Nageshvara Temple, Begur – History
Begur was called as Veppuru in
ancient times (Veppu means Neem in Tamil). This name got corrupted to Behuru in
Kannada. It was also called as Kelele in Mollahalli grant inscription of Western
Ganga King Durvinita (529 – 579 CE). Begur was an important town in
medieval period during the rule of Western Ganga Dynasty and the Chola Dynasty.
Begur was the centre of 12
villages including Thogur, Haralur, Yellukunte, Sarakki, Kudlur and
Hulimangala. All these villages were owned by Nagatara, the chief commander of
the Ganga king Ereganga Neetimarga II, who waged a war against the Nolambas in
the Battle of Tumbe Padi in Kotagiri district in 910 CE.
The
Nageshvara Shrine was built by Ereganga Neetimarga I (843 – 870 CE) of
Western Ganga Dynasty. The
Nagareshwara Shrine was built by Ereganga Neetimarga II (907 – 921 CE) of
Western Ganga Dynasty. The
remaining shrines were constructed by the imperial Chola Dynasty.
There is an old Kannada
inscription in this
temple dated to 890 CE records a battle named Bengaluru War. It is the
earliest evidence of the existence of a place called Bengaluru much before the
times of Kempe Gowda, the founder of Bengaluru City. The
temple received extensive patronage from Western Gangas, Cholas and
Vijayanagara Kingdom.
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