Hoysala era inscription found in Jakkur

Bengaluru: Four months into its research, a team of historians, archaeologists and epigraphists, which is on the job of uncovering inscriptions that define the rich history of Bengaluru, has found two inscriptions dating back to the Hoysala and Ganga-Rashtrakuta dynasties in the city. 

One of the researchers, Professor KR Narasimhan, reveals the Hoysala era inscription found in a garden of a private property in Jakkur talks about the grant of Jakkur village as a gift to the “nadasenabhova” or village administrator, Alala. 

“This Hoysala period inscription dates back to 1342 AD and was mentioned in BL Rice’s book of epigraphy in 1905,” he explains, adding that it has been taken to the Byregowda Ranga Mantapa for safe- keeping. 

The 10th  century Ganga-Rashtrakuta inscription found in the same garden of a private property at Jakkur is still being studied as it has not been mentioned in any of  the books on epigraphy. It talks about a war without going into the details of it and mentions a ruler,  Balavapatiraya, the professor discloses. 

Mr K Dhanapal, who is studying the inscriptions, reveals that the researchers have also found a part of a temple in Jakkur, which needs to be excavated and studied. “Besides a section of a temple, we have found a sculpture at Jakkur that talks about the three stages of life.  We will do an in-depth study of both soon,” he adds. 

Mr R Gopal, director of archaeology (museums), Archaeology Survey of India (ASI) , Mr Uday Kumar, a history buff, and villagers are also involved in the process of unearthing ancient inscriptions around the city that could tell its story from the pages of history.