Atakur Inscription (cropped)

The Atakur inscription (sometimes spelt Athakur, Athagur, Athkur, Atkur or Atukur) dated 949-950 C.E. is an inscribed memorial stone (Hero stone) with classical Kannada composition inscription.Fleet in Hultzsch (1900), p.51Datta (1988), p.1717 It was discovered at the Chelleshvara temple at Atakur village about 23 km from Mandya city in the Karnataka state, India. The "motion packed" sculptured hero stone describes two events in poetic Kannada; the battle between "Kali" the hound and a wild boar, and the victory of Rashtrakuta Emperor Krishna III over the Chola dynasty of Tanjore in the famous battle of Takkolam.Sarma (1992), p.20Sarma (1992), p.28Sarma (1992), p.133Adiga (2006), p.307 According to historians I. K. Sarma and Singh memorial stones for warriors are common in medieval India, but one erected in memory of an animal is considered unique.Sarma (1992), p.131

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The many battles fought between the Rashtrakuta dynasty (with the support of their vassal King Butuga II of the Western Ganga Dynasty) and the Cholas of Tanjore have been the subject of many a medieval hero stone. It is known from this inscription which is dated to 949-950 C.E (''saka'' 872),Campbell (1896), p.421Fleet (1907), p.60Kamat (1980), p.91Moraes (1931), p.86 King Butuga II had a favorite hound called "Kali" which helped a warrior named Manlarata (or Manalera, an ''aid-de-camp'' of Butuga II) fight the Chola king Rajaditya on the battlefield. Manlarata, whom the inscription refers to as ''Valabhipuravaresvara'' ("Lord of Vallabhi")Gopal in Adiga (2006), p.85 was able to drive the Chola armies away while King Butuga II, riding an elephant on the battlefield, killed the Chola King. In the inscription, the Rashtrakuta Emperor Krishna III showeres high praise on Butuga II for his achievement (the ''Neralige'' inscription illustrates in more detail the battle of Takkolam). Manalarata, whose valor is poetically described in the inscription requested Butuga II to give him the brave hound in return for his exploits on the battlefield.

In a separate incident, during a hunt, the hound was involved in a fight with a wild boar in a trench near the village of Beltur leading to the death of both animals in the conflict. This inscribed memorial stone was erected by a grief-stricken Manlarata in honor of the brave dog.Singh (2009), p.48Sarma (1992), p.21Fleet (1907), p.58 The inscription warns the local priest (''gorava'') of "sin" if he were to have his food before "offering worship to the memorial stone". According to historian Settar, the ''gorava'' mentioned in the inscription is a Shaiva priest where as Ferdinand Kittel considers him a Shaiva mendicant.Settar and Kittel in Adiga (2006), p.307, p.325 Commemorating his victory in battle, Emperor Krishna III gifted his vassal King Butuga II large areas of his kingdom including the provinces of Banavasi-12000, Belavola-300, Purugere-300, Kisukad-70 and the Bagenad-70. Butuga II gifted his faithful warrior Manlarata the villages of Atakur-12 and Koteyur.Campbell (1896), p.421Adiga (2006), p.120

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* {{cite book , last=Fleet, first=John Faithfull, editor-last=Hultzsch, editor-first=E, title=Epigraphia Indica and Record of the Archæological Survey of India, Volume 6, year=2011 , orig-year=1900, publisher=Government of India Central Print, location=Calcutta, isbn=978-1-246-60547-1, chapter=Epigraphia Indica

Kannada literature
Literature of Karnataka
Earliest known manuscripts by language
Western Ganga dynasty
Kannada inscriptions
10th-century inscriptions
Rashtrakuta dynasty