Inscription stones of Bengaluru refers to numerous historical stone plaques, tablets, and rock carvings bearing inscriptions (epigraphs) and sometimes sculptures (such as hero stones) found throughout the Bengaluru metropolitan area in Karnataka, India. Within the limits of the modern Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, approximately 175 such stones have been documented in various historical surveys and publications.
These artifacts, dating from the Ganga dynasty period (c. 4th century CE) through the Chola, Hoysala, Vijayanagara, Maratha, Mysore Kingdom, and British periods up to the early 20th century, provide invaluable primary source material for understanding the region's history, toponymy, language evolution, socio-religious practices, and administrative structures. They include various types, such as Vīragallu (hero stones), grant inscriptions (recording donations of land or taxes), temple inscriptions, royal decrees, Nisidhi stones (Jain memorials), and records of construction activities.
Written predominantly in Kannada and Tamil languages and scripts, with some examples in Telugu, Sanskrit, Grantha, and Persian, these inscriptions are distributed across numerous historical localities within modern Bengaluru, including Begur, Hebbal, Malleshwaram, Kodigehalli, Domlur, and Yelahanka. Notable discoveries include the Begur inscription (c. 890 CE), which contains the earliest known written reference to the name "Bengaluru". Systematic documentation began with B. Lewis Rice's Epigraphia Carnatica in the late 19th century, followed by publications from the Mysore Archaeological Department and others. However, rapid urbanization, neglect, and weathering pose significant threats to the survival of these artifacts. Preservation efforts are undertaken by governmental bodies like the Karnataka State Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, alongside non-governmental organizations such as The Mythic Society, INTACH Bengaluru Chapter, and citizen initiatives like the 'Inscription Stones of Bengaluru' project, which focuses on discovery, documentation, digital preservation, and raising public awareness.
Toponymy
Inscriptions found in the city have contributed immensely to the study of place names of many Bengaluru localities. In addition, they have helped prove the millennium-old antiquity of the settlement known as Bengaluru. The oldest reference to the name of the city is found at the Nāgeśvara temple complex in Begur. The inscription is dated to circa 900 CE and mentions "Bēngul̤ūr" as a territory around which a war was fought.
A 1247 CE inscription at the Sōmēśvara Temple in Old Madiwala mentions 'Veṇgalūr's big tank'. It is a common feature of Tamil phonetics to replace 'Ba' as used in Kannada with 'Va'.
A Telugu inscription at the Ranganātha Temple in Chikkapete dated 1628 CE mentions 'Bēngul̤ūr' and 'Bēngal̤ūr' numerous times. Notably, it also mentions that Keṃppegauni's son, the second Keṃpegaunayya was ruling at the time of engraving, and extensively lists various peoples and places in and around the settlement. Shortly after, a 1669 CE boulder inscription in present-day Malleshwaram also mentions 'Bēngul̤ura Mahanāḍu', indicating the size of the settlement was large by the time's standards.
An inscription at Kothanur dated 1705 CE records the village being donated for the upkeep of the Venkaṭeśvara Temple in 'Bēngul̤ūra koṭē', i.e. the Bangalore Fort. Similar inscriptions of donation mentioning the city by name are found in Bingipura and Vajarahalli dated 1759 CE and 1765 CE respectively. All these donations were made by the Wodeyars.
Inscriptions dated to the last two decades of the 18th century CE from the Manchi Sōmēśvara Temple in Chikkapete record the building of the temple and the grant it received for upkeep. These were commissioned by a noble from the Hālēri Court in Kodagu and mention the temple being located in 'Bēngal̤ūr's Cikkapēṭe'.
Similarly, inscriptions have confirmed the ancient origins of various localities within the modern city. For example, an inscription found in Malleshwaram, dated 1669 CE, refers to the area as "Mallapura", predating its modern layout. The Hebbal Kittayya inscription from 750 CE mentions "Perbboḷalnāḍu", considered the archaic form of Hebbal. Inscriptions from the 13th-16th centuries refer to Domlur by names like "Tombalur" or "Dombalur". A 10th-century inscription found in Jakkur contains the word "jakkiyū", likely an early version of the area's name, which appears clearly as "Jakkur" in a 1342 CE inscription. An inscription from 1304 CE found in Doddanekkundi mentions the village name as "Nerkundi". Other examples derived from inscriptions include Vinnamangala (modern Binnamangla, mentioned 1266 CE), Bidarkal (modern Doddabidirkal, mentioned 750 CE), Vengalur (modern Madivala, mentioned 1247 CE), Agara (mentioned 870 CE), Gunjur (mentioned 1301 CE), Hoody (mentioned 1332 CE), Kothanur (mentioned 1705 CE), Yeshwantpura (mentioned 1650 CE), Nagashettihalli (mentioned 1342 CE), Kyatamaranahalli (mentioned 1386 CE), and Hessarghatta (mentioned from 1292 CE onwards). These findings help trace the evolution of place names and demonstrate continuous settlement in these areas over centuries.
These findings help trace the evolution of place names and demonstrate continuous settlement in these areas over centuries.
Types of inscriptions The inscription stones found in Bengaluru encompass a variety of types, reflecting different aspects of historical life:
Vīragallus with inscriptions These memorial stones are erected to immortalize individuals who died performing heroic deeds, such as protecting their community in battle or cattle raids. Many examples, particularly dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries but spanning periods like the Ganga, Nolamba, Chola, Hoysala, and Vijaynagar dot the greater Bengaluru region. They often feature relief carvings depicting the heroic event, the hero's journey to heaven (svarga), and worship. These artifacts act as valuable sources for understanding socio-cultural details and micro-history. Examples have been found in areas such as Begur, Hebbal, Agara, Kengeri, T. Dasarahalli, and Kaikondrahalli.
Grants and donations These inscriptions record grants of land, villages, taxes, gifts to temples, or other resources and acts of charity. They were typically made by rulers, officials, merchant guilds, or individuals to temples, Brahmins (as Agrahara), monasteries, or for public works like tank construction. They provide information about land ownership, social hierarchies, and economic activity. Examples include the Hebbal-Kittauya Ganga inscription (c. 750 CE), the Kodigehalli inscriptions (14th-16th centuries CE), and the Malleshwaram inscription (1669 CE). Inscriptions of this kind are also found in Jakkur, Allalasandra, Kethamaranahalli and other places in Bengaluru.
Temple inscriptions Found on the walls, pillars, or foundations of temples, these inscribe details about temple construction, patronages, rituals, donations for temple maintenance, festivals, or the installation of deities. They reveal the antiquity and significance of various temples in Bengaluru and provide insights into the religious dynamics of the past. Temples at Malleshwaram, Domlur, Madivala, Begur, Belur, and Vibhutipura contain such inscriptions. For example, the 1669 CE inscription found in Malleshwaram records the donation of a village to the Mallikarjuna temple by the Maratha king Ekoji I. The Chokkanathaswamy Temple in Domlur also contains several Chola and Hoysala period inscriptions.
Royal decrees and edicts These pronouncements by rulers and officials communicate official orders or proclamations, offering insights into administrative practices, legal systems, and political events. Such inscriptions are found in Domlur, Madivala, Kumbarahalli, and Begur.
Nisidhi inscriptions These are Jaina religious inscriptions erected in remembrance of people who voluntarily led themselves to death by a ritual called Sallekhana. These memorial stones specific to Jainism commemorate the voluntary death undertaken by Jain ascetics or devout laity. Examples of such inscriptions are found in Begur and Kalya.
Construction Commissions
These are inscriptions that document the building or renovation of public works, such as Lakes (kere), Santhes (Markets), Temples, Villages, or fortifications. Such inscriptions are found in Ramasandra, Hoodi, and Begur.
Epigraphy of localities Historical inscriptions are widespread across numerous localities around the city. They indicate the antiquity of human presence and the history of multiple modern settlements. They often also contribute to toponymical studies of these areas.
Hebbal The Hebbal Kittayya Inscription found in this locality is one of the oldest in the city, dating to 750 CE. This inscribed hero-stone was rediscovered on 1 May 2018. The name Perbboḷalnāḍu, mentioned in the inscription, is thought to be the archaic form of the contemporary name Hebbal. Inscriptions recording donations from the 17th century CE are also found in the area. By this period, these texts already refer to the territory by its current name.
Domlur
Most ancient inscriptions of this locality document donations to the Cŏkkanātha Temple. This temple was likely first established in the 13th century CE and continued to be patronized well into the 16th century CE before going into disuse. Inscriptions refer to the region by various names such as Tombalur, Dombalur, and Tesi Manicka Patanam, the first being the oldest as well as most common. These texts are rich with names of patrons, priests and rituals of the temple and many other social features.
Malleshwaram
Malleshwaram has yielded two inscriptions of historical significance. The first, dated to 1669 CE, records a donation to the Mallikarjuna temple by the Maratha king Ekoji I. This inscription mentions the village of Mallapura, an archaic version of the modern name Malleshwaram, and provides insights into the Maratha presence and administrative practices in the region. It also features symbolic engravings of the sun, moon, and linga, which hold cultural and religious significance.
The second inscription, known as the Jakkarayanakere inscription, is undated but likely related to a donation or grant. Although incomplete, it mentions the historical administrative division of "Yalahanka Naad" (present-day Yelahanka), offering valuable geographical context. The inscription's current location and physical condition remain unknown.
Together, these inscriptions shed light on the historical development of Malleshwaram, its connections to broader regional dynamics, and the social and religious practices of the past.
Jakkur
Inscriptions dated ranging from the 9th to the 15th century CE have been found in this area. Two undatable inscriptions estimated palaeographically to be from circa 10th century have been discovered here in recent years. One of these contains the word "jakkiyū", which is possibly an archaic form of the modern name. An inscription recording a land grant from 1342 CE makes clear mention of Jakkur as a village.
Chikkabanavara
Inscriptions dating from the 12th to the 17th centuries CE have been recorded in this locality. Most of these inscriptions are recent discoveries made during the renovation of a Kalyani in the area. One of these, palaeographically dated to circa 17th century CE, reads "kam. . .banavara", suggesting that the name goes back at least four centuries. Other inscriptions in this area also have unique features. One seems to have inscribed the invocatory verse of Bāṇabhaṭṭa's Harṣacarita, for example. Another has cryptic lines that cannot be contextualized, though the "rāja bāṇasura" mentioned could possibly relate to the name of the principality.
Allalasandra