Tarakeshwara
Temple, Hangal – History
Hangal was called Panungal, Hanungal, Viratakote, Panthipura,
Viratapura and Viratanagara in inscriptions. Hangal was the capital town of
division Panungal-500 which was part of Banavasi-12000. Hangal was ruled by a feudatory of
the Kadambas. The Kadambas was an ancient dynasty of south India which
ruled the region of the present-day state of Goa and nearby Konkan region
from around AD 485 CE until the 11th century CE.
Hangal was captured by Western
Chalukyas in 12th century CE. The Western Chalukyas allowed Kadambas
to rule Hangal region as their feudatory. The Hanagal Fort was captured by the Hoysala
king Vishnuvardhana signifying the end of the Western Chalukyan hegemony in
Kannada country. His son Narasimha I and his grandson Veera Ballala II
successfully achieved their independence from the Western Chalukyas.
Hangal was finally conquered by
the Hoysala King Veera Ballala II at the start of the 13th century
CE. A hero stone (Veeragallu) found in the
Tarakesvara temple records the death of a hero who tried to repulse the
Hoysala king. The English forces took Hangal from Dhoondia Punt Gocklah,
a Maharatta rebel deserter, on 14 July 1800. The
Tarakeshwara Temple was initially built by the Kadambas and later rebuilt
completely by the Western Chalukyas in the mid of 12th century CE.
No comments:
Post a Comment