Pattadakal Group of Monuments – Inscriptions

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 8^th 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.