Nageshvara Temple, Begur – History

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.