The Begur inscriptions and hero stones are significant archaeological and epigraphical artifacts located primarily in Begur, a locality within the Bengaluru South taluk. Spanning a period from the Western Ganga dynasty (c. 6th-10th centuries CE) through the Chola and later periods (up to the 16th century CE), these artifacts are crucial for understanding the early history of Bengaluru. Notably, a 9th/10th-century inscription found here contains the earliest known written reference to "Bengulooru" (Bengaluru), challenging later narratives about the city's founding.
The inscriptions and hero stones, mainly concentrated within the Panchalingeshwara Temple complex (also known as Nageshvara Temple), provide valuable insights into the region's political history, including the rule of the Western Gangas and Cholas, administrative divisions like Bempur-naadu, and local conflicts. They also illuminate diverse religious practices, revealing the co-existence and patronage of both Hinduism (specifically Shaivism) and Jainism, evidenced by temple grants and records of the sallekhana ritual. Furthermore, the artifacts shed light on socio-cultural aspects, such as the veneration of heroes (viragallu), community rituals, and the evolution of the Kannada and Tamil languages in the area. Ongoing conservation efforts, including digital preservation initiatives, aim to safeguard these irreplaceable links to Bengaluru's past.
Significance
The Begur inscriptions and hero stones collectively hold immense significance for reconstructing the history and culture of the Bengaluru region and medieval South India more broadly.
Begur has a long history, known in various periods by names such as Bempur, Veppur, and Behur.1 The earliest documented evidence of the settlement comes from a copper plate inscription dated 517 CE, cataloged as Doddaballapur inscription number 68 in Volume 9 of Epigraphia Carnatica. Inscriptions indicate that Begur, often referred to as Bempur-naadu or Begur-naadu, functioned as a significant administrative division (naadu) over several centuries. The existence of a fort and numerous inscriptions and hero stones dating from the 10th to the 16th centuries further underscore its historical importance within the Bengaluru region.
Early history of Bengaluru: The most prominent significance lies in establishing the antiquity of the name "Bengaluru" . The c. 900 CE hero stone mentioning the "Bengaluru battle" provides the earliest known written evidence for the place name, pushing its documented existence back by over 600 years compared to the 16th-century founding attributed to Kempe Gowda I. This finding fundamentally reshapes the understanding of the city's origins.
Political and Administrative History: The inscriptions offer crucial data on the Western Ganga dynasty's administration in the region. They confirm Begur's status as an important administrative center (naadu) within Gangavadi and illuminate the role of powerful local chieftains like Nagatara, who acted as governors, military leaders, and patrons. References to specific Ganga kings (Ereyappa, Satyavakya Permmadi) and documented conflicts (Battle of Tumbepadi, battles against Beeravarma, Viramahendra) provide anchors for political chronology and illustrate interactions with contemporary powers like the Nolambas and possibly the Cholas or Chalukyas. The later Tamil inscriptions reflect the subsequent Chola political dominance.
Religious Landscape: The inscriptions from Begur reveal a strong presence of both Hinduism and Jainism, highlighting the region's diverse religious practices. The construction of the Somanatha temple, now known as the Nageshwara temple, by the chieftain Nagatara in 900 CE reflects the significance of temple building and religious patronage. This temple became the focal point of the Begur Panchalingeshwara temple complex, which later housed several other temples. An inscription from 900CE details the grant of tax revenues and lands to the Somanatha temple, highlighting the economic support provided to religious institutions. The inscription also mentions the practice of kālaṃkaḻci (foot-washing ritual), performed by Nagatara as an act of devotion, and records various donations to temples, indicating the community's active involvement in religious life. The prevalence of Jainism is evident from the inscription mentioning Tondabbe as Nagatara's daughter, who chose the Jain ritual of Sanyasam (voluntary death) for her final moments, and another inscription documenting a donation to the Chokkimayya Jinalaya, a Jaina Basadi. Additionally, hero stones commemorating individuals who died in battles reflect the warrior culture and the importance of valor in the society.
Socio-Cultural Practices: Hero stones (viragallu) are particularly rich sources for understanding societal values and practices. They underscore the high cultural value placed on heroism, martial prowess, and self-sacrifice for the community, whether in large-scale battles (Nagatara hero stone), defending cattle (turugol stones like Bydukura Kerega's), or protecting the village. The detailed sculptural depictions on stones like Nagatara's provide visual information on warfare techniques, weaponry, attire, ornamentation, and status symbols of the period. Inscriptions also record specific rituals like kālaṃkaḻci (foot-washing as part of a grant) and sallekhana, offering glimpses into religious and social customs. These stones provide a unique window into the lives and ideals of individuals, including local leaders and potentially commoners, complementing records focused solely on royalty.
Linguistic evolution: The inscriptions serve as primary data for tracing the development of the Kannada language and script during the c. 9th-15th centuries. The presence of later inscriptions also documents linguistic interaction and the influence of different ruling powers and communities in the region over time.Urban development: The 900CE inscription mentioning the "Benguluru" battle is the first written record of the city's name, firmly establishing Begur as a crucial location in Bengaluru's early history and pushing back the documented history of the city's name by several centuries. The inscription that mentions twelve villages under the administration of Begur (Bempuru) points to the existence of a network of settlements in the region, indicating an early form of urban organization. These villages, including present-day Begur, Togur, and Hulimangala, offer a glimpse into the spatial extent of Begur's influence in ancient times. Additionally, the mention of specific locations like Tumbepadi (possibly present-day Tumbadi in Tumkur district) and Saraki (still bearing the same name today) provides valuable geographical context and helps in understanding the historical landscape of the region. The reference to "khandugas" of land in an inscription offers insights into the land measurement systems used during that period, contributing to our understanding of administrative practices and economic activities related to land ownership. Furthermore, the Begur lake, referred to as "Veppur Periya Ēri" in a 12th-century Tamil inscription, highlights the importance of water resources in the development of the settlement.
The concentration of numerous inscriptions, hero stones, a major temple complex (Panchalingeshwara), and a fort indicates that Begur was a well-established and significant settlement during the medieval period, functioning as an administrative, religious, and likely economic hub. The epigraphic evidence thus contributes to understanding the patterns of early urban development in the Bengaluru region.
In essence, the Begur site acts as a microcosm of medieval South Indian history, revealing the interplay of politics, religion, society, and culture through the enduring medium of stone inscriptions and memorial art.
Discovery and dating The discovery and documentation of Begur's inscriptions and hero stones represent a cumulative effort spanning over a century. The initial systematic recording was undertaken by Benjamin Lewis Rice, whose work published in the Epigraphia Carnatica (EC) series, particularly Volume 9 (1905) and its supplements, documented many of the inscriptions first known to scholarship. Rice's pioneering work laid the foundation for subsequent research.
Following Rice, academic fieldwork and scholarly publications continued to uncover and analyze Begur's epigraphs. A notable example is the discovery and publication of the Nagatara temple construction inscription by historian Dr. Devarakonda Reddy in Itihasa Darshana (Volume 3), the journal of the Karnataka Itihasa Academy. Such academic endeavors have refined interpretations and brought previously overlooked inscriptions to light. The "Bengaluru War" inscription, though identified and recorded in 1915, gained wider attention later.
More recently, the "Bengaluru Inscriptions 3D Digital Conservation Project," initiated by The Mythic Society in 2021, represents a modern phase of discovery and documentation. This project uses high-resolution 3D scanning technology not only to preserve existing inscriptions digitally but also to aid in their decipherment and has led to the identification of previously undocumented inscriptions in the broader Bengaluru region. This ongoing process highlights that the study of Begur's epigraphy is dynamic, with new information and interpretations emerging even in the 21st century.
Dating these artifacts relies on several methodologies. For inscribed stones, paleography, the analysis of the script's form and evolution, is a primary tool. J.F. Fleet's detailed analysis of the Kannada characters on the large Nagatara hero stone in Epigraphia Indica Vol. VI provides a classic example, comparing letter forms to establish a relative chronology. Historical context is also crucial; inscriptions are often dated by referencing known rulers (like Ganga king Ereyappa or Satyavakya Permmadi) or specific events (like the "Bengaluru battle") mentioned in the text. Cross-referencing details with other dated inscriptions from the region further aids in establishing timelines.
However, challenges exist. Many hero stones (viragallu) lack inscriptions, making dating more complex. In such cases, dating relies on analyzing the sculptural style, including depictions of clothing, weaponry, ornamentation, and artistic conventions, comparing them to dated examples. Furthermore, the intense urbanization of the Bengaluru region has resulted in many documented inscriptions being lost, damaged, or moved from their original locations, complicating verification and study. The Mythic Society's project attempts to track the current status of these stones, marking them as traceable, lost, or of unknown status on their digital maps. This multi-faceted approach, combining epigraphy, paleography, art history, historical correlation, and modern documentation techniques, is necessary to understand the chronology of the Begur artifacts.
Begur 900 CE Nagatara's Somanatha Temple construction inscription
This stone inscription, dated paleographically to the early 10th century CE (c. 900 CE), documents the construction of the Somanatha Temple by the Western Ganga chieftain Nagatara. It provides significant insights into the political, religious, and social context of Begur during the Ganga period.
Context of the inscription