Bhutnath Temples of Toragal
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Journal of Information and Computational Science ISSN: 1548-7741 BHUTNATH TEMPLES OF TORAGAL Dr. Suryakanth Kokatanur Assistant Professor of History SCMP. Government First Grade college, Lokapur-587122 Dist: Bagalkot, Karnataka email:[email protected] Mob:9945159108 ABRSTACT Toragal is a village in Ramdurga taluk of the Belgaum district. It was headquarters of Toragalenadu-6000 and administrative unit during the Seunas and the Vijayanagar empire.1 before that this area was under the control of the Chalukyas of Kalyan and their feudatories. After the fall of Vijayanagara Empire it was passed in the hands of Adil Shahis of Bijapur, the Mughals, the Marathas, local Jagidars and Desais. Several monumental, inscriptional and other evidences of this place have been identified and they help us to reconstruct the history of this place. Beautiful temples have been constructed and renovated by different rulers. Among them Bhutnath temple complex is well known for its incredible architecture. These temples were built by king Bhutesh(Bhutankush)2 and renovated by the subsequent rulers and these are temples the best examples of the Chalukyan architecture. The Torgal fort is also one of the well-known structure in this region. In this paper I tried to analyze the architectural importance of Bhutnath temples of Torgal village with the help of extensive field work. KEY WORDS: Inscription, Torgal, Bhutnath, Shiva, Adil ShahisVijayanagar, Moghul, Architecture, Shivaji, Kadambanagara , Fort 1. INTRODUCTION Toragale is modern Torgal (presently known as Hole Torgal) village in Ramdurga taluka of Belgaum district of Karnataka. It is about 10 km. from taluka headquarters, which falls in the Khan Junipet revenue village on the bank of the river Malaprabha.3 It was also called as Toragale Six-thousand and Toragala in the inscriptions. It was chief town and the was headquarters of Toragalenadu, a 6,000 province under the Seunas and the Vijayanagar, which even continued to be the place of headquarters of a province former princely state of that name, now merged in Belgaum District. Geographically, it lies between15.94E and 75.22N. Toragl is said to have built in the year 1100 AD by a Hindu chief named Bhutankush.4 Toragal Six thousand was also one of the principal divisions of Kuntala( Country of Kuntala) 5 of famous political division of ancient Karnataka. A number of epigraphical and other evidences found here have help us to reconstruct the history of this village. It was part of the Rastrakutas, the Chalukyas of Kalyan, the Seunas, the Adils Shahi, the Vijayanagar, the Volume 10 Issue 4 - 2020 176 www.joics.org Journal of Information and Computational Science ISSN: 1548-7741 Mughuls, Shivaji, the Peshwas and the British. It was also controlled by few local Jagirdars. Many temples have been built in this place. Among them Bhutnath temple complex is well known. There are more than eight temples belonged lord Shiva religion. Few are in good condition and some are in dilapidated condition. These resembles Dravida and Kadamaba Nagara temple (The Chalukyan and later Chalukyan)features. Presently these are protected by government of Karnataka. 2.BRIEF POLITICAL HISTORY The history of this area goes back to 9th century AD. Since it is on the bank of Malaprabha river, gave shelter to many kingdoms. The Rastrakutas were controlling this region with the help of their subordinate officers. An inscription from Konnur6 dated 860AD, refers that the Holeyarasa of Kolenur ruling from Konnur -7 administrative unit,. It was part of Toragale- 6000 during the rule of Amoghavarsha. Thus history of Toragale goes back to Rastrakutas. The Chalukyas of Kalyan with heir feudatories administered the Torgal and its surrounding area. Along with other parts of the Belgaum district, few officers were in charge of Torgal. The inscriptions found in different places help us to understand the history of Chalukyas. In 1050 A.D. when Akkadevi was administering Kisukadu -70, during that period Torgal-60 along with the council of consisted of seven members7 was also under her supervision. Another inscription from Sudi8 dated 1054 A.D. refers that the Chalukyan princess and sister of Jayashimha Akkadevi was ruling over the area of Toragale (Torgal), when she was overlord of Kisukadu-70. Certain Chagaladevi wife of a feudatory of Toragalenadu is mentioned in an inscription dated 1106 A.D. of Nilgund9 from Badami in Bagalkot district. It also refers the death of Chavugavunda and Holligavunda in a battle on the occasion of a campaign of Nilagunde by Chagaladevi. The Kadambas of Goa, have expanded their territory in Belgaum district. Epigraphical and other evidences help us to understand their influence over Torgal area. One of the inscription from Torgal dated 1187 A.D. belonged to the Kadambas of Goa,10 refers Mahamandaleshwar Barma and his wife his wife pious lady Suggaladevi. It records the grant of land to the god Suggaleshwar by Suggaladevi with permission of her husband. The Barma had titles of Dandiangova and Nigalankamalla. He controlled the areas of Lokapur-12, Holalagund-40,Kolenuru-30, Navilagunda-40 and other nearby areas. The Yadavas or Seunas of Devagiri also ruled over the vast area Maharastra and Karnataka. They had their sub-capital at Torgal and their officers were in charge of Torgalenadu-6000. Some of the epigraphical records refers the Seuna king Mahadeva and Singana along with their local officers. During 1223 A D this area was under the control of Singhana. One of Singhana-II's inscriptions dated 1223A.D. found at Manoli11 mentions his commander (General) Jagadala Purushottam as governing the Torgal Six-thousand and made several grants to the temple of Panchalingadeva at Munipura or Munivalli in Toragale-6000. An inscription dated 1263A.D. from Chouddadanapur,12 is an important source to reconstruct the history of Toragal. It is belonged to Mahadevaraya of Yadava king of Deavagiri. He was devotee of lord Shiva. There are references of various grants to lord Mukteshwar for the services of Linga and Jangama. These grants were made by Mahapradhana and Sarvadhikari Devarasa of Torgal Volume 10 Issue 4 - 2020 177 www.joics.org Journal of Information and Computational Science ISSN: 1548-7741 to Shivadeva. Mukteshwar was one of the important Shiva centers of Karnataka. Another inscription13 from the same place dated 1265 AD from the same place refers the Kallarasa Mahapradhana of Toragal and his wife Kannadevi. Kannadadevi built the Kalideva temple in the memory of her deceased husband. She was a pious lady, was always engaged in the service of Guru and Jamgama. It also refers the Mahapradhana Devarasa who was ruling from his capital Torgal and grants were made by him to Mukteshwar. In the first half of the fourteenth century Vijayanagara empire came to power along with Bahamani sultans. The Viajayanagar empire also extended to few parts of Belgaum district.They had partial control over the district. A Chronicle of Torgal14, published by J.F.Fleet in 1876 is an one of the important records to reconstruct the history Vijayanagara in th Belgaum district area. It speaks about Vira Bukka the universal emperor and his minister Madhavamantri Vidyaranya. This is the reference to the Bukka-I. This Chronicle refers the other names of few princes like Narasinga,Viranarasinga, Krishan, Achuta, Sadashiava and Rama and etc. This record also refers the Veera Bukka had appointed members of a particular family of astrologers at Torgal. This record confirms Torgal and Belgaum were under Viajayanagara empire. Goribale15 inscription of Harihara-II speaks about Ganaga Amatya who was ruling over Toragale-6000. The name of Dandanayaka Goparasa is also referred. Inscriptions of Gumgol16 of the reign of the king Krihnadevaraya show that this tract was included in Toragale-venthe.16 It refers to Vira-Narasinganayaka and the Durgadhipati of Toragale. One of the inscriptions Murgod17 of Sadashivaraya speaks about the remission of the terige (tax) on the barbers of the villages in the Toragale-sime in favour of Timmoja, Kondoja and Bhadroja of the community. After the defeat of Vijayanagar in the famous battle of Talikot, the Adil Shahis of Bijapur extended their territory in Balgaum district. Torgal province was under the control of Adil Shahis of Bijapur. Two of Persian inscriptions of Adil Shahi period were found at Torgal.18 One is belonged to Ibrahim Adil Shah-I, records the completion of evidently of bastion in 1535A.D. by Ismail son of Abdul Aziz Khurd Sala (of younger age i.e. junior). Another is little damaged belonged to Ibrahim Adil Shah-II, records the construction of a Bastion called ‘Burj-i-husaini’in Shuhur in 1583A.D. by Khan –i- Azam Ibrahim Khan. The Adils Shahi havaldars of Toragal Ali Aga,Sultan Aga,Ramaji Pant, Krishnaji Pant, Abdulla Vaderu,Bade Malik,Sidi Yakot and Sidi Salim refered in the Torgal Chronicle.19 After the battle Ali Adil Shah took the fort of Torgal in east Belgaum, the sub- divisions of Terdal In 1566. Ali Adil Sháh rewarded Vitta Gauda by creating him Sar Desai of Torgal20 and conferred on him many rights and honours." Because during Ali Adil Shah's campaign against Vijayanagar, he marched with a force of 1,000 horse and 2,000 foot and having greatly distinguished himself by the capture of the fort of Torgal, he was entrusted with the subjection or the surrounding districts. But later on, Vitta Gowda seized a few strategic forts in Belgaum district and established himself at Torgal as a semi- independent ruler and refused to accept the suzerainty of Bijapur kings. But during 1575 Adil Shah marched on Turkul, that is Turgol. After a seize of seven months Vitta Gouda of Venkatti gave himself up and was put to death with tortures. 21 Torgal was part of Shivaji state.