Pranavesvara Temple, Talagunda – History

Pranavesvara Temple, Talagunda – History

The temple is in existence from the time of Satavahanas. However, the present structure was constructed by the Kadambas in 5^th century CE. Excavations around the present structure had revealed brick structure of the Satavahana period. There is an inscription on the right door jamb of the temple. It records a grant of money by certain Kakustha of Bhatari dynasty for feeding thirty residents of Sthana Kunjapura. The Kakustha of Bhatari dynasty might be a feudatory under the Kadambas.

There is another inscription on the left door jamb of the temple. It mentions Queen Prabhavati of Kekaya dynasty, the wife of Kadamba King Mrigeshavarman and the mother of Ravivarman, the successor of  Mrigeshavarman. Talagunda was the hometown of the Kadambas of Vaijayanti (Banvasi) who won over the Chutus and established the first indigenous Kannada kingdom in around the first quarter of the fourth century CE with their capital at Banvasi.

Talagunda was called as Sthala Kundura, Sthana Kundur and Sthana Kunjapura. Talagunda is famous for its pillar inscription discovered in 1894 CE by B.L Rice, then Director of Archaeological Research in Mysore and a celebrated pioneer of historical studies in Karnataka. This inscription dates back to the reign of Kadamba king Santivarman, son of Kakusthavarman. This inscription also records that the temple was worshipped by Satakarnis.

Talagunda is the earliest known agrahara (place of learning) found in Karnataka. An inscription dated to 1091 CE found at Talagunda mentions that 32 Brahmins were relocated from a place called Ahichchhatra to Sthana Kundur by Kadamba Mukanna (Trilochana / Trinetra). Mukanna was an ancestor of Mayura Sharma, the founder of the Kadamba Dynasty. The extensive remains of Ahichhatra, the capital town of Northern Panchala have been discovered near Ramnagar village of Aonla Tehsil in the district of Bareilly in the state of Uttara Pradesh.

A later inscription of Hangal Kadambas in Kargudari records that Mayuravarman came from the Himalayan regions and brought eighteen Brahmans from Ahichhatra with him and established them in Kuntala region. An inscription in Prakrit of the Satavahana period was found at Malvalli near Talagunda confirms that Talagunda was under the control of Satavahanas from 1^st century CE to 2^nd century CE.