Inscribed pillars, or Shila Shasana, constitute the bedrock of Karnataka’s recorded history. Spanning from the Mauryan era to the 15th century, these monolithic records serve as public archives for the royal decrees, military triumphs, and religious endowments of dynasties such as the Kadambas, Chalukyas, and Hoysalas. Among these, the Talagunda Pillar Inscription stands as a paramount example of early Indian epigraphy and literary sophistication.
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| Visible inscription Talagunda, pillar KA image: Dineshkannambadi en.wikipedia.org |
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| Raise of Kadamba Dynasty Talagunda, pillar KA en.wikipedia.org |
Above image: Inscribed pillar in Prakrit Satavahana Peru is located 7 km NE of Telagunda, Shimoga District, Karnataka.Talagunda,it is said was an ancient Agrahara village called Sthana-Kundra (vide inscriptions), the original home of the Kadambas of Banavasi, the earliest indigenous kingdom in Karnataka...........
The Talagunda Pillar: A Literary Masterpiece
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| Pranavesvara temple Shiva linga tumblr.com |
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| Pranavesvara temple,Shimoga,KA tumblr.com |
Above images: The Pranav Eshwara temple,square in plan, is a small temple with a large Shivalinga on abhadra ptha inside the small garbhagriha..From the epigraphical records we understand that the Shiva Linga had been worshipped from the time of Satakarni rulers.The shrine is believed to have been built around the fourth century CE...........
Located in the Shikaripur taluk of Shimoga, the Talagunda pillar (c. 455–470 CE) is a 5.36-foot octagonal shaft of hard grey granite standing before the ruined Pranava Lingeshwara Temple. Discovered by B.L. Rice in 1894, it is celebrated for its "floral box-type" Kannada script and its use of high-classical, Paninian Sanskrit.
The inscription, composed of 34 poetic verses, provides the most detailed account of the Kadamba Dynasty's rise. It narrates the story of Mayurasharma, a Brahmin student who traveled to Kanchi to study the Vedas but, after being humiliated by a Pallava guard, swapped his palm leaves for a sword to establish the first indigenous kingdom of Karnataka. Translators like Kielhorn and Sircar have highlighted the author's expertise in Vedic prosody, noting the earliest known use of the Matrasamaka meter.
Broader Epigraphic Landscape
Karnataka’s landscape is dotted with other pillars of immense significance:
Halmidi Inscription (c. 450 CE): Found in Hassan, this is the oldest known full-length Kannada inscription, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of the language.
Aihole Inscription (7th Century): A pillar recording the victory of the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II over Emperor Harshavardhana.
Garuda-Nandi Pillars (13th Century): Recently discovered in 2025, these pillars are unique for blending Shaiva (Nandi) and Vaishnava (Garuda) iconography on a single monument.
Historical and Religious Significance
These pillars served as public notices for Bhumi daana (land grants) and Kambha seve (pillar service). Beyond politics, they track the shift from Buddhism and Jainism to the Puranic Hindu revival. Pillars like the Tyagada Brahmadeva at Shravanabelagola also highlight the artistic heights of the Western Ganga dynasty.
As repositories of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talagunda_pillar_inscription"events frozen in time," these inscribed pillars provide the primary linguistic and chronological data that allow historians to reconstruct the social fabric and cultural identity of ancient and medieval Karnataka.
https://www.karnataka.com/shimoga/talagunda-pranaveshwara-temple/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talagunda_pillar_inscription
https://karnatakatravel.blogspot.com/2012/01/pranavesvara-temple-and-inscribed.html
K. N. Jayaraman
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