Kalya is a historic settlement located in Magadi Taluk, Bengaluru South district of Karnataka, India. Kalya as an early settlement can be attested by prehistoric rock art and tools reported from Kalya and inscriptional evidence in the village starting from 550 CE to the early 17th century CE, making it one of the few places in the country that has been continuously inhabited for 3000 to 3500 years.

Kalya has been variously documented as Kalleha, Kalyaha and Kalleha Pattana in the inscriptions, this village houses more than 28 documented inscriptions, three tiger-hunting hero stones, four Veera Masti stones, Nisidhi stones, a lingamudra stone, Kalleshwara temple, tomb of the famous 12th-century poet Palkuriki Somanatha, a Veerashaiva Jangam Mutt, Manasthamba, and icons of Buddhist, Jaina, Vaishnava, and Shaiva sects Alongside these historical remnants, Prehistoric rock art and tools have also been reported from Kalya, indicating that this village has been inhabited for approximately 3500–4000 years.

Kalya has also been identified with "bauddhavasapuri kalleha pattana", literally translated as "the Kalavavhithi city where Buddhists live" as documented in a copper plate inscription of Turuvekere by Dr Chidanandamurthy. The tomb of the famous 12th-century poet Palkuriki Somanatha, the author of the first biographical work on Basavanna, the Basava Purana, is in the village. The story of how he came about this village is mentioned in his own work and he says that enamored by the devotion of the shivasharane Sarvashile Chennamma, he came to the village to seek her blessings and decided to stay in the village upon the request of the saintess made Kalya his abode for the rest of his life.

Kalya 1368 CE Jain-Srivaishnava conflict resolution Inscription

It is one of the most remarkable inscription documented in Karnataka, it is a Kannada inscription dated to 1368 CE issued during the reign of Bukkaraya II. It records that a dialogue (saṃvāja) between Jains and the Srivaishnavas escalated into a fight and the Jains had been unjustly killed by the Srivaishnavas, this conflict was taken to the court of Bukkaraya II of the Vijayanagara Kingdom by the Jains of Anegondi, Penukonda, Hospattana and Kalya, this conflict was resolved by the king by ordering the Srivaishnavas of Tirumala, Tirunarayanapura (Melukote) and Srirangam to allow the rightful playing of the panchamahavadyas ( five great instruments ) in the Jain temples and that the Srivaishnavas had to issue decrees and install it in Jain temples following the order throughout the kingdom. The inscription starts with an invocatory verse on Ramanuja, ironically the verse praises Ramanuja as being a great subduer of the pāsaṇḍas (sramanas) and records the Srivaishnavas as bhakta, the imitation of this inscription was also erected in Shravanabelagola, it was put up after a month of being installed in Kalya. The inscription was documented and published in Volume 9, Epigraphia carnatica.

Transliteration of the inscription The text of the inscription is published in Volume 9, Epigraphia Carnatica. Line NumberKannadaIAST1ಸ್ವಸ್ತಿ ಸಮಸ್ತ ಪ್ರsvasti samasta pra2 ಶಸ್ತಿ ಸಹಿತಂ|| ಪಾಷśasti sahitaṃ|| pāṣa3ಂಡ ಸಾಗರ ಮಹಾವಡವಾṃḍa sāgara mahāvaḍavā4ಮುಖಾಗ್ನಿ ಶ್ರೀ ರಂಗರಾmukhāgni śrī raṃgarā5ಜ ಚರಣಾಂಬುಜ ಮೂja caraṇāṃbuja mū6ಲದಾಸಃ ಶ್ರೀವಿಷ್ಣುಲೋಕladāsaḥ śrīviṣṇuloka7ಮಣಿ ಮಂಟಪ ಮಾರ್ಗmaṇi maṃṭapa mārga8ದಾಯೀ ರಾಮಾನುಜೋ ವಿಜಯdāyī rāmānujo vijaya9ತೇ ಯತಿರಾಜ ರಾಜಃ || ಶಕ ವte yatirāja rājaḥ || śaka va10ರ್ಷ ೧೨೯೦ನೆಯ ಕೀಲಕ ಸಂrṣa 1290neya kīlaka saṃ11ವತ್ಸರದ ಶ್ರಾವಣ ಶು ೨ ಸೋvatsarada śrāvaṇa śu 2 so12ದಲು ಶ್ರೀಮನ್ ಮಹಾಮಂdalu śrīman mahāmaṃ13ಡಳೇಶ್ವರಂ ಅರಿರಾಯ ವಿಭಾḍaleśvaraṃ arirāya vibhā14ಡ ಭಾಷೆಗೆ ತಪ್ಪುವ ರಾḍa bhāṣhege tappuva rā15ಯರಗಂಡ ಶ್ರೀವೀರ ಬುಕ್ಕyaragaṃḍa śrīvīra bukka16ರಾಯನು ಪ್ರಿತುವಿ ರಾಜ್ಯವrāyanu prituvi rājyava17ನಾಳುವ ಕಾಲದಲಿ ಜಇನnāluva kāladali jaina18ರಿಗೆ ಭಕ್ತರಿಗೆ ಸಂವಾಜವಾದrige bhaktarige saṃvājavāda19ಲ್ಲಿ ಆನೆಯಗೊಂದಿ ಹೊಸಪlli āneyagoṃdi hosapa20ಟ್ಟಣ ಪೆನುಗುಂಡೆ ಕಳ್ಯಹṭṭaṇa penuguṃḍe kalyaha21ವೊಳಗಾದ ಸಮಸ್ತ ನಾಡvolagāda samasta nāḍa22ಜಇನರು ಬುಕ್ಕರಾಯಂಗೆ ಭjainaru bukkarāyaṃge bha23ಕ್ತರು ಅನ್ಯಾಯದಲು ಕೊಲ್ಲುktaru anyāyadalu kollu24ವದನು ಬಿಂನಹಂ ಮಾಡvadanu biṃnahaṃ māḍa25ಲಾಗಿ ಕೋವಿಲ್ | ತಿರುಮಲೆ |lāgi kovil | tirumale |26ಪೆರುಮಾ ಕೋವಿಲು | ತಿರುನಾperumā kovilu | tirunā27ರಾಯಣಪುರ ಮುಖ್ಯವಾrāyaṇapura mukhyavā28ದ ಸಕಳಾಚಾರ್ಯ್ಯರು ಸda sakalāchāryaru sa29ಕಳ ಸಮಯಿಗಳು ಸಕಳkala samayigalu sakala30ಸಾತ್ವಿಕರು ಮೋಷ್ಟಿಕರು ತಿsātvikaru moṣṭikaru ti31ರುಪಣಿ ತಿರುವಿಡಿ ತಂಣಿrupaṇi tiruviḍi taṃṇi32ರವರು ನಾಲ್ವತ್ತೆಂಟು ತಲೆravaru nālvatteṃṭu tale33ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಸಾವಂತ ಬೋವmakkalu sāvaṃta bova34ಕ್ಕಳು ತಿರಿಕುಲ ಜಾಂಬವಕುಲkkalu tirikula jāṃbavakula35ವೊಳಗಾದ ಪದಿನೆಂಟು ನಾಡಾvolagāda padineṃṭu nāḍā36ಶ್ರೀವಇಷ್ಣವರ ಕಯ್ಯಲು ಮಹಾśrīvaiṣṇavara kayyalu mahā37ರಾಯನು ಜಇನರು ನಿಂಮrāyanu jainaru niṃma38ವಇಷ್ಣವ ದರುಸನದ ಮಱೆ ಒvaiṣṇava darusanada mare o39ಕ್ಕೆವುವೆಂದು ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಸಂಮಂಧkkeveṃdu koṭṭa saṃmaṃdha40ಪಂಚ ಬಸ್ತಿಗಳಲಿ ಕಳಸ ಜpaṃca bastigaḻali kaḻasa ja41ಗಳೆ ಜಗಟೆ ಮೊದಲಾದ ಪಂgale jagaṭe modalāda paṃ42ಚ ಮಹಾವಾದ್ಯವೂ ಸಲುca mahāvādyavū salu43ಉದು ಅನ್ಯರಿ[ಗೆ] ಬರಕೂಡದು ಇudu anyari[ge] barakūḍadu i44ಜಇನ ಸಮಯಕೆ ಸಲುವುjaina samayake saluvu45ದೆಂದು ಹಾನಿವ್ರಿದ್ಧಿಯಾದ .deṃdu hānivriddhiyāda46. ಶ್ರೀವಇ. śrīvai47ಷ್ಣವ ಸಮಯṣṇava samaya48. . . . .. . . . .49. . . ಯೀ. . . . yi50ಮರ್ಯ್ಯಾದೆ. maryyāde51. . . . .. lu ellā rājya52ದೊಳಗುಳdoḻaguḻḻa53ಬಸ್ತಿ .basti54ಶ್ರೀವಇಷ್ಣವśrīvayiṣṇava55. . . . .. . . . .56ನೆಟ್ಟು ಕೊಟ್ಟೆವುneṭṭu koṭṭevu

Kalya 14thcentury CE Mukkode Jina Shloka Inscription It is a Kannada inscription dated to the 14th century CE. It consists of a verse from the Pramanasangraha, an 8th-century J ain composition authored by Akalanka.

Physical characteristics The inscription is inscribed in the Kannada language and script. The inscription is 95 cm tall & 36 cm wide, while the characters are approximately 5.3 cm tall, 6.2 cm wide & 0.25 cm deep.

Transliteration of the inscription The inscription was published in the Quaternary Journal of the Mythic society. KannadaIAST1ಶ್ರೀ ಮತ್ಪರಮ ಗಂಭೀ śrī matparama gaṃbhī2ರಂಸ್ಯಾದ್ವಾದ raṃsyādvādā3ಮೋಘ ಲಾಂಛನಂ mogha lāṃchanaṃ4ಜೀಯತ್ರೈಲೋಕ ನಾ jīyātrailoka nā5ತಸ್ಯ ಶಾಸನಂ ಜಿ thasya śāsanaṃ ji6ನ ಶಾಸನಂ na śāsanaṃ

Translation One translation is: "the most respectful, the most beautiful symbol of the syadvada doctrine, an inscription of the lord of the three worlds, and an inscription of the Jains."

Kalya Kalleshwara Temple, 1536 CE, Singarajayya Divige-Harivana Donation Inscription It is a Kannada inscription dated to March 22, 1536 CE and records the donation of rituals items to the god Kalleshwara by a Singarayya.

Physical characteristics The inscription is inscribed in the Kannada language and script. The inscription is 102 cm tall and 244 cm wide (inscription area), while the characters are approximately 6.8 cm tall, 5.2 cm wide, and 0.3 cm deep.

Transliteration of the inscription The transliteration is published in the Quaternary Journal of Mythic Society. KannadaIAST1o ಕವo kava2೦ ದುರ್ಮತಿ ಸಂವತ್ಸರದ ಚಯಿತ್ರ ಶು ೧ ಲು ಶ್ರೀಮತು ಕಲ್ಲೇಶ್ವರಲಿಂಗನಿಗೆ0 durmati saṃvatsarada cayitra śu 1 lu śrīmatu kalleśvaraliṃganigĕ3೦ ಸಿಂಗರಾಜಯ್ಯ ಮಾಡಿದ ಸೇವೆ ಹರಿವಾಣ . ಕಂಚಿನ ದೀವಿಗೆ0 siṃgarājayya māḍida sevĕ harivāṇa . kaṃcina dīvigĕ4೦ ಕಂಬಿ(ಚಿ) . . . ಕಾಣಿ . . ದೀವಿಗೆ ೨ ಅ. . . . ಬಾರ . . ೧. . .0 kaṃbi(ci) . . . kāṇi . . dīvigĕ 2 a. . . . bāra . . 1. . .5೦ ಹೊಲ.. ಅ..ಬಿಡಿಸಿದ . . . . . .0 hŏla.. a..biḍisida . . . . . .6೦ . . . . ನೈವೇದ್ಯಕೆ . ಖ೧ ಮೆಲು . . . . . . . . . . . . .0 . . . . naivedyakĕ . kha1 mĕlu . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kalya Kalleshwara Temple 1540CE Singaraja's Timmaraja Donation Inscription

It is a Kannada inscription dated to 1540 CE paleographically. It records land grants to the god Kalleshwara by a Singaraja, it indicates the area of land donated and other particulars. Interestingly, interestingly it records the land as being donated on the orders of the deity Kalleshwara himself instead of the local ruler or king, indicating the people's recognition of the god Kalleshwara as a legitimate authority over the land. Many Indian kings and kingdoms were ruled under the name of the god, rulers positing themselves as the true representatives of such a god, the Travancore kingdom, Kashi were some places that were ruled under this norm. It was discovered by the Mythic Society Bengaluru Inscriptions 3D Digital Conservation Project team.

Physical characteristics The inscription is inscribed in Kannada language and script. The inscription stone measures 91 cm tall & 301 cm wide , while the characters are approximately 8.1 cm tall, 9.3 cm wide & 0.4 cm deep.

Transliteration of the inscription KannadaIAST1ಲಕ್ಕಪ್ಪ ಗೋಪಿನಾಥ ಅರಸರ ಮಗ ತಿಮ್ಮರಾಜನಿಗೆ ವಾಮನ ಮುದ್ರೆ ಮುಡಣ ಕಲ್ಲು lakappa gopinātha ārāsara māga tiṃmarājarigĕ vāmana mudrĕ khalla muḍaṇa2ಹಳೆಯಾ ಉರು ಕುಪ್ಪಯ ಹೊಲ ಖ೧ ಘದೆ ಕೆಱೆಯ ಕೆಳಗೆ ಕ ೧ ಅರೋಭರು ಅಳುಪ ಸಲ್ಲದು ಕಲಿಸ್ವರ ದೇ halĕyā uru kuppaya ̤ hŏla kha1 ghadĕ kĕṟĕya kĕlagĕ ka ̤ 1 arobharu alupa ̤ salladu kalisvara de3ವರ ನಿರುಪದಿಂ ಸಿಂಗರಾಜಗಳು ದನಾ ದರಪೂರ್ವvara nirupadiṃ siṃgarājagalu danā ̤ darapūrva4ಕವಾಗಿ ಖೊಟೆಉ ಚಾವಡಿವೀರೆಗೌಡನkavāgi khŏṭĕu cāvaḍivīrĕgauḍana5ಬರಹ ಯೀ ಗ್ರಾಮಕ್ಕೆ ಅಳುಪಿದವರು ವರಾಣಸಿಯಲbaraha yī grāmakkĕ alupidavaru ̤ varāṇasiyali6ಗೋವ ಕೊಂgova kŏṃ7ದ ಪಾಪಕ್ಕೆda pāpakkĕ8ಹೋಹರು hoharu

The Kalya Kalleshwara Temple 1549 CE Immadi Inscription This incomplete Kannada inscription is dated to 1549CE, with the content available, it possibly pertains to a grant by a king, the mention of the word "immadi" in other inscriptions including this, indicates that this was a donation by Immadi Kempegowda of the Yelahanka Naadaprabhu dynasty under the Karnataka (Vijayanagara) empire. It was discovered by The Mythic Society Bengaluru Inscriptions 3D Digital Conservation Project team.

Physical characteristics The inscription is inscribed in Kannada language and script and is dated to the 1549CE. The inscription stone measures 82 cm tall by 112 cm wide, while the characters themselves are approximately 11.1 cm tall, 7.2 cm wide & 0.3 cm deep.

Transliteration of the inscription KannadaIAST1೦ ಕೀಲಕ ಸಂವಶ್ಚರದ0 kīlaka saṃvaścarada2೦ ಪುಷ್ಯ ಶುದ್ಧ೧ಲೂ ಶ್ರೀ0 puṣya śuddha1lū śrī3೦ ಮತು ಯಿಂಮಡಿ0 matu yiṃmaḍi4೦ . . . . . . . . .0 . . . . . . . . .5೦ . .ಶ . . . .0 . .śa . . . .6೦ . . . . . . . . . .0 . . . . . . . . . .

The Kalya Kalleshwara Temple 17th century Mahabhaktha Inscription

It is an incomplete Kannada inscription dated paleographically to the 17th century CE, it records a great devotee (mahabhakta) of the god Kalleshwara, his name possibly starts with "Talada". The Inscription was discovered by The Mythic Society Bengaluru Inscription 3D Digital Conservation Project team.

Physical characteristics The inscription is inscribed in both Kannada language and script and is dated to the 17th Century. The inscription stone measures 36 cm tall by 144 cm wide (on the steps leading to Kalleshwara Temple), while the characters themselves are approximately 8.9 cm tall, 3.8 cm wide & 0.4 cm deep

Transliteration of the Inscription The inscription is a total of two lines. KannadaIAST1ಶ್ರೀಮತು ತಾಳದ .śrīmatu tāl̤ada .2ಮಹ ಬಕ್ತ . .maha bakta . .

Kalya Kalleshwara Temple 16th century CE Mandala Inscription It is a very worn-out Kannada inscription, the legible text indicates a grant to the siddas of God (Kalleshwara). A tantric mandala symbol is beside the inscription. The Inscription was discovered by The Mythic Society Bengaluru Inscription 3D Digital Conservation Project team.

Physical characteristics The inscription is inscribed in Kannada language and script. The inscription stone is 103 cm tall & 186 cm wide, while the characters are approximately 6.8 cm tall, 5.3 cm wide & 0.3 cm deep.

Transliteration of the Inscription KannadaIAST1. . ರ ದೇವರ . .ಸಿದರಿಗೆ . . ra devara. .sidarige

Kalya Kalleshwara Temple 16th century CE Ballabatta Boulder Inscription It is a Kannada inscription dated to 18-July-1531 (Julian). Much of the text is effaced, the legible text indicates a possible land grant by a ballalbatta the god (Kalleshwara).

Physical characteristics The inscription is inscribed in Kannada language and script. The inscription is 57 cm tall & 117 cm wide, while the characters are approximately 6.6 cm tall, 8.2 cm wide & 0.6 cm deep.