Talagunda

Talagunda is a village in the Shikaripura taluk of Shivamogga district in the state of Karnataka, India. Many inscriptions found here have provided insights into the rise of the Kadamba Dynasty.

History

Talagunda was earlier known as Sthanakunduru and it was an ''agrahara'' (a place of learning- ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಕೇಂದ್ರ).B. L. Rice, p482 This is the earliest known ''agrahara'' found in Karnataka. Built at the time of Gouthamiputa Shathakarni (ಗೌತಮಿಪುತ್ರ ಶಾತಕರ್ಣಿ). An inscription found at Talagunda indicates that Kanchi was a major centre (ghatika) for learning, especially of the vedas taught by learned brahmanas. It indicates that 32 Brahmins were relocated from a place called Ahichchhatra to Sthanagundur by Mukanna (or Trinetra), thereby creating an ''agrahara''.. Mukanna was an ancestor of Mayurasharma, the founder of the Kadamba Dynasty. The extensive remains of Ahichhatra, the Capital town of Northern Panchala have been discovered near Ramnagar village of Aonla Tehsil in the district of Bareilly in the state of Uttara Pradesh. The word ''Ahi'' means ''snake'' or ''Naga'' in Sanskrit. Nagas were a group of ancient people who worshiped serpents. The word ''khsetra'' means ''region'' in Sanskrit. This implies that Ahi-kshetra was a region of Nagas. This could mean that the region was populated originally by Nagas,
Nairs, Bunts of Kerala and Tulu Nadu who claim Kshatriya descent from the nagas as well as Namputhiri of Kerala, Havyaka Brahmins of North Canara and Tuluva Brahmins of Mangalore and Udupi, (Hindu philosophers Adi Shankara and Madhvacharya belonging to these communities) trace their origins to this place.Maclean's Manual of the Administration of the Madras Presidency
/ref>

Education was imparted at Talagunda for eight centuries and the subjects that were taught included vedas, vedanta, grammar and philosophy. The Kannada language was taught at primary level and clothing and food was provided to the students and teachers.

Inscriptions

A temple dedicated to Pranaveshwara (Hindu God Shiva) is located in Talagunda. Next to it is located a stone slab containing inscriptions. In front of it is a pillar containing inscriptions in Sanskrit. The pillar inscriptions were written in the mid 5th century CE during the reign of Śāntivarman (a descendant of Mayurasharma).F. Kielhorn, ‘Talagunda Pillar Inscription of Kakusthavarman’, EI 8 (1905-06): 31-33 (inscr); Sheldon Pollock, ncomplete reference p. 116. The author of this inscription was Kubja, the court-poet of Śāntivarman.D. C. Sircar, p. 86 He engraved the inscriptions himself to prevent any other engraver from committing mistakes.
Kubja, describes these inscriptions as a kavya thus:
The inscriptions indicate that Mayurasharma, native of Talagunda,Kamath (2001), pp. 30–31 was accomplished in vaidika and went to the Pallava capital, Kanchipuram to study scriptures, accompanied by his guru and grandfather Veerasharama. There, having been humiliated by a Pallava guard (horseman), in a rage Mayurasharma gave up his Brahminic studies and took to the sword to avenge his insult.Ramesh (1984), p6 The inscription vividly describes the event thus:
The inscriptions thus describe Kadambas as Brahmins turned conquerors and praise Brahmins as ''"Gods on earth, and speakers of Sama, Rig and Yajur Vedas"''.Federico Squarcini, p98 The Kadamba lineage is described as descending from a three-sage line in the Hariti pravara and belonging to the Manavya gothra.

Notes

References

*
*
*
*
*
*
*

{{Hindu temples in Karnataka

Hindu temples in Shimoga district