Pattadakal Group of Monuments – Inscriptions
Several inscriptions in the old Kannada language have
been found at Pattadakal, notably in the Virupaksha, Sangameshvara and
Papanatha temples. These inscriptions are an important source of information
regarding the grants made by King Vikramaditya, and Vijayaditya, various
queens, and others, for the construction and operation of the temple. They have
also provided valuable insight into the evolution of various written Indian
scripts. As an example, one particular 8th century column is
inscribed in two Sanskrit scripts, the northern Indian Siddhamatrika script and
the southern Indian proto-Kannada-Telugu script.
Other notable monuments at Pattadakal include a
monolithic stone pillar bearing numerous inscriptions, the Naganatha temple,
the Mahakuteshwara temple, which also bear numerous inscriptions, as well as
several small shrines dedicated to Shiva. Near the Virupaksha, Sangameshvara
and Mallikarjuna temples is a Shaiva stone pillar, featuring a trident emblem.
The pillar bears inscriptions stating it was erected by Jnana Shivacharya from
Mrigathanikahara, located on the north bank of the Ganges, and that he had
gifted a parcel of land to the Vijayeshwara.
In 2008, a senior archaeologist with the ASI had located
the quarry where the stones were sourced some 5 kilometers away from the
Pattadakal. The site is notable for sketches of Shiva, Nandi, Durga, Ganesh,
trident, peacock, swastika, symbols and inscriptions. Some of these may be
emblems of guilds (sanghata) that quarried and supplied the stones for temples.
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