CHANDRAVALLI
Chandravalli, now a picturesque tourist
destination at a distance of approximately four kilometers from Chitradurga
town in central Karnataka, is one of the famous excavation sites of
Chandravalli was earlier known as
Chandanavati also. Mythology has it that this place was once ruled by
Chandrhasa a Kuntala king. The name Chandravalli is attributed to this reason
by some scholars. Another etymology contends that the place was moon shaped.
The excavation work in Chandravalli was
started around 1909 by veterans such as
R.Narasimhachar, B.L.Rice and R. Shamashastry . It
acquired a wider base after the significant contribution of M.H.Krishna in
1929-30 and Mortimer Wheeler who was the director general of the archaeological
survey of India rounded off the work in 1947.
The site of excavation measures approximately
700m x 750m and it is essentially a housing complex containing brick walls,
drains that are covered, floors paved with red gravel and fire places. It was
also a mortuary at a different time frame. The fruits of these excavations are
derived from three different layers representing different periods and royal
dynasties. These findings and some inscriptions found in the surrounding areas
revealed that Chandravalli was inhabited right from the megalithic age and
neolithic age and proceeded to harbour kings belonging to Kadamba,
Shatahavahana and Hoysala dynasties in that order. Some of these relics have
helped in taking the ancestry of Chandravalli to at least two thousand years.
Coins are among the more important findings
at Chandravalli. Lead coins minted by the Kings of the Chutu dynasty and the
Shathavahana kings who ruled during the third century A.D. are
noteworthy. A ‘Maharathi’ coin measuring 3/4ths of an inch thick demands
attention. Coins inscribed with names such as Mudananda and Chutukulananda also belong to the Chutu dynasty. Coins made of
silver, gold and copper used by neolithic people metal is found plentifully.
Some coins found here have the Buddhist symbols of bodhi tree, stupa and
Chaitya temples etched on them indicating the fact that Chandravalli could have
been under the Buddhist reign during those times. The Roman and Chinese coins
point a finger at our oceanic relations. (Augustus Caeser and Emperor Wu Ti of
Han dynasty respectively) Coins minted by Veera Ballala a Hoysala king were found
at the very first layer. Coins
circulated by Krishnadevaraja Odeyar-3 and Krishnsdeva Raya of Vijayanagar have
also made an appearance here. Mortimer Wheeler found some fifty five coins at
this site.
Many articles of daily use such as an axe,
mortar and a kiln and decorative material both of the earthen and metallic
variety were found at Chandravalli. Many statuettes of Ganesha, elephant, cow,
cock and naked women bear testimony to the ancient origin of this place.
These items included megalithic pottery,
painted vessels and bowls. They are painted in russeet colour. The drawings
make use of various geometrical patterns and vessels themselves come in various
shapes.
The finding of a cist containing a skeleton
and pots containing bones and teeth of animals augment the theory that this
place could have been a mortuary at some point of time.
A rock found near by contains an inscription
erected by Mayurasharma of the Kadamba dynasty testifying that a lake was built
by him after a sting of victories. This inscription in Brahmi script was erected in 350 A.D.
The Ankle caves near Chandravalli date back
to pre Christian era. They contain
passages, hideouts and prison cells. There are stone carvings and paintings
showing Buddhist as well as Hindu influences. There is a provision to harvest
rain water and corridors that ensure proper lighting.
Chandravalli is undoubtedly monumental,
providing irrefutable evidence about the history of Karnataka.
References: 1. Brahmagiri and Chandravalli: Wheeler,
Mortimer 1947, And Ancient
2. Aiyangar, S. Krishnaswami [1995]
(1995), Some Contributions of
3.
Ghosh, Amalananda
[1990] (1990). An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology. BRILL. ISBN 9004092625.
4.
Peter Neal Peregrine,
Melvin Ember, Human Relations Area Files Inc. [2001] (2001). Encyclopedia of
Prehistory.
Springer. ISBN 0306462621.