Hassan: A Hoysala inscription found in the outside prakara of a Shiva temple at Talaluru village in Arasikere taluk of the Hassan district says Prof. T. Murugeshi, a retired associate professor in Ancient History and Archaeology, MSRS College, Shirva of Udupi, in his press release here today.
It was written in Kannada language and script of 13th-century characters in five lines. However, the writing contains a number of mistakes. The upper panel depicts a Lingam, with a man seated in folded palms facing towards the Lingam on its right side. On the left is a standing cow. Below this panel, the five lines of writing are found.
The inscription states that on the Subhanu Savat Vaishaka Bahula Brahavara, a person named Kacheya Nayaka, probably a local chief, made a donation for the merit of a Bhantara. Bhantara is a corrupt form of Bhatara, who was mostly a Shaiva pontiff shown sitting before the Lingam in the panel. The details of the date correspond to April 6, 1224, a Thursday, and the writing style also matches the 13th-century Hoysala script.
Arasikere is the heartland of the Hoysala empire and is known for a large number of Hoysala inscriptions and monuments. The Shiva temple of Talaluru was a Hoysala temple but is now completely renovated.
Mr. Harish, a Kannada lecturer at the Government First Grade College of Arasikere, discovered this inscription and brought it to my notice for study. I congratulate Mr. Harish for his antiquarian interest.
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