Latest news with #Rashtrakutas
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
15-06-2025
- General
- First Post
How Bengaluru's expansion threatens Tumakuru's glorious heritage
One hopes that if it were to ever become an official extension of Bengaluru, the chaos of that urban jungle does not engulf the peace of Tumakuru read more A few days ago, Karnataka's Home Minister G Parameshwara announced that he had submitted a report recommending conversion of Tumakuru district into 'Bengaluru North'. While the state capital has been growing organically, this formal expansion could see dramatic changes. And while real estate companies will be eagerly waiting to pounce, the danger is that the laidback, rural character of Tumakuru will change. And not necessarily for the better! When a tsunami of urbanisation comes upon a rural area, heritage sites rarely get discussed. Possibly because the government agencies charged with their protection keep a low decibel level. And by the time common people look beyond real estate valuations, it is too late. Tumakuru district is dotted with heritage sites, and while they will not be swept away, they may find themselves surrounded by buildings within a few years. The temple sites, which thrive on tranquil surroundings, could be stuck in concrete hubs. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The district is filled with nuggets of heritage – a result of having been touched by varied dynasties like the Gangas, Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas, Nolambas, Cholas, Hoysalas and various others, each leaving their imprint on the place. While 'development' is always welcomed, one hopes it comes with a degree of respect for the past. Here is a snapshot of some of the sites that thrive in Tumakuru's hitherto peaceful setting and which, one hopes, will continue to thrive: Kunigal: The place is home to three temples – the Narasimha, Padmesvara and Somesvara. The Narasimha was originally a Hoysala shrine but witnessed significant additions in the Vijaynagara period. Though named after Narasimha, the central deity appears to be an icon of Janardana. The linga in the Somesvara shrine has been dated to the 12th century CE. Near a beautiful water body are memorial hero-stones, small icons that are still in worship, pillars of lost temples as well as shrines of Nagas. While the larger temples are in their compounds, it is the tiny and isolated shrines that are extremely vulnerable. And of course, the water body might tempt builders the way Bengaluru's lakes have been systematically built over. Restored pillars at the Somesvara Temple in Kunigal Nagalapura: While the Kedareshwara Temple lies outside the main inhabited area, the Channakeshava is in the middle of the village. While both are Hoysala temples, the carvings on the former are more detailed. The outer wall of its sanctum forms a sixteen-pointed star, a classic design of the Hoysala period. Inside a Shiva linga. The Channakeshava is less intricate but is missing its main idol. What else may vanish if the area changes character is anyone's guess. Marvellous Hoysala carvings on the soapstone exterior of the Kedareshwara Temple at Nagalapura Turuvekere: The quiet village of Turuvekere houses the Channigaraya, Shankareshvara and Gangadhareshvara temples. The first two are Hoysala temples, and in the first is an image of Channakeshava that stands over five feet in height. The Gangadhareshvara is a later shrine whose noteworthy feature is a huge Nandi icon placed in its mandapa. Carved out of locally found black stone called Turuvekere-kallu, the Nandi is stunningly embellished with garlands and a bell around its neck. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Aralaguppe: The Channekeshava Temple here is one of the most magnificent works of the Hoysala period. On its outer walls are rows of carved icons – horsemen, elephants, divine beings and various gods, especially Vishnu in different forms. Amazingly, in its carved panels is the name 'Honoja' – apparently the artist who made these carvings. It may not be a UNESCO World Heritage site, but temples such as this complete the Hoysala narrative. The Channekeshava Temple at Aralaguppe Settikere: The Yogamadhava Temple here was originally Hoysala but was modified in the Vijaynagara period. Standing on a high platform, this shrine's standout feature is the presence of three cells or sanctums. While the north and south cells house a Lakshminarayana and a Venugopala icon, respectively, it is the cell in the west that is central. With a tower rising above it, this has a rare icon of Yogamadhava on a Garuda, giving the temple its name. Facing the shrine is a gateway that is sans a gopuram above. Further away, outside the temple compound, is a mediaeval column. The temple grounds are quite bare, almost artificially so. Perhaps something else stood here that has been removed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sira: This place was a provincial centre under the Mughals, under the Bijapur state and even under Mysore. Unlike the other forts in this district, which are hill forts, Sira's fort is on flat land, its moat having served as a protection. One needs to hunt a bit to find the fort today. Its walls and gateways stand strong, but little else remains, a victim of the battles of the mediaeval era. Spread across the town are a Jama Masjid, the Barakki Masjid and the dargah of Malik Rihan. Predictably, these have their own following and are hence, in better shape. Remains of the Fort at Sira, now a forgotten and little visited part of the town Tumakuru district is also home to numerous hill forts, such as Madhugiri, Midigeshi, Nidugal, Huliyurdurga and others. But being harder to access, in varying degrees, these should be able to escape the ground-level changes. The challenge that the hill forts already face comes from erosion by the elements and neglect. If one were to include other places such as Vignasanthe, Gubbi, Nonvinakere, Chiknayakaahalli and Pankajanahalli, to name but a few of several, this list could be extended considerably, but the sites mentioned are substantial to establish the antiquity of the Tumakuru region. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Kalleshwara Temple at Nonvinakere - already sunken below road level One can also add the point that Palaeolithic remains have been found in Kibbanahalli, near Tiptur, taking back the region's history to a much earlier era. One hopes that if it were to ever become an official extension of Bengaluru, the chaos of that urban jungle does not engulf the peace of Tumakuru. The author is a heritage explorer with a penchant for seeking obscure sites. A brand consultant by profession, he tweets @HiddenHeritage. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
New Indian Express
10-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Kakatiya-era sculpture of warriors unearthed in Telangana's Polasa
JAGTIAL: A rare sculpture dating back to the Kakatiya period, depicting two warriors locked in horseback combat, came to light following the recent rains in Polasa village, about seven kilometres from the Jagtial district headquarters. Villagers discovered the half-buried artefact under a bush near Sri Poulastheswara Swamy temple during their early morning farm work on Monday. The partially damaged stone shows a warrior overpowering another in battle. Speaking to TNIE, historian Sankepalli Nagendra Sharma urged the government to initiate excavations in the area, stating, 'There is a treasure trove of history buried here. The sculpture belongs to the Kakatiya period. Further excavation will reveal valuable insights for future generations.' Assistant archaeologist S Raviteja told TNIE that the region, especially Polasa, is rich in historical remnants, many of which date back to the 11th century and could be linked to the Kakatiya dynasty. 'Polasa has seen the rule of several dynasties, including the Chalukyas and Kakatiyas.' An inscription was found etched on the stone beside the sculpture. Though the script appears faded, early observations suggest it could be in Devanagari, although this is yet to be confirmed. Nagendra Sharma said they have informed the epigraphy department, which will ascertain the excavation and provide a detailed report. 'We will visit the site to study and attempt to decipher the script,' Raviteja said. In 2021, research scholar Pyata Srilatha of Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University presented a paper identifying Polasa as once being the capital of Polavasadesa, ruled by chiefs affiliated with the Rashtrakutas. The village still bears ruins of ancient temples, sculptures and a mud fort with a surviving moat. (With inputs from Akhil Kumar)
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Writer's Corner: Anirudh Kanisetti's latest sheds light on how Chola empire's women and village assemblies shaped history
Around the turn of the previous millennium, in the wake of the decline of the Pallavas and the collapse of the Rashtrakutas, a new power had arisen in the lands watered by the Kaveri. The Cholas would go from strength to strength, their influence felt far up the eastern coasts and across the seas in Southeast Asia. As the Cholas declined in their latter days, new social and cultural trends arose amid the political changes. It is this diverse history that historian Anirudh Kanisetti tackles in his latest book, Lords of Earth and Sea: A History of the Chola Empire. Kanisetti first explored the history of the Cholas as part of his previous work, Lords of the Deccan, before devoting an entire book to the dynasty's history. Speaking to The Indian Express, he said, 'I became aware that my perspective was a very Deccan perspective. That's not all they were… They were an empire of the crossroads. They ruled over a large chunk of the East Coast, were connected to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. They were also well-connected to South Karnataka. I wanted to supplement this with the latest scholarship.' He added, 'While a lot of actors and politicians have been speaking of the Cholas of late, I wanted to present a history extensively steeped in the primary source. The Cholas were remarkable for their extensive inscriptions on temple walls. Simply absorbing that immense mass of material was quite a challenge. Across medieval Tamil Nadu, for all donors, there was a tendency to make inscriptions when a gift was made. This allows us to read deeply into the social history of this region… How temple donation practices and socioeconomic systems changed over centuries.' Apart from the help rendered by existing translations of Chola inscriptions and the latest research on them, Kanisetti's fieldwork also involved visiting Chola temple sites in Tamil Nadu and South Karnataka. The border region in South Karnataka, known as Gangavadi, was ruled by the Cholas after being captured by Raja Raja Chola. Recent archaeological discoveries were also of value. Kanisetti recalled, 'There have been very interesting findings at the Chola Palace in Gangaikonda Cholapuram (the Chola capital built by Emperor Rajendra I) besides the presence in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. To understand the Cholas, you must not look just at literary claims but also the hard evidence. Archaeologists working in Anuradhapura (in Sri Lanka) and Sumatra have really transformed our understanding of how the Chola world operated. On the Chola footprint in South Karnataka, he noted that it had manifested in multilingualism by way of the presence of the Tamil language, such as in temple inscriptions. Their presence was also felt in architecture, such as at the Kolaramma Temple where Chola officials and rulers had made proclamations. He added that the Begur Temple also had a shivalingam known as the 'Choleswara', possibly after a Chola general. An interesting topic covered in the book is that of Chola queens such as Sembiyan Mahadevi as well as those women who did not have similar means. Kanisetti said, 'The popular understanding does not do justice. They were primarily seen as pious women. Quite a lot of scholarship and inscriptions shows that these women also had very intelligent political minds and were sophisticated patrons of art and architecture. It was evident while looking at the history of temple bronzes and patronage that, in a lot of ways, women were the pioneers.' Kanisetti also noted that space in history ought to be given to those women smaller in stature than the queens, such as temple donors and politicians of various social classes, and those who did not leave as deep a mark on the historical record. He added that it was an eye-opener as to how often people who might be considered less important had influenced Tamil devotional culture. 'Many of the famous gopurams (towers) that you see across temples were actually commissioned as the empire was declining. They were commissioned by generals and aristocrats who were attempting to break away from Chola authority. Their wives and children made gifts to these sites. The way that Tamil temples developed into sprawling compounds was really a development of the late Chola period.' In his book, Kanisetti also highlights the role that village assemblies played, noting that often even Chola kings and princes took efforts to stay in their good graces. He noted that assemblies of cultivators such as the 'Shining Plough' would often take their own decisions on taxation without consulting royal officers. He said, 'The voices of the smaller people insisted on being heard and leaving a mark on the historical record… It really opened my eyes to the fact that medieval India was vast and politically diverse. These were intelligent people capable of holding their rulers to account and taking their own decisions. In a way, it makes you appreciate how deep India's democratic roots go.'
