas hailed from this place.

MMNAVALU; The present munavalli is situated in Saundatti taluka Belgaum district.

The Munavalli Surrounded by tee river Malaprabha is place of rich antiquity. The

place name has been mentioned as Munipura or Munivalli in a stone inscription 7

dated 1222 A.D. of Yadavanarayan Singhanadeva22. It must have been a centre.

Where the Jaina munis stayed and the noted scholar Pushpadanta is described as stayed in this place. The place has tamples dedicated to panchalingesvara, Banashankari, Murulinga, Tarakesvara, Mallikarjuna, Renuka, Rudra and Munesvara in a single huge complex and also to venkatesvara Vithoba,

Shivaiingesvara, Hanumantha and Udachava, Veerabhadresvara, Hariharesvara, Ganapati and Kalamma. An inscription slab in the inner prakara of the Panchalingesvara temple dated 1222 A.D. of Yadava Singhanadeva, records the foundation of Saiva Settlement. Sivapura by Jogadeva - Chamupa and registers land grants made to the Brahmanas at Munipura and other villages23.

The Udachawa temple in the fort now in ruins has an inscription dated 1252 A.D. of seuna Krishna States that sixty Vokkalus of Munindravalli made grants to the kalamukha. Sarveshvara24 one more record of Kariyawa temple is

a nisidistone in 12th Century characters, it state that it was set up in the memory

of Munichandradeva of Munivalli belonging to yapaneeya sangh by his disciple Gangeve. One more nisidi (damaged) seems to record the demise of another Acharaya of the same line.

NESARAGI:

The place is mentioned as “Nesarige Piriya Agrahara” in Munavalli record of 1252 A.D.26 It has temples dedicated to Basavanna, Mallapura Mallaiya,

Jadugudi, Veerabhadra and Maruti. One inscription slab found in the temple Jodugudi is dated 1219 A.D. and is of Ratta king Kartavirya IV, who was ruling over Nesargi from Venugrama and records that officer Habbeya Nayaka and his wife Mayidevi built the twin temples at the place called Habbesvara and Manikesvara respectively. 8

RA1BAG; Rayabag is another place with rich antiquity and had been a flourishing educational and commercial centre. The place name is mentioned as “Bage" or

“Puvina Bage” in several inscriptions. Rayabag has been referred to as a

Ghatiksthana in an inscription dated saka 1185 from another important place in Bailhongal taluka where the place name is mentioned as TenkaluBagi,26 Kannada poet (11th Century) RajadHya hailed from this place and he mentioned it as Poovin Bage. The place has temples dedicated to

Siddhesvara, Somanatha, Bankanatha, Hanumanta. Dattatreya, Vithala,

Narasimha and Ambabai. The striking monument of the town is the Adinatha basti. Outside the basti mukhamantapa is placed an inscription slab of Ratta Kartavirya Iv. It registers grants of the Village to the basti.27

DEGAON:

The Village is Situated in Bailhongal taluka of Belgaum district.

The place name might have originated from its temple Complex ‘Devagrama’

meaning ‘a Village of God’. The Stoking monument here is the magnificent

Kamala Narayan temple, constructed in 1147 A.D. by Kamaladevi the wife of the

Goa Kadamba Chief Sivachitta Permadi. The queen is said to have also founded

an agraharahara. One inscription slab fixed to the wall of the Kamalanarayana is

dated 1174 A.D. of Kadamba Shivachitta permadi. One Pilaster in the same temple States that the pilastar was made by the Sculptor Nageya or Nagayya.28

UCHAGAON:

Uchagaon is situated 12 k.m. in west from Belgaum. Uchagaon is a place

with considerable antiquity called Utsuganve in many Later Kadamba records

and the headquarters of a division of 30 Villages then. The place has nearly 40

herostones. The place has temples dedicated to Ganapati, Kalmesvara, Vithoba,

Lakshmi, and Maruti. 9

KERUB- Kerur is a Village in the Chikodi taluka Belgaum district. Its ancient name

mentioned as ‘Kerevur’ in a Chalukyan record from the same place dated 1149

A.D. The .place has temples dedicated to Mahadeva, Aranyasiddhewvara,

Hanumanta, Kaimesvara, Lakshmi, Basavanna, Keresiddesvara and Vithoba.

There are two herostones and one Mahasti stone in one Private Compound. An 'inscription slab built into the platform of the Hanumanta temple dated 1147 A.D.29

is of Chalukyas of.Kalyana and it records gift of land, house, etc., to God

Mulasthana Koppesvara of Kerevur Agrahara in Koravalli-150. The donors were

Jayadevayya, Jayasimhadeva who were governing the Koondi-3,000. Rate

Kattamadeva and Hemmadidevara were administering Koravalli-150. From Gokage when Kalachuri Bijjala was incharge of ‘Koondi-3,000’:30

KOKATNUR:

The Kokatnur a place of importance is situated in the Athani taluka of

Belgaum district. The place name Kokatnur is found mentioned as Korggata or Korgantanur.31 An agrahara in two inscriptions from the same place. The place

has temples like the papanasi, Siddharamesvara, Kadasiddhesvara,

Amritalingesvara, Veerabhadra, and Mallikarjuna. The Papanasi (also called Kaimesvara) has three inscriptions, One dated 1235 of Yadava Singhana,32

Standing inside the Kaimesvara temple is damaged. But records a gift of land

and garden made by parvara-Ballaha Mallamayya. The Mahaprabhu of

“Mahagrahara Korggatnur" included in Kanambade-300 which was Sub-division

of Karahad-4,000 Province, for the benefit of temple of Bhavasuddhadeva of the

place under parvara Ballaha Basavarasa. The second grant to the same

institution appears against the name of Desiya Dannayaka Nagaras the then

administrator of Kanambade-300. The second inscription slab lying in the same

temple is very badly damaged and records a certain grant made for the benefit of the papanasi temple of the Korggatanur agrahara.33 The third inscription slab

also in the same temple is of Yadava Ramachandra, dated 1306 A.D.34 and 10

registers a series of land grants made for the benefits of the Kallinathadeva temple of Bellalige in Karahad-4000 province by several gaundas and manykaras. Another inscription dated 1050-51 A.D. it announces a grant of Village Jannawada by Mahamadatesvara Jogapparasa to the T raipurushadeva.35

TELSANG: The Telsang .is town situated in the Athani taluka of Belgaum district. Telsang is mentioned as "Tilsang” in various records. A record from same place belonging to the reign of the Chalukya King Tribhuvanamalladeva States Tilasanga as being included in a Kampana of -300 Villages, a Sub-division of Karahada-4000.36 It was a celebrated centre for learning in those days and is repeatedly referred as “Mahagrahara". It had acquired fame on account of the five hundred learned Brahmanas of the place.37 The place has temples dedicated to Satyappa, Sannappa, Vithoba, Venkataramamana, Sankaraling, Maruti, Yellamma, Kalmesvara and Basavanna. One more record in the Andani matha is dated 1122 A.O. records a gift of land by Kamakandaketta for maintenance of local tank kallakere.38

RAMTIRTHA: Ramatirtha is a village situated in Athani taluk, Belgaum District. The place name is traditionally ascribed to a tirtha (tank) in the percents of a temple called Ramesvara, believed to have been spotted by Sri Rama. There are two inscription slabs kept outside the entrance to the navaranga. One of them dated 1167 A.D. of Kalachurya Bijjaladeva refers to chandrabharana Panditadeva and is described as the acharya of temple of Sri Svayambhu Ramesvaradeva of the Tirtha i.e. Ramatirtha & speaks of a grant of land from Sindavura to the Svayambhu Ramesvara temple for feeding toe ascetics.39 The Narasimha temple has an inscription dated 1115 A.D. of Vikramaditya VI calling toe place as Teerthada Ramesvara.40 It records a grant of the village Nagattahalli 11

including in the division of Muvattarmbad (36 villages) for conducting worship to god Ramesvaradeva of Tirtha, for the feeding of the ascetics and for doing repairs to the temple.41

BEDAKIHAL: Bedakiha! is a village situated in Chikodi taluka - Beigaum district. The

place has temples dedicated to Shiddarayi, Vithala. Maruti etc., The

plates of the Chalukyan period dated 1009 A.D. states that one Revan took oath

in the presence of there presentatives of the 12 bidus, the Sixteen of the eight

Nadus on the 500 Ayyavole to kill Samnanaka who has killed an a itinerant traders, etc..42

KONNUR:

Konnur is situated in Gokak taluka in Beigaum district. The Konnur

located on the right bank of the river Ghataprabha is one of the earliest

settlements in the district. The place name is mentioned as ‘Kondanur’ and was

tiie headquarters of a Vishsaya as stated in a copper-plate record (from Baja) of

Kadmba Shantivarman, and in another inscription from Konnur too dated 1033 A.D. it is called so.43 The place has temples dedicated to Chikadeva,

Mahalakshmi, Mahadeva and Basvanna. The Chikadeva temple has an

inscription of Chalukya Somesvara I, here speaks of grant of land to temple, who’s name is lost.44 The place has a parshwantha basti, which has an

inscription slab dated 1087 of Chaluky Tribhuvanmalla Vikrama VI registering

gift of land etc., to the basti by one Nidhiyamagamunda. The record speaks of Chalukya Prince Jayakarna as Governor or Koondi.45

There are many other places, Kundaragi which was the headquarters of

the Sub-division kundaragga-70, Madubhavi, Mamadapur, Gokak, ,

Chikodi, Examba, , , , Yellur, Yamakanmardi, Yadawas

etc., in the region. These places were also historically important in supplying the

inscriptions, of the period under study. 12

Therefore, it is interesting to note that the Belgaum district is rich in source materials mainly inscriptions, temples, Sculptures and other historical structures. Almost all of the inscriptions have been published and reported in the prestigious volumes like Epiaraphia . South Indian Inscription. Karnataka

Inscriptions. Indian Antiauarrv and Annual Reports of Indian Epigraphy. Notes and References

' 1) Kamath. S.U., Belgaum District Gazetteer, p.2. 2) KL, Vol.ll. No.40. p.139. 3) ibjd. 4) Ibid., No.30. p.115. 5) Kamath S.U., Belgaum District Gazetter, p.863. 6) SIL.Vol. XX.No.13. 7) Ibid., No.248. 8) Ibid., No.13. 9) Ibjd., No.62.

10) KL, Vol.l. No.25. p.38. 11) Ibjd. No.24. p.33. 12) Ibid. 13) Ibid. No.25. p.38. 14) EI.Vol.XVI. No.1. p.3. 15) Ibid. 16) Ibid. 17) Ibjd.

18) JBBRAS.. Vol.lX. 19) Ibid, 20) E[. Vol.VI. 21) JBBRAS., VoUX. 22) Kj., Vol.l. No.30. p.66. 23) ibjd., p.68. 24) KL Vol.l. 25) Ibjd. 26) INKKS. P.40. 27) Ibid., No.6. p.105. 28) EL. VoLIX. p.266. 29) Karnataka Bharati. Vol.2. No.ll. p.32. 30) Ibid. 31) Kl. Vol.il. No.38. p.132. 32) Ibjd. 33) ifeisl No.25. p.93. 34) Ibid. No.42. p.144. 35) Karnataka Bharati. 34. P.45. 36) Kl. Vol.ll. No.18. p.72. 37) Ibid.

38) lbjd. No.15. p.59. 39) Ibid. No.18. p.91.

40) Ibid- No. 13. p.48. 41) Ibid. 42) KL, Vol.IV. No.55. p.121. 43) JiBRAS. P.176.