Ancient Inscriptions

The ancient temples of India have inscriptions on them which throw light on the history of that period. 

At Ramlingeshwar Temple complex in Avani has several shrines  of 10th Century A.D. and one can find some inscriptions in Kannada of that period.

At Shravanabelagola on the Indragiri hill  inside the Siddhara Basadi there are two pillars with inscriptions on them. The tops are in the form of beautiful towers. The inscriptions are the epitaphs of two Jaina teachers named Panditarya, who died in 1398 and Srutamuni, who died in 1432 A.D.

We can see inscriptions in the old Kannada on one of the pillar at the 12th century     Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebid. 

Siddhara Basadi, Shravanabelagola

At Shravanabelagola on the Indragiri hill there are various ancient monuments all over the hillock. One among them is Siddhara Basadi immediately to the right of the entrance leading into the outer enclosure around the Gommateshwara image.

This is a small shrine  built in 14th century that is facing the west that has only a Garbhagriha and a sukhanasi. 

In the garbhagriha is a seated figure of a saint Siddha. 

On both sides of the garbhagriha doorway stand two fine inscribed pillars that were erected in 1398 and 1432 in honour of Saint Pandithardhya and Srtamuni respectively. One of the magnificent tower is shown above.

Inscriptions, Shravanbelagla

Through out the state of Karnataka one can find more than 24000 Kannada inscriptions. Most of these relate to Buddhism and Jainism. They were inscribed during the rule of various dynasties such as Ganga, Rashtrakuta, Chalukya, Hoysala and Vijayanagara Empire. 

At Shravanbelagla such inscriptions were written on the granite rocks of the two hillocks.

On Vindayagiri the 7th century Old Kannada inscriptions.

On Chandragiri the 7th century Old Kannada inscription.