Mahakuta Pillar
| Mahakuta pillar Inscription | |
|---|---|
Mahakuta, Karnataka | |
| Present location | Gol Gumbaz Museum, Vijayapura (16°49′37″N 75°44′08″E / 16.827048°N 75.735603°E) |
  Mahakuta Mahakuta (India) | |
Mahakuta Pillar (
Location
The pillar was found in the 19th-century lying on the ground near the ruins of Mahakutesvara temple, one of the 7th-century group of temples at the Mahakuta natural springs (Bagalkot district). The site is about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east from the historic cave temples of Badami. Its significance was re-discovered by colonial era archaeologists and scholars in the 1880s. The pillar was moved to Bijapur about 1920, and is now housed in the Archaeological Museum, Vijayapura.[1]
The historical location of the Mahakuta pillar has been unclear. Henry Cousens and early scholars presumed that it was always near the Mahakuta pushkarni (natural springs tank). However, George Michell and Carol Bolon questioned this assumption. Bolon proposed that it may have been near an old temple that exists near the cliff (hill top) about a kilometer away.[3] The problem with this suggestion is that the architecture and artwork at the cliff temple is far more crude than the remarkable finish of the Mahakuta pillar, making it likely that the cliff temple is considerably more older. According to Gary Tartakov, the temple now called Bananti Gudi is more likely site where the pillar used to be. This small two-level historic Dravida architecture temple is more consistent with the chronology, iconography and the pillar artwork, as well much closer to where Fleet found the pillar in 1880–1.[4]
Description
The Mahakuta pillar is made of fine grained, deep red sandstone. It is about 14.5 feet (4.4 m) tall, 22 inches (560 mm) in diameter and has sixteen facets. An inscription is engraved on it in Sanskrit language and Old Kannada script winding up from the base over a length of 38 inches (970 mm). The inscription consists of sixteen lines, each spirally wrapped around the sixteen faces averaging four letters per face. The pillar has no base molding. It is topped with a small amalaka with thirty six deep flutes.[note 1] The amalaka is about 19 inches (480 mm) tall and 32.5 inches (830 mm) in diameter. On the top of this amalaka is a carved box with flower decoration on the sides and lotus palmette corners.[1][5][note 2]
Mahakuta is the modern era name of the site where this pillar was found. Its earlier name, as stated in lines 9–10 of the inscription was Makuta, with Magada as the local vernacular alternate. This is not a mistake of the lipikara (scribe), because lines 13–14 repeat this term with Makutesvaranatha as the name of the temple. The pillar itself is called Dharma Jayastambha (dharma victory pillar) in the inscription.[7] The inscription shows no signs of mutilation, only natural erosion over nearly 1,400 years.[8] The scribe identifies the end of each line by repeating or double-repeating an aksara (letter). The Sanskrit is not perfect in the classical sense, but of a good quality with occasional mistakes. The composers tried to create metric shlokas, but lines such as 3 and 4 are not in accurate meter.[9]
This is a "Saiva inscription", states Fleet. The pillar's primary aim is to declare the gift of an additional ten villages to the Shiva temple called Makutesvaranatha", one that already existed in 602 CE.[10][note 3]
Date
Lines 13–14 of the inscription allude to the date of the inscription, as "the fifth glorious year, of the constantly augmenting reign of Mangalesha, in the current Siddharatha (samvatsara) on the full moon tithi of the month Vaisakha". Scholars have interpreted this in different ways because there are several Hindu calendars and it is not obvious which one to apply here. Furthermore, the inscription uses the start of Mangalesha's reign as reference and it is unclear what that reference year should be. According to Fleet, there are three possible dates:[11]
- if they were using the southern Luni-solar calendar in early 7th century, this gives samvat 522
- the mean-sign system of the southern Hindu calendar this would be samvat 524 in the southern calendar, the equivalent of April 602 CE (per the Vaisakha month)
- the northern Luni-solar calendar gives a date in saka samvat 525
Fleet discusses alternate dates ranging between 595 CE and 602 CE, largely based on other inscriptions and texts, preferring 602 CE. Other scholars use a combination of inscriptions and texts to determine a different reference year. Thus, KR Ramesh dates it to 595–596 CE,[12] while Carol Bolon dates it to 602 CE.[1][13]
Inscription and translation
The sixteen lines of the inscription on the Mahakuta pillar was first translated by John Fleet and published in 1889. His translation is given below:[14]
| Lines | Translation (John F Fleet)[14] |
Notes |
| 1-2 |
|
The allegorical references are to the Vedic legends in the Hindu tradition. |
| 3–4 |
|
The Vedic rituals in vogue in 6th-century are mentioned, establishing that Vedic culture was well established in Karnataka by the 6th-century, that Pulikesin I and Badami Chalukya dynasty kings were Hindus; Fleet's translation and interpretation on Hiranyagarbha descent has been disputed by later scholars such as D.C. Sircar.[15] |
| 5–6 | Of him, whose mind delighted in religion, (and) whose majesty resembled that of Vasudeva, |
Reference to Vasudeva and Krishna-legends; again a mention of Vedic rituals for the kings |
| 7–8 | When he, having acquired victory by crushing the array of many hostile kings |
A useful list of dynasties in 6th-century Greater India; also valuable are the listed normative values expected in Indian kings; later scholars dismiss the "crushing", "hostile kings" and such claims as poetic exaggeration, unreliable and a hagiographic myth; this analysis is based on other Badami Chalukya inscriptions, texts and the evidence from other parts of 6th and 7th-century India |
| 9–10 | just as the group of water-lilies is an object of desire to crowds of birds, |
The king is compared to many of the famous Hindu legends about mythical dharmic kings such as Rama; the Sibi legend is also found in Buddhist and Jain texts |
| 11–12 | And he, — having set (his) heart upon the conquest of the northern region, |
More references to Hindu legends; The king Buddha mentioned is not to be confused with one who founded Buddhism; this is Buddharaja of the Kalachuri dynasty.[16] |
| 13–14 | The wealth of the Kalatsuri has been expended |
Affirms that temple chariot tradition for idol-procession was already in vogue by the 6th-century; also mentions the existence of a Makutesvara temple by c. 600 CE (must be the older version near the hill top, not the one with same name built in late 7th-century, see discussion below);[note 4] |
| 15–16 | And it has been said in the writings of religion, |
Affirms the expansion of an older grant to the temple |
Significance
The Mahakuta pillar and its date is important as it helps date other dynasties mentioned, the chronology of kings within the Early Western Chalukya dynasty, how and when the different temple architecture styles evolved in Badami-Mahakuta-Pattadakal-Aihole region of Karnataka.
At first blush, the pillar was linked to the temple it was found near, namely the Mahakutesvara temple. However, this is a fairly sophisticated form of Dravida architecture. It led to theories that the Dravida architecture was quite advanced by 602 CE.[1] The colonial era archaeologist and historian Henry Cousens stated that the fine, fluted Mahakuta pillar suggests that construction techniques were fairly advanced, and therefore likely went with the advanced Mahakutesvara temple near where it was found.[1] George Michell and others questioned this, and suggested that the pillar may be referring to an older temple with the same name, one mentioned by Fleet and Cousens in their footnotes of 1880s publications. In the late 1970s, Carol Bolon identified two temples, one named Hire Mahakutesvara (elder temple near the hill top nearby, likely completed between 565–602 CE) and the other Hosa Mahakutesvara (larger temple near the Mahakuta natural springs tank, likely completed in the second half of the 7th-century, close to 685 CE). Bolon's chronology fits better with generally accepted chronology of Dravida architecture.[17][18]
According to the Mahakuta pillar inscription, the dynasty commenced with Jayasimha I, followed by Ranaraga. Then came
Some of the conquests, wars and attacks mentioned in the Mahakuta pillar inscription has been used as a reliable record.
According to Dineshchandra Sircar, historic texts and prashasti inscriptions, such as the one in the Mahakuta pillar, mix historical truths with too much fabrication in their attempt to flatter and eulogize their rulers for the gifts they received in turn. These exaggerations and allegations limit their historical value and must be used with a lot of care.[23] It is "impossible to believe", states Sircar, that Kirtivarman I even invaded all the kingdoms mentioned in this inscription because they are so far from the Badami-region in different directions. Furthermore, other inscriptions of this same dynasty, including one issued during the rule of his own son Pulakesin II contradict this wildly exaggerated claims. Thus, many parts of this inscription cannot be taken at face value or being even partially true, but reflect mere "imagination" and "fabrication" by the beneficiary of the gift and his scribe.[23]
According to Harle, there may be some useful information in the Mahakuta pillar. For example, given the controversies and disagreements on relative chronology of Dravida architecture, the Mahakuta pillar "probably" provides a terminus ante quem (early 6th-century) for the construction of the early temples in this region and the Mahakutesvara temple.[24] Similarly, it is another source for establishing the use of Sanskrit and the popular epithets in 6th-century for eulogized kings.[25]
According to Tratakov, for Indian architecture historians, the Mahakuta pillar is an important monument. It helps set a chronology for the innovations and creativity in the Tungabhadra cradle of Indian art. Along with about 30 ruins of Hindu temples that exist in Mahakuta, and numerous more in nearby sites of Badami, Aihole and others, it helps fix the relative decades and century for innovations that unfolded.[26]
Notes
- ^ At the time of its re-discovery in 1880s, the pillar was lying on the ground, and this amalaka was detached but near it;[5] now, at the Vijayapura museum, it is displayed together in a restored form.
- ^ For a photo of the Mahakuta pillar, see Figure 1 on page 259 of Bolon's publication.[6]
- ^ The Early Western Chalukyan kings were also patrons of Vaishnavism and Jainism, given the Deccan temples they helped build.[3]
- ^ the village Kesuvolala mentioned in these lines is – based on other inscriptions found in this region – same as the famous Pattadakal [10]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Carol Bolon 1979, pp. 253–255.
- ^ John F Fleet 1890, pp. 7–16.
- ^ a b Carol Bolon 1979, pp. 253–256.
- ^ Gary Tartakov 1985, pp. 145–146.
- ^ a b John F Fleet 1881, pp. 102–104.
- ^ Carol Bolon 1979, p. 259.
- ^ John F Fleet 1890, pp. 7–8.
- ^ John F Fleet 1890, p. 8.
- ^ John F Fleet 1890, pp. 8–9.
- ^ a b John F Fleet 1890, p. 9.
- ^ John F Fleet 1890, p. 10.
- ^ Nayak, Ghosh & Rao 1992, p. 313.
- ^ George Michell 1973.
- ^ a b John F Fleet 1890, pp. 18–21.
- ^ Sircar 1971, pp. 164–165.
- ^ Carol Bolon 1979, p. 255.
- ^ Carol Bolon 1979, pp. 254–256, 267.
- ^ Gary Tartakov 1980, pp. 94–99.
- ^ John F Fleet 1890, p. 14.
- ^ Schastok 1985, p. 96.
- ^ John F Fleet 1890, pp. 14–15.
- ^ K.V. Ramesh, Chalukyas of Vatapi, pp 50
- ^ a b Sircar 1996, pp. 25–26.
- ^ J Harle 1972, p. 65.
- ^ Pollock 2006, p. 158 with note 86.
- ^ Gary Tartakov 1985, pp. 139–142.
Bibliography
- Gary Tartakov (1985). Fredrick Asher; G.S. Gai (eds.). Indian Epigraphy: Its Bearing on the History of Art. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8364-1356-4.
- Carol Bolon (1979). "The Mahākuṭa Pillar and Its Temples". Artibus Asiae. 41 (2/3): 253–268. JSTOR 3249519.
- John F Fleet (1881). "Sanskrit and Old-Canarese Inscriptions". Indian Antiquary: A Journal of Oriental Research. 10: 102–104.,
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. - John F Fleet (1890). "Sanskrit and Old-Canarese Inscriptions No. 185 - Mahakuta Pillar Inscription of Mangalesa". Indian Antiquary. 19: 7–20., This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- Nayak, B.U.; Ghosh, N.C.; Rao, S.R. (1992). New Trends in Indian Art and Archaeology. Aditya Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-85689-12-8.
- George Michell (1973). "Dating the Mahakutesvara Temple at Mahakuta". Oriental Art. XIX (2).
- J Harle (1972). Pratapaditya Pal (ed.). Aspects of Indian Art: Papers Presented in a Symposium at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, October, 1970. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-03625-3.
- Pollock, S. (2006). The Language of the Gods in the World of Men: Sanskrit, Culture, and Power in Premodern India. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-93202-9.
- Schastok, S.L. (1985). The Śāmalājī Sculptures and 6th Century Art in Western India. Philosphia Antiqua. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-06941-1.
- K.V. Ramesh, Chalukyas of Vatapi, 1984, Agam Kala Prakashan, Delhi
- Sircar, D. (1971). Studies in the Religious Life of Ancient and Medieval India. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-2790-5.
- Sircar, D.C. (1996). Indian Epigraphy. Epigraphy, Palaeography, Numismatics Series. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-1166-9.
- Gary Tartakov (1980). "The Beginning of Dravidian Temple Architecture in Stone". Artibus Asiae. 42 (1): 39–99. JSTOR 3250008.
