INSCRIPTIONS OF KARNATAKA
(ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ
ಶಾಸನಗಳು)
Inscriptions
constitute an important source for the reconstruction of the political, social,
cultural and linguistic history of a geographical region. They need to be
interpreted properly, bearing in mind the fact that they represent the dictums
of the royalty. They have been used for other purposes such as propagation of a religion, celebration of an
event or an individual, commemoration of the heroic deeds of a warrior or the
‘sacrifice’ made by a woman or a loyal servant.
Karnataka
happens to be one of the most abundant sources of inscriptions in the country.
More than 25000 inscriptions are unearthed so far and the process of discovery
is still on. Kannada, Sanskrit and Prakrit are the three main languages in
which the inscriptions of Karnataka are composed. Other languages are used in
bi-lingual and tri-lingual regions. Kannada inscriptions are found also in
other states of
Epigraphy
has had a long and illustrious career in Karnataka. Many scholars trained in
this state have achieved national and international reputation.
Col. Colin
McKenzi is the first scholar who collected and made a systematic study of
Kannada inscriptions during the later part of the eighteenth century. His
pioneering work was followed by Walter Elliot, L.D. Barnett, A.C. Burnell, J.F.Fleet,
B.L.Rice
and Theodre Hope. Indian scholars entered into the fray later and the
contributions of scholars such as R.Narasimhachar,
M.H.
Krishna, N. Lakshminarayana Rao, K.G.Kundanagar,
P.B. Desai, B.A. Saletore, G.S. Gai, R.S. Panchamukhi, B.R. Gopal, S.
Ritti, K.V. Ramesh and A.V.
Narasimhamurthy have worked hard in the task of finding, deciphering,
publishing and analyzing the inscriptions of Karnataka. The contribution of
M.Chidanada Murthy to the field of cultural analysis of inscriptions is
tremendous. Later day scholars like M.M. Kalburgi,
R.Sheshashastry, Devarakonda Reddy, Basavaraja Kalgudi, Chennakka Eligar and
others have done yeoman work in studying, classifying and analyzing different
varieties of inscriptions. Twelve volumes of Epigraphia Carnatica edited by
B.L.Rice, (Later editions by the University of Mysore) the volumes of South
Indian Inscriptions published by the Archaeological Survey of India, six
volumes of Karnataka Inscriptions published by the Kannada Research Institute
and the Karnataka University and the nine volumes containing the inscriptions
of North Karnataka and Andhrapradesh published by the Kannada University are
some of the highly laudable institutional efforts.
The inscriptions of Karnataka are classified
on the basis of criteria such as period, region, royal dynasty, language,
script and theme. The thematic classification leads to categories such as Gift
deed Inscriptions (dAnashAsana), hero stone, (vIragallu) sati stone (mAsti
kallu) and nisidige stone.
The
inscriptional heritage of Karnataka starts with the Rock Edicts of Ashoka
belonging to the 3rd century B.C. These inscriptions composed in the
Prakrit language and written in the Brahmi script are found in various places
of Karnataka such as Brahmagiri,
Siddapura and Jatinga Rameshvara in Chitradurga district, Koppala-Gavimatha in
Koppala district, Udeogolam and Nittur in
The
inscriptions found till the 7th century A.D. are few and far between.
They belong to the dynasties of sAtavAhana, cuTu, kadamba and ganga. In
addition to these, quite a few religious inscriptions are found at
Shravanabelagola. Any way, the total number does not exceed 150. ‘Halmidi
Inscription’ is the most important in this lot. The inscriptions found at
Chandravalli, Malavalli, Banavaasi, Gudnaapura, myAkadONi and the Bhadrabahu
inscription at Shravanabelagola are very important, even though they are either
bilingual or composed in Sanskrit.
The
next stage in the history of Kannada inscriptions is dominated by bAdAmi
cAlukya, ganga and Kadamba dynasties. Prakrit had to make way for Sanskrit
during this period. Many inscriptions are bilingual and Kannada is used
sparingly to document certain details. Particularly, the details relating to
land grants are given in Kannada. It is interesting to note that most of the
copper plate inscriptions use high flowing Sanskrit and the stone inscriptions
have a leaning for Kannada. The Sanskrit inscriptions are much more elaborate
when compared to the Kannada ones which are sketchy and confine themselves to
minimum information.
Rashtrakuta
dynasty has created a number of inscriptions which revel in preponderance of
Kannada and a penchant for literary style. Extensive experimentation in
conjunction with an open frame of mind has resulted in a variety of
inscriptions. mAvaLi inscription by Govinda, shirUru inscription by
Amoghavarsha Nrupatunga, Jinavallabha Inscription of Gangadharam, AtakUru
inscription, shishuvinahaLLi and kaLasa inscriptions are the better known among
them and they have served as models during the days that ensued.
The
inscriptions of ‘kalyANi cAlukyas’ flourished between 950 A.D. and 1150 A.D.
(Approx.) This dynasty has produced a
small number of copper plate inscriptions in Sanskrit and a huge number of
stone inscriptions in Kannada. The Kannada inscriptions are much more
elaborate, “......giving a wealth of
information on various matters such as the royal household, officialdom,
religious and other bodies, social, political and economic affairs.” (K.V.
Ramesh, Avalokana, 1985) In view this inordinate length, these inscriptions are
written in a combination of prose and poetry. (campU) It is surprising that the
varieties of prosodic forms found in literary texts are conspicuous by their
absence in inscriptions. They are slightly stereotyped.
The
Hoysala dynasty was successful in making its inscriptions more decorative by
using soap stone known for its pliable nature. Consequently they have played a
crucial role in the development of the Kannada script. The letters became more
rounded and decorative during this period.
The
inscriptions installed during the regime of Vijayanagara monarchs are
multilingual because their empire comprised of regions that harboured Kannada, Telugu, Marathi, Urdu and Tamil
speakers. The literary quality of the inscriptions dwindled with the passage of
time and the inscriptions became mere purveyors of royal dictums.
There
was sharp decline in the installation of the inscriptions after the seventeenth
century. They became few and far between. They lacked in variety and were very
matter of fact in nature. This can be attributed to the invention of other
modes of writing, documentation and preservation.
The
thematic treatment of the inscriptions is dealt with in another entry: Hero Stones, Sati Stones and nisidige
Stones.
Some important inscriptions of Karnataka are presented as separate entries in the section on inscriptions.
Further Readings and Links:
1. ‘Inscriptions of the
western Gangas’, by KV Ramesh - Indian Council of Historical Research
2. ‘Jainism in South India
and some Jaina epigraphs’ by P.B. Desai, 1957, published by Gulabchand Hirach
and Doshi
3. ‘The Chalukyas of Kalyana
and the Kalachuris’ by B.R.Gopal, 1981, Karnatak University, Dharwada.
4. ‘The Indian Temples in
Karnataka Inscriptions and Architecture’ by M.A. Dhaky, 1977,
5.
‘Karnatak Inscriptions’ by R.S. Panchamukhi and E.E.
Annigeri, 1941, Kannada Research Institute, Dharwar
6.
‘Karnatak Inscriptions’ by B.R. Gopal, 1977, Kannada
research Institute, Dharwar.
7.
‘Descriptive Catalogue of Kannada Inscriptions in
Maharashtra’ by G.N. Upadhyaya, 2005, Abhijit Prakashana
8.
‘Shasana Vyasanga: ‘Samadhi, Balidana, Veeramarana
Smarakagalu’ By M.M. Kalburgi, 1980, Dharwar
9.
‘Mastikallugalu-ondu adhyayana’ By Basavaraja
Kalgudi, Bangalore University, Bangalore.
10. ‘Karnatakada Veeragallugalu’ By
R.Sheshashastry, Kannada Sahitya Parishattu,
11. “Kannada Shasanagala Samskritika Adhyayana’ By
M. Chidananda Murthy, University of Mysore, Mysore.
12. ‘Memorial Stones: a study of their origin,
significance and variety’ Editors: Settar S., Sontheimer Gunther Dietz, 1982,
Institute of Indian Art History, Karnataka University, South Asia Institute,
University of Heidelberg, Germany (Dharwar, New Delhi)
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