Hoysala Inscription Discovered in Arasikere
Udupi, Aug 30, 2024: A significant discovery has been made in Talaluru village, located in Arasikere taluk of Hassan district.
Prof. T. Murugeshi, a retired associate professor of Ancient History and Archaeology at MSRS College, Shirva, Udupi, stated that a Hoysala inscription was found in the outer prakara of a Shiva temple in the village.
The inscription, written in Kannada using 13th-century characters, is etched in five lines. While the script exhibits several errors, it provides valuable historical insights. The inscription is accompanied by an upper panel depicting a Linga, with a man seated in a posture of folded palms facing the Linga, and a cow standing to the left. The five lines of text are situated below this panel.
The inscription stated that on the Subhanu Savat Vaishaka Bahula Brahavara, a person named Kacheya Nayaka, probably a local chief donated a donation for the merit of a Bhantara. Bhantara is a corrupt form of Bhatara. Mostly he was a Shaiva pontiff shown sitting before the Lingam in the panel. The given details of the date corresponding to 1224 April 6 th Thursday and writing style is also mach with 13 th century Hoysala script.
Arasikere, known as the heartland of the Hoysala empire, is renowned for its numerous Hoysala inscriptions and monuments. The Shiva temple in Talaluru, a once Hoysala structure, has since been completely renovated.
Harish, a Kannada lecturer at the Government First Grade College in Arasikere, discovered the inscription and alerted Prof. Murugeshi for further study. Prof. Murugeshi extended his congratulations to Harish for his dedication to preserving antiquarian heritage.
