SHANTALA DEVI

Shantaladevi (shAntaladEvi) (ಶಾಂತಲದೇವಿ, ಶಾಂತಲಾ) is one of the most celebrated women in the history of Karnataka. She was the first wife of Vishnuvardhana the Hoysala monarch who ruled during 1108-1142 A.D. She was greatly renowned as an excellent dancer. She was also known for her patronage for religion and art. Shantaladevi was born in a village called Balligave in Shivamogga district. She belonged to the Jaina religion. Marasingamayya and Machikabbe were her parents. Prabhachandradeva was her guru. Many inscriptions installed during this period have praised Shantaladevi for her many attributes. She was married to Vishnuvardhana even before his ascension to the throne and she wielded a lot of influence in the affairs of the state. ‘paTTa mahAdEvi’ and ‘savatigandhavAraNe’ are two among the many titles bestowed on her. She had two children. kumAra ballALa, a son passed away during her life time and hariyaladEvi, a daughter was married to a general called Bharatesha.

Shantaladevi was deemed to be an expert in dance, music and instrumental music. Her beauty is said to have inspired many sculptures in Belur and Halebid.

Shantaladevi’s devotion for her religion is manifested in the Jaina temples built by her. She built Savathi Gandavara temple in 940 A.D. in Chandragiri at Shravanabelagola. She donated moTTenavile village to her guru Prabhachandrasiddanthadevaru for routine pooja celebrations and offering of food. She also built Yelasanakatte tank for the temple. An inscription found near the kappe cennigarAya temple in bElUr says that the temple was built under her patronage. The Shantaleshvara temple in Halebid is named after her. Shantigrama, a small village in Hassan district was built by her. It contains many Hindu temples such as Keshava, Narasimha, Mahishsmardini and Veerabhadra in addition to a jaina basadi dedicated to Shantinatha. It is said that Shantala was insturumental in building and renovating most of them. The Shantaleshvara temple at Shivagange hills was built by Vishnuvardhana to commemorate his wife after she gave up her life at that place.

Vishnivardhana’s conversion to Sri Vaishnava religion did not diminish the influence of Shantaladevi in any way. Even she was very catholic in her attitude and encouraged the building of many Vaishnava temples. Scholars have identified some sculptures found in the Chennakeshava temple as those of Shantalaa. She gave up her life voluntarily according to Jaina beliefs, in 1131 A.D. at Shivaganga a hill temple in Bangalore rural district. (sallEKana vrata) Many Kannada novels are written and ballets are made based on the life of Shantaladevi.

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