Tumkur History

Brief History of the Tumkur District

Tumkur History

Pre-historic Archaeology

There are two localities, namely, Kabbanahalli and Biligere, both in the tiptur taluk, in which palaeolithic specimens have been found in this district. At the eastern foot of the Banasandra hill range, about a mile to the south of Biligere, some palaeolithic remains were found in a gravelly layer below a thick accumulation of rainwash by Sampath Lyengar, who considers this as a palaeolithic factory site. The occurrence of ‘hammer-stones,’ however, and of implements described as ‘curved saws’, ‘arrow-heads’, ‘guillotine chisels,’ and ‘circular slings,’ togther with other palaeolithic material, shows that later material is also present on the site.

The more important of these two sites, however, is Kibbanahalli. There is a large collection of artifacts in the museum of the Geology Department of the Central College, Bangalore, collected from this site by Professors Sampath Lyenger and L.Rama Rao. These artifacts were also found in the neighbourhood of the same Banasandra hill range, at a site which is roughly two miles and a half from Banasandra. This region covers an area of about half a square mile. The region was ideally suited for an open camp site, the neighbouring valley ensuring the palaeolithic man abundant water supply. Further, there was the availability of an inexhaustible supply of the intensely-jointed quartziter, the raw material for hiss tools. The stream rising east of Kibbanahalli village actually flows from a haematite-quartzite outcrop which was most probably the source of the raw material used. The implements found here may be classified into the following groups: hand-axes on cores representing the largest group in the collection; cleavers of varied shapes, beaked implements, choppers and other chopping tools, scrapers such as end-scrapers, side-scrapers, hollow-scraper, etc., fabricators and cores. Writing about the typological comparison of the Kibbanahalli industry with those from other parts of India, M. Seshadri says: “The typological position of the Mysore palaeolithic industries cannot at present be fully assessed. Kibbanahalli has produced a larger collection of artifacts than any other Mysore site so far investigated. But it is not the magnitude of the site as compared with other mysore site, which affects the problem of correlation, so much as the complicated nature of the industry itself. Together with the usual assemblage of south Indian Palaeolithic artifacts, there occur at Kibbanahalli a number of beaked tools and clactonian types, which are apparently alien to the lower palaeolithic industries of neighbouring regions. Further investigation of these regions, which might reveal comparable industries elsewhere, is required before the question of the position of Kibbanahalli, and therefore also of Mysore itself can be finally assessed.

There is only one megalithic site known from this district. The low range of hills, which begins at Kibbanahalli, runs along northwards of Chiknayakanahlli. On the crest of the low ridge about three furlongs west-south-west of Keralakatte, H.K. Slater noticed half-a-dozen of cist circles. The cists are eight feet square and composed of granite slabs. They are in disturbed condition and it has been reported that they were rifled a few years ago. A few more stone-circles, a few furlongs south-east of the site, are fortunately intact.

Legend and tradition

There are only a few places in this district that are, according to legends, associated with the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata. One of these is Kadaba in the Gubbi taluk. Tradition has it that Rama on his return from Lanka encamped here and at the request of Seeta, he ordered the river, which was too narrow at this spot, to be dammed so as to form the present large tank. According to the Sthalapurana, Rama was received and honoured here by the sage Kadamba who had his hermitage in this locality. The name of the place is supposed to have been derived from the name of the sage. Another place, connected with the Mahabharata, is Sampige in Turuvekere taluk. This is said to be the site of Champakanagara, the capital of Sudhanva, son of a king named Hamsadhwaja of the Mahabharata times. 

Gangas

In common with the southern districts of the State, but unlike the districts on the other three sides, the known history of the Tumkur district begins with the Gangas. The Ganga family ruled over the southern and eastern districts of the State from early in the Christian era to 1025 A. D. No inscriptions of any of the earlier familes like the Banas, Satvahana or the Kadambas have been found in the district. The earliest record of the Ganga family found in this district belongs to about 400 A. D. It consists of a set of five copper-plates, of which the second plate is missing. One Madhavavarma was the granter of the charter. This Madhava varma was probably Kiriya Madhava or Madhava II who was the son of Dadiga. This record deals with a land-grant made by Madhava to a Buddhist named bodhi-Sattva. The next Ganga record also consists of the set of five copper-plates dated about 545. it was found to be in the possession of one Srinvasa Rao of Kadagatur in the Madhugiri taluk. The genealogy and attributes of the various kings in these plates correspond with those know from other published Ganga grants. Next in point of time, are the Hebbur plates of the time of Navakama. These plates had been for a long time in possession of the Lingayat Wodeyars of the Hirematha of the place and two of them are missing, there being no ring or seal. In general, this inscription also gives information similar to what we have in other Ganga grants with one notable exception. This is in connection with Durvinita who, it says, “was restricted to the path of greatness by the instruction of the divine who was the author of Shabdavatara”. The author of this work, as we know, was the celebrated Pujyapada who, we must thus understand, was the Ganga kings’ preceptor. 

Sripurusha Ganga

The first great Ganga ruler, of whom we have a number of inscriptions in this district, is Sripurusha (725-788). Many of them are viragals or hero-stones; most of them, however, are undated. Some of these viragals refer to the wars between the Gangas and Rashtrakutas. The one numbered Mi 99, for instance, and dated about 750, mentions a raid of the Rattas or Rashtrakutas on Gangavadi. It is a hero-stone recording the death of one Jadiyamuttarasa who succumded in this battle. The conflict referred to here is obviously the one between Sripurusha (725-788) and Krishna I (756-773) in which fell several Ganga heroes. The places where the several wars with the Rashtrakutas were fought were Pinchaunr, Kagimogeyur and Bageyur. Of these, Bageyur is perhaps identical with Bagur, situated about five miles to the north-east of gubbi. On the whole, these viragals give us a glimpse of a period of the Ganga history, when, being hard-pressed by enemies, they were putting forth gigantic efforts to hold their own and maintain their independence. The last Ganga inscription found in this district is the one numbered Tp 103 of date 972 when Satyavakya was ruling, having sway over all the Nolambas and hence invested with the title “Nolamba Kulantaka”. This epithet identifies him with Marasimha III who reigned from 960 to 974. 

Rashtrakutas

alt="250px-Indian_Rashtrakuta_Empire_map.svg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1043">

No inscription of the Chalukyas of Badami, who were the paramount power in the Deccan roughly from the middle of the 6^th century A. D. to the middle of the 8^th century A. D. has been found in this district. These early Chalukyas were succeeded by the Rashtrakutas in 753 when the Rashtrakuta prince, Dantidurga, defeated the last Chalukya king Kirtivarma II. The Rashtrakutas, who were probably an ancient people and the native rulers of the country, continued to be in power for well over two centuries, until, in 973, the last Rashtrakuta king, Karka II, was dethroned again by a scion of the Chalukya family, Taila II. The members of the second family of the Chalukyas are referred to as Chalukyas of Kalyana.

Of the Rashtrakutas also, there are only three inscriptions in the tumkur district. Of them, the one numbers Gb 61 is an important one. It consists of the set of copper-plates found while digging foundations for a bridge near Kadaba and were published originally by Lewis Rice in 1883; they were edited and published again by Dr. Luders in Epigraphia Carnatica, Vol. Iv, P.332. In the historical account giving information regarding the kings, is a reference to a splendid temple built by Akalavarsha, which he called Kanneshwara after his own name. This was obviously Krishna I (756-775), of which Kanna or Kanha is a Prakrit form. The temple in question has rightly been supposed to be the famous Kailasa temple of Ellora which was built by this king. Of Dharavarsha we are informed that when he was engaged in some battle on a river, he met with a misfortune and his elephants and boats were scattered by rough waves. But there are no particulars by which the event ca be identified.

We are then, in the same record, introduced to a chalukya family, in which are mentioned Balavarma, his son Yashovarma and his son Vimaladitya. The latter was in the line of Chakiraja who is described as the Adhiraja of the entire Ganga-mandala. He was apparently a viceroy appointed by the Rashtrakutas over the Ganga kingdom, when, about 781, they imprisoned its king shivamara. Such a viceroy in the time of dharavarsha, according to another inscription was Kumbarasa, who was apparently Chakiraja’s son. Vimaladitya was the governor of Kunigil-desha which, as confirmed by many inscriptions, is the modern Kunigal area in this district. This Kunigal area seems to have been a 500-province.

 Indraraja Rashtrakuta

The other Rashtrakuta inscription is the one numbered Si 27 dated 982 and found at Hemavati. It is of special interest to the historians as it confirms the data and mode of the death of Indraraja, the last of the Rashtrakutas, which took place at Shravanabelagola. The record praises his expeditions and battles and says that he had received the titles “Erevabedanga” and “Kirtinarayana”. With a mind undisturbed and performing the Jaina vows, the king is said to have passed away on Monday the 20^th of March 982.

The third Rashtrakuta record, dated 9003, refers to the reign of Krishna II (880-914). It states that at that time. Prachanda-danda-nayaka Damapayya was stationed at Manne (in the Nelamangala taluk of the Bangalore district) as the general of the south. This statement leads into the conclusion that the Gangas had virtually become the feudatories of the Rashtrakutas since the time of Shivamara. This inscription also refers to one Durvinita-arasa, the grant made by whose general forms its subject matter, who many be the sam as the Durvinita mentioned in Mi 27, 39 and 42, along with his younger brother Butuga as fighting against the Nolambas. 

Chalukyas of Kalyana

alt="logo_chalukyas" v:shapes="_x0000_i1044">

The inscriptions of the Chlukyas of Kalyana in this district are no doubt numerous and range from 1040 to 1200; but they contain no information about the chalukyas themselves. They merely acknowledge the supremacy of the Chalukyas in the opening sentence. Of them, seven are Chola inscriptions and the rest Hoysala. The Chalukyas are named mostly by their titles and these appear to have been used so loosely that it is difficult to make the dates fit in with the accepted list. The Chalukya supremacy was obviously little more then nominal during much of the period. Further, it appears that even this was felt only in the western and northern parts district. For, most of the chalukyan inscription have been found in the Tiptur, Sira, Chiknayakanahalli and Pavagada taluks, only one being found in the Gubbi taluk. 

Nolambas

alt=nolambas v:shapes="_x0000_i1045">During the time when the imperial powers in the Deccan were the Rashtrakutas and the Chalukyas of Kalyana, the principal local rulers were the Nolambas. The Nolambas Nonambas, who were of Pallava descent, have left some records, particularly in the northern taluks of the district. Their kingdom was known as Nolambavadi-32000. They had their capital at Pencheru or Henjeru, which has been identified by Mr. Rice with Hemavati situated on the northern border of Sira taluk. Its name occurs in a number of professedly very ancient inscriptions as well as in certain legends and the ezistion remains show that it must have been a place of considerable importance. The Nolambas had their stronghold at Nidugal which is a few miles to the east of this place in the Pavagada taluk. The present Nonabas, residing largely in the Chitradurga district, are said to be the descendants of the subjects of the ancient Nolambas. The area covered by the Madhugiri, Pavagada and Sira taluks of this district, where the records of the Nonabas are to be found, appears to have been a part and parcel of this kingdom of Nolambavadi-32000.

Leaving out of account some doubtful early records, the earliest authentic record of the Nolambas is dated A. D. 943 and found in Sira taluk. It is a stone inscription on a pillar and gives the genealogy of the Nolamba kings. They claim to be of the Ishwara Vamsha descended from a king named Trinayana from whom was born the Pallava, the king of Kanchi. 

Mahendra Nolamba

We have three inscriptions of Mahendra, also called Mahendradhiraja, in this district, numbered Si 38, 24 and Pg.45. The first of these belongs to the year 878 and probably also the second. The third is of about the same period. Mahendra’s descent is given in the first two in the same way. This Mahendra is stated to have uprooted and destroyed Chola and all other rivals and to have seized his (Chola) kingdom by sowing dissension among those dependent on him beyond his frontiers. According to the inscription Si 38, when he was encamped at Baragur, he made an offering of his palace to Mahadeva and set up an image of god Mahendreshwara, making a grant of Nandur in Sire-nad for its support. In another inscription we are told that the minister, who had assisted him in his schemes of aggrandisement, had received from Nolambadhiraja the town of Oreyur in Polali-nad. The name of the minister is unfortunately effaced. This Oreyur seems to be a local place and not the old Chola capital near Trichinopoly (Tiruchirapalli).

Next, we have inscriptions belonging to Mahendra’s son, best distinguished as Ayyapadeva or Nanniga. In the inscriptions numbers Mi 52 dated 897 and Mi 27, he appears as nolambadhiraja Nolipayya. In another inscription numbered Si 39, he is styled as Nannigashraya and is stated to have made a grant in A. D. 920 to the temple of god Mahendreshwara of Baragur. His wives were Nagibbe and Heleyabbe. The inscription numbered Mi 71 calls him Nolambadhiraja Nanniga and refers to a battle with the Gangas in which one Bhimayya’s son, Peragde Benayya, died.

Then follow the inscriptions of his son Anniga or Bira Nolamba. There are three of these, two of which are not of much importance while the third one, numbered Mi 27, calls him Ankayya and mentions a battle with the Gangas under Butuga at bidirur. Next come the inscriptions of one Ahavamalla Nolamba, numbered Si 26 and si 29. The name Ahavamalla implies Chalukyan supremacy over Nolambavadi and the inscriptions have, therefore, been put down as belonging to about 980. This was the period, as we know, of the change-over from the Rashtrakutas to the Chalukya of Kalyana at the imperial level.

This was also the time when the Nolambas were experiencing a hard time, as is indicated by the sudden decrease in the number of their records. It appears that so long as the Rashtrakutas were suprema and strong, the Nolambas were secure undere their protection. The moment this power became weak, they began to feel the effects of the expansionist policies of the other major powers such as the Chlukyas and the Gangas. While the evidence of he Chalukya supremacy has been seen above, we learn that, in about 974, the Nolambas were over-run by the Ganga king Marasimha, who boasts of having destroyed the Nolamba family and earned the title Nolamba-Kulantaka. Further history of the Nolamba is not clear. 

Cholas

The Cholas appear to have been supreme in this region from about 1000 A. D. to about 1070, i.e., till the rise of the Hoysala. Throughout this period, there was keen rivalry between the Chalukyas and the Cholas and a number of battles were fought between the two during this period, in which the Cholas had often the upper hand. In fact, the Cholas had sometimes conquered territories north of the Tungabhadra; but that river was usually recognized as the boundary line between the two kingdoms. In spite of this supremacy of the Cholas for nearly three-quarters of a century over this region, only two inscriptions belonging to the imperial Cholas have been found in this district. Of these, two, both of which are in Tamil, the first is dated 1048, in the 31^st year of Rajadhiraja⁷ (1018-1054), and the second dated 1061, in the tenth year of Rajendra ⁸ (1052-1064). 

Hoysalas

alt="hoysala_logo" v:shapes="_x0000_i1046">Numerous inscriptions belonging to the Hoysalas have been found in this district, the earliest of them being dated 1078.⁹ No inscription belonging to the first Hoysalay ruler, Nripakama, has been found in this region. The inscriptions belonging to Vinayaditya and the earliest few belonging to Bitti-Deva or Vishnuvardhana (1100-1152) are to be met with in the tiptur taluk. The inscriptions Tp 104 dated 1130 and Gb 34 dated 1134 belonging to Vishnuvardhana show a line of chiefs ruling a district around Idagur. According to the latter, Vishnuvardhana was in possession of both the Gangavadi-96000 and Nolambavadi-32000.

The inscription Tm 9, dated 1151, shows a chief named guli-Bachi ruling the Marugerenad in Kaidala. He is described as the lord of Manyakhetapura (Malkhed, the Rashtrakuta capital) and a Gangaputra; perhaps his family was connected with the ancient Rashtrakuta rules. His genealogy is given for several generations. He was a patron of the four creeds, i.e., the bauddha, Jains, Shaiva and Vaishnava. He built, at Kaidala, temples of Gangeshvara, Narayana and chalavarishvara in the name of his grand-father, of Gangeshvara in the name of his father, of Rameshvara in memory of his daughter and , besides, some Jain basadis in memory of his wife. He is also stated to have constructed the big Bhimasamudra and Adalasamudra tanks. His Senabova is further stated to have constructed the Marasamudra tank. The inscritptions of the Hoysala king, Ballala II, are from 1173, the first year of his reign. The inscription Ck 36, dated 1177, represents Ballala Deva as having made victorious expeditions in all directions, conquered Pandya and made Uchchangi his royal city. It describes him as putting down the evil and upholding the good in the lands surrounded by Hima, and Sethu, i.e., the Himalayas and the Cape Comorin. The inscription speaks highly of Madhava Dandadhipa, the king’s general, who, it says, captured the elephants, horses, treasury and white umbrellas of the hostile kings and gave them to his master, while Tp 43 dated 1205 says that the bhimarathi was the boundary of the Hoysala kingdom at that time. This river is the same as the present Bhima, a northern tributary of the Krishna, running from the north-west of Poona to the vicinity of Raichur. 

Narasimaha II Hoyala

We have a few inscriptions referring to the next Hoysala ruler, Narasimha II (1220-1238). Leaving out of account the more or less defaced inscription dated 1224, ¹⁰ his earliest record is dated 1226. This record, numbered Gb 11, informs us about Naganna, a special counsellor of the senior queen Padmalamahadevi. Inscription Tp 42 dated 1229 represents Narasimha II as ruling from Kanchipura with the surrounding ocean as his boundary, while Gb 45 dated 1233, in which year the king was again at Dorasamudra, is of interest as mentioning the generals Appaya and Gopayya who, with the permission of the king Marasimha, destroyed the Kadava (i.e., Pallava) king and released and brought the Chola king in his place, for which exploit, king Narasimha granted them a village as a reward. The explanation of this event is contained in a Tamil inscription of Rajaraja’s sixteenth year, i.e., 1231, found by Dr. Hultzsch on the western wall of the prakara of the Devanayaka Perumal temple of Tiruvendipuram on the east coast. In this, it is said that the Hoysala king, on hearing that the Kadava king Perunjinaga (meaning great lion) had captured the Chola emperor (Rajaraja III) at Sendamangalam, set out from Dorasamudra to rescue him, hoping that the trumpet should not blow until he had justified his title as the ‘establisher’ of the Chola-mandala. This inscription, which describes the expedition in detail, must evidently have been engraved at the instance of the two Hoysala generals and the place at which it occurs was perhaps the spot where the Chola emperor was released and given to their charge. The last inscription of Narsimha II is dated 1238; but it is unimportant and very much effaced. This comes from Gubbi taluk and records a grant made by a merchant described as Mahavadda-Vyvahari and the Pattanaswami of Nittur, of lands under a tank called Hireyakere, which was constructed by himself to the temple of god Mallikarjuna at Sampige. 

Narasimha III Hoysala

Of the next ruler Someshvara (1232-1267), we have only three or four inscriptions which are not of much political importance. Two of them are viragals or hero-stones and the other two relate to grants of lands. The inscriptions of the next king Narasimha III (1254-1292), which are more numerous, date from the year 1259. Among the titles of this king are the ‘uprooter of Magadha kindom’ (of Magara and Kadava kingdoms in one inscription), ‘supporter of the Pandya family’ and the ‘setter up of the Chola kingdom’. Inscription Ck 2 dated 1261 states that he was the son of Somesha and Bijjala. This inscription gives an elaborate and interesting account of the formation of Settiyakere and its hamlets in the Asandi-nad into an agrahara named Bharitaprakashapura by Gopala Dannayaka, son of the king Narasimha’s minister, Nacharasa. Similarly, in Tp 2 dated 1263, the great minister for peace and war, Sovanna Dannayaka, having received Turuvekere from the king, formed it into an agrhara with 96 shares called the Sarvajna Vijaya Narasimhapura. 

Ramanatha Hoysalal

Next, we come across some inscription referring to king Ramanatha Hoysala who, in the partition of the Hoysala kindom after the death of his father Someshvara, had received the Tamil districts and Kolar. But from the distribution of his records in the Tumkur, Gubbi, Kunigal and Chiknayakanahalli taluks, it appears that a portion of these taluks also formed a part of his territories, or it may be, as stated by Rice, ¹¹ that towards the end of his reign, he had pressed westwards upto the base of the Devarayanadurga hill. His earliest inscription in this district is dated 1279 i.e., in the 25^th year of his reign. Most of these inscriptions record grants of lands by his ministers. 

Ballala III

There are a number of inscriptions referring to the next Hoysala king Ballaha III who reigned from 1291 to 1342. These begin right from the beginning of his rule. These were difficult days for the Hoysalas owing to the frequent invasions by the Muhammadans. Ballala III had been driven from his capital by the Muhammadans and Ck 4 of 1318 gives Arunasamudra as his residence. This place, however, is not yet properly identified. The inscription refers to the death of one of his followers in a battle which took place when he was marching from Kannanur, which is another name for Vikramapura near Srirangam in the Chola country, where formerly the Hoysala king Someshvara had taken up his residence. In Tp 24 dated 1325, however, we have the king again is Dorasamudra. This record, which is incomplete, refers to his two ministers Bicheya Dannayaka and Singeya Dannayaka. In Gb 30 dated 1331, by which time Dorasamudra had been finally destroyed by the Muhammadans, we have the king in Virupaksha-Hosadurga (probably modern Hosadurga). In Si 10, which belongs to 1341, we see the king having his residence at Unnamalepattana. The last record referring him is a viragal, Tp 100 dated 1342, which was also the last year of his reign. 

Kakatiya record

alt=kakatiya v:shapes="_x0000_i1047">Reference should here be made to a single Kakatiya record, which belongs to this period and which though not of much political importance, is interesting on account of its contents. It refers either to the Kakatiya king Pratapa-Rudra-Deva I (1158-1195) or Pratapa-Rudra-Deva II (1295-1326). The year of this inscription, which is numbered Tm 14, is not clear. It may also be said here that of this interesting inscription, no original is forth-coming; only a copy made by the people has been procured, Brahma, the record says, having created the Solar and Lunar races, on supplication by the gods, created for the protection of the earth another famous Kshtriya family called the Kakitiyas in which Vishnu himself was born as one of the kings. Their capital was Orungal, the modern Warangal in Andhra Pradesh. The first king mentioned in the record is Mahadeva who married the princess Mummadyamba. Their son was Pratapa-Rudra, who, have subdued the Maharashtras, Kalingas, Saurashtras, Ghurjaras, Varahatas, Karnatas, Dravidas and Taulas, was their lord. He had an army numbering nine lakhs composed of four arms. In the course of an tour to the holy places, he came to Kakudgiri (Shivaganga) and at the summit of the mountain saw the Ganga which rises when the sun enters Makara. The reference here is to one of the two pillars on the highest peak on this hill from beneath which about a quart of water is said to ooz on the day of the winter solstice or Makara-Sankranti. (The attendant priests formerly received the tiny steam in a vessel and devoting half to the god conveyed the remaining half to the place at Mysore). Having witnessed this miracle, the inscription says, the Kakatiya king made a festival for the god Gangadhareshvara and celebrated the Girijakalyana. Also, at a distance of three krosas west of this mountain, he came to a place where Ramachandra had offered sacrifice and where the earth on that account was like ashes. Here he founded an agrahara called Anantapura and contructed a tank.

The last Hoysala ruler was Virupaksha Ballala or Ballala IV, son of Ballala III. He ascended the throne in 1343, and this is practically all we know of his, for his kingdom was soon overrun and annexed by the newly risen kingdom of Vijayanagara. Naturally, therefore, no inscription of his is found in this district.

alt=vijayanagar v:shapes="_x0000_i1048">

The last Hoysala king was utterly helpless and had no power to maintain his authority. The flower of the Hoysala army was annihilated in the southern campaign and the treasury also had been emptied. Many of the nobles including the commander-in-chief, Ballappa Dandanayaka, left him and joined the king of Vijayanagara. He was unable to offer any effective resistance and was obliged to abandon his kingdom and seek safety in flight within three months after his coronation. This, however, was not followed by the immediate submission of the Hoysala dominions to Vijayanagara. Local chieftains resisted and it was not until 1346 that Bukka could reduce them to subjection. The absorption of the Hoysala dominion in the Vijayanagara kingdom, it is said, was the most notable achievement in the reign of Harihara I (1336-1356) and there was great jubilation in Vijayanagara^12.

Though, thus, this region formed part of the Vijayanagara kingdom as early as 1346 and though Harihara I was on the throne till as late as 1356, we have no records belonging to him in this district. The earliest of the Vijayanagara inscriptions in this district is Pg 74 and though it is dated 1354, it refers to the reign of Bukkaraya or Bukka I (1344-1377). In addition to this, there are four other inscriptions belonging to the reign of Bukka I, namely, Tp15 dated 1363, Mi 74 dated 1370 and si 100 and 102 dated 1376, but these are all fragmentary and unimportant. 

Immigration of families

Reference should, however, be made here to a group of inscriptions in Telugu, describing some migrations of some gowdas and their families, due to various reasons, from the telugu country and the founding by them of various villages in the kingdom. Out of six such inscriptions, five come from the Pavagada taluk and one from the Madhugiri taluk. As an example of these, the contents of one of them, numbered Pg 82, which, in addition to referring to one of such migrations, is also interesting from the social point of view, are given here. It refers to the reign of Bukka Bhupati and states the a number of Reddies (named with their descent), of the Sujana Kula and Penugolu Gotra, on the Sultan (referring perhaps to the then Bahmani ruler) demanding one of their daughters, migrated the same night with a hundred and one families and seven elephants to the Nadinigudda country. There they sought to make matrimonial alliances in Chittalapuri pattana, but were refused. Thereupon, Konda Nayaka and two others went to Penukonda and represented the matter to Ramaraya and Bukkaraya, who had come there with an army. They held an enquiry as to why the Reddies of Godipet and Chandragiri declined inter-marriages and sent for their guru Tatacharya to decide the question. In his presence, the heads of Sujana Kula were invested with honours and they agreed to make certain payments (specified) on the occasions of marriages. Marriages were accordingy performed, the Raya himself spending 150 Ramatenki varahas for the purpose. All the six inscriptions refer to the reign of Bukkaraya, but their dates, which are different in different inscriptions, are said to be wrong. The Bukkaraya to whom they refer is Bukka I rather than Bukka II, who ruled independently for only one year, 1405-1406. 

Harihar II

Next come the inscriptions of Harihara II who ruled from 1377-1404. in Kg 43 dated 1380, Channappa Wodeyar, son of Mallappa Woderyar, who was Harihara’s younger brother, claims to have defeated “the Turukas when they were swarming over the Advani halli-fort and the kingdom”; Ck 15, though falling within his reign, refers to Bukkaraya and speaks of the ‘Turukas’ coming and taking Kottakonda, when the army had gone to the Orungal country (that is the kingdom of the Kaktiyas of Warangal). A chief named Saluva Rama Deva, styled as “shelter of the good in Talkad, the heroic land on the Kaveri, and terrifier of the Turuka army”, fell in the fight. Inscription Tm 39 dated 1387 and also referring to ‘the Mahamandaleshvara Vira Bukkanna Wodeyar’ is on the rock above the pond at Anegondi of Devarayadurga. It states that in the year, Poleya Nayaka, Bukkanna Wodeyar’s bodyguard, had the pond built to the north of Jaladagondi of the upper fort of Anebiddasari. He has also the Polasamudra (name of a tank) constructed to the west of Bukkarayasamudra. Si 95 dated 1403 is a copper-plate record found with Patel Narasimhiah at Seebi Agrahara. It states that Harihara established a village and a tank in the forest on the border of Sibur in the Chelur-nad to the west of the Anebiddasari hill and named it as Harihararayapura and, having made 80 shares in it, granted it to Brahmins. 

Succession struggle

What exactly happened at Vijayanagara on the death of Harihara II is not known. The succession to the throne was disputed, the claimants’ toit being his three sons Virupaksha, Bukka and Devaraya. All of them attempted to take forcible possession of the throne and, though the struggle for succession lasted for two years, little is known about the course of events during the period. Virupaksha appears to have crowned himself immediately after the death of his father, but his rule came to an end after one year. He was probably overthrown by Bukka who proclaimed himself king. After one year’s reign, he also, in his turn, yielded place to Devaraya who ascended the throne in 1406 and ruled for 16 years until his death in 1422. He is Devaraya I. There is one inscription (Pg 97), unfortunately withoutdate, belonging most probably to 1405-06, which states that in the year of Parthiva, Gopanna built the fort of Pavagada¹³. It is interesting to note that the Pavagada hill-fort is as old as the early years of the Vijayanagara kingdom.

The order of succession of the kings, who immediately followed Devaraya I on the Vijayanagara throne, is not definitely known. The evidence of inscriptions is confusing, as two of his sons Ramachandra and Vijaya, as well as his grandson Devaraya II, are found to have been ruling simultaneously at Vijayanagara in 1422.

According to a mnemonic verse preserved in the ‘Vidyaranya Kalajnana’, Devaraya I was followed by kings bearing names beginning with ‘Ra’ and ‘Vi’, i.e., Ramachandra and Vijaya respectively. They were ultimately succeeded by Devaraya II who ruled from 1422 to 1446. A few inscriptions of this king have been found in this district. Of them, Tm 11 dated 1426 is a copper-plate grant found in the possession of Narasimha Bhatta of Jodi Hulenahalli. The inscription states that Vijaya Bhupati was the son of Devaraya and Demambika and that Devaraya II was the son of Vijaya Bhupati and Narayanambika. The inscription records the grant of the Village Hulenahalli in the Gulursime, belonging to Anebijjariduraga-Venthe of the Marugaland of Ghanadri, to one Malli Bhatta. The Political situation at Vijayanagara after the death of Devaraya II, again, is not definitely known. It is now commonly held that he was succeeded first by Vijaya II, his younger brother (1446-47), and then by his son Mallikarjuna (1447-65). No inscription of either of them has been found in this district. Of the next ruler, Virupaksha II (1465-85), who assassinated his cousin and usurped the throne, there is but one inscription in this district. The details of this inscription, numbered Gb 29 and dated 1470, which states that his great minister was ruling a fortunate kingdom, etc., cannot be fully made out. With Virupaksha II ends the sangama dynasty of Vijayanagara. 

Saluva Narasimha

Next to come to the throne was the Saluva dynasty. Saluva Narasimha ruled from 1486 to 1491. He has left only two or three inscriptions in this district. Two of them are not only incomplete but also unimportant. There is one copper-plate grant (Tm 54 dated about 1486), coming from Sitakallur in Tumkur taluk. According to it, one Gange Gowda was, by order of the king, granted the gaudike (headmanship) of Hejjaji, which he had build, and of some other villages. As this Saluva Narasimha had only two sons, who were too young to govern the kingdom, he appointed, at the time of his death, his minister Tuluva Narasa Nayaka as the guardian of the princes and as regent of the kingdom, with instructions to hand over the reins of the kingdom, after the princes had attained majority, to the one whom he considered most worthy to rule. 

Tuluva Narasa Nayaka

alt="srikrishnadevaraya_tuluva_narasa_nayaka" v:shapes="_x0000_i1049">

Ultimately, Tuluva Narasa Nayaka proved to be the second usurper of the Vijayanagara throne and the founder of the Tuluva dynasty. During the period between 1491 to 1503, during which he ruled, inscription referring to himself and Saluva Immadi Narasimha have been found in this district. Kg 26 dated 1494 found at Chandrahalli cells the king Mahamandaleshvara Immadiraya Maharaya. It records the grant made by his son, Silluri Devappa Nayaka, of the village Chandadapura for the temple of god Virabhadra of the Channapatna market. Mi 33 dated 1496 is a stone inscription from Nagenahalli. It refers to both Saluva Immadi Narasingaraya and his general Narasana Nayaka. It is a dharmashasana recording the grant of Nagenhalli in the royal city (Rajadhani) of Tumukuru of Koranad. Mi 59 dated 1503 and found at Handralu in Madhugiri taluk, refers to the Mahamandaleshvara Saluva Immadi Narasingaraya and records the grant of the village Handarahala to the temple of god Tirumala as a ‘pura’ by Beleha Timma Nayaka’s son Tamma Nayaka.

Of the remaining Vijayanagara inscriptions, the majority belong to krishnadeva Raya (1509-1529), Achyuta Raya (1520-1542) and Sadashiva Raya (1542-1570). Few of these are of political interest, most of them dealing with either grant of lands to individuals or remissions of taxes to different communities.

Minor Ruling Families

During the 15^th and 16^th centuries, the Vijayanagara kings granted tracts of lands to various vassal chiefs, bearing different titles, in recognition of the services rendered by them and some of the petty State, which already existed, were also allowed to continue. Such feudatory States of purely local interest that had arisen in this district, those of Nidugal, Holavahanhalli Maddagiri (modern Madhugiri), Hagalvadi and Hebbur, are worth mentioning. 

Nidugal Chiefs

The Nidugal chiefs were descended from Harati Tippa Nayaka whose possessions were in the north-east of the Chitraduraga district. The inscription numbered Pg 54 dated in 1487, traces the genealogy of this chief. It describes him as ruling from the Nidugal hill-fort and as becoming the master of many other hill-forts. At the time of his death, he divided his territory among his seven sons, but on the invasion of the country by the Bijapur army, the descendants of these were driven out of estates and one Timmanna Nayaka, who had lost Dodderi, retired to the hill of Nidugal which he fortified. The family remained there for a long time, paying to the Subedar of sira a tribute of three thousand pagodas. On the capture of Sira by Haidar Ali in 1761, the Nidugal chief, also called Timmanna Nayaka, submitted to the conqueror, who imposed on him a tribute of 7000 pagodas and a supply of 300 men. Subsequently, while accompanying Tipu Sultan in his expedition against Mangalore, he fell ill, and when at the point of death, was compelled to sign a letter relinquishing his territory and ordering his son Hottenna Nayaka to deliver it up to the Governor of Chitradurga. Possession was taken immediately, and Hottenna Nayaka and his brother were transferred as prisoners to Chitradurga and thence to Srirangapattana. They were ultimately put to death when the British army ascended the Ghats. 

Holvanahalli Chiefs

The Holavanahalli family, in the east of the district, was founded by Baire gowda or Vira Gowda, said to be one of the refugees that settled in the 15^th century at Avati (in Devanahalli taluk, Bangalore district), whose history is prominent in connection with Bangalore and Kolar districts. There are a few inscriptions of these Holavanahalli chiefs in this district. The territory of Holavanahalli, however, was soon conquered by the chief of Magadi who gave it to his own brother Ankana Gowda. The dispossessed chief, Baire Gowda, with his eldest son Dodda Baiche Gowda, retired to the Muslim Court at Sira where he was not only well received, but was also invested with an important command. Meanwhile, the younger son, Sanna Baiche Gowda, apparently preferring his own people, sought protection from the chief of Doddaballapur, who, after some time, sent a force and reduced Holavanahalli. Sanna Baiche gowda was place in the Government and Ankana gowda with his family was imprisoned at Hulika. But within two years, a Sira army attacked Doddaballapura and captured it. Baiche Gowda fell in the siege and the eldest son, Dodda Baiche Gowda, was invested with the government of Holavanahalli with an increase of territory, in recognition of his services. Subsequent members of the family fortified Koratagere, subdued the neighbouing hoblies belonging to Devarayanadurga, Makalidurga and Channarayanaduraga and waged war successfully with the chief of Maddagiri. The successes of the Mysore army soon reduced those possessions, which were ultimately annexed by Haidar Ali. The succession of these chiefs is given in Mi 31 of 1656, Mi 45 1680 and Mi 30 of 1726.

 Maddagiri Chiefs

alt="maddagiri_chief" v:shapes="_x0000_i1050">The Maddagiri line of chiefs arose in a similar manner and extended its territory over the north of the district fortifying Madhugiri, Channarayanadurga and other points. In 1678, the joint rulers, Ramagowda and Timmegowda, on the capture of their capital by Devaraja, the Dalavayi of Mysore, were taken prisoners and conveyed to Srirangapattana. They were afterwards released and granted Midigeshi as an estate. 

Hagaivadi chiefs

The Hagalvadi chiefs ruled for about 300 years from 1478 to 1776. The founder of the dynasty, Erimada Nayaka, was succeeded by Sali Nayaka (1508-1544) who largely expanded the territory. Inscription Ck 38 dated 1696 relates to them. Sali Nayaka, who captured Kandikere and Settikere and other places, assisted the Penukonda army with a force, on condition of being confirmed in his conquests and when that army was defeated, escaped to his own capital with such plunder as he could secure. Chiknayakanahalli was founded and named after his brother, and Honnavalli, Turuvekere and Nonavinakere were added to the possessions. It was on the completion of these enterprises that he is said to have taken the name of Sali Nayaka from the idea that his conquests extended in a ‘Salu’ or line. His grandson, Mudiyappa Nayaka I , also considerably extended the territory. Mudiyappa Nayaka II, who was the ninth in the line, had been hailed as a Rajarishi for his benign rule; later, he gave up the throne and engaged himself in spiritual pursuits. His son, Mudduveerappa Nayaka (1740-1753), successfully resisted the onslaughts of Salabat Jung and Dilwar Khan and was called ‘Jung Bahadur’. Channabasappa Nayaka, the twelfth ruler in the line, was imprisoned by Haidar Ali at Srirangapattana. The Nayaka died in prison the territory was annexed by Haidar Ali. According to M. S. Puttanna (‘Hagalavadi Palayagararu’ 1931), the Hagalvadi State had once covered more than three – fourths of the present district of Tumkur. 

Hebbu Zamindari

At Hebbur, a small zamindari, was formed under Hale Gowda and Timme Gowda. This was seized for a time by Kempe Gowda of Magadi, who owned the southern parts of the district, and then by the Hagalvadi chief. It was finally united to Mysore at the time of Chikka Devaraja. 

Bijapur rule

The overthrow of the Vijayanagara Empire in 1565 in the battle of Rakkasa-Tangadgi opened the way for many invaders. The Bijapur army under Ranadulla Khan overran the north of the district in 1638 and Sira, with Doddaballapur, Bangalore, Hoskote and Kolar forming what was called Karnatak-Bijapur-Balaghat was placed under the Government of Shahji. As memorials of the rule of the Adil Shahi dynasty over the district, there are two or three inscriptions in this region. A Persian inscription (numbered 66-B) dated in 1651, on the tomb of Malik Rihan, Subedar of Sira, says that he came there in 1637 “to increase the beauth of the country”. He is described as a “lord of riches and power” and his characteristics “those of a friend of God”. 

Mughals and Marathas

The Mughals succeeded the Adil Shahis of Bijapur. On the capture of Golkonda and Bijapur by Aurangzeb in 1686 and on the conquest of their territories by the Mughal army, Sira was made the capital of a new province, consisting of the sevn paraganas of basavapattana, Budihal, Sira, Penukondas, Doddaballapur, Hoskote and Kolar and placed under one Khasim Khan as Subedar or Foujdar. This officer, it is said, applied himself with energy and success to the task of improving the area. He was killed in 1698 at Dodderi and was succeeded by the distinguished general, Zulfikar Khan. Sheik Farid, one of the rulers, built a big mosque at Sira in 1696. Another governor named Rustam Jung is said to have built the fort and petta and obtained the title of Bahadur and the name Kaifiat Khan. In 1720, the Subedar was one Nawab Dusa Kuli Khan. In 1742, Nawab Dilawar Saheb was the subedar and he apparently put down certain disturbances. In 1757, Sira was taken by the Marathas and restored two years after on the conclusion of peace with Mysore. In 1761, it was taken by Haidar Ali, in alliance with Basalat Jung, who had conferred upon him the title of ‘Nawab of sira’. In 1766, it fell again into the hands of the Marathas owing to defection of Haidar’s brother-in- law and in 1774 was re-conquered by Tipu. The Marathas once more occupied it for a short time in 1791 in the course of their march to join the army of Lord Cornwallis. Of this transitory rule of the Marathas also there are two inscriptions in the district. Both of them are in Marathi and dated about 1767. They were found at Channarayanaduraga which was fortified by them. The following is a professed list of the Subedars of Sira under the Mughal Government. 

Wodeyars of Mysore

The area comprising this district, it may be said, became a part of the princely State of Mysore roughly in four stages. The earliest acquisition in this district was that of Hebbur in the Tumkur taluk by Kanthirava Narasaraja wodeyar I (1638-1659) in April 1650 from Immadi Kempe Gowda. This he did by inflicting a severe defeat on the latter’s son, Chikka Kempe Gowda ot Mummadi Kempe gowda, in an action in the Yelahanka-nad and exacting his submission. From this date onwards, Mysore began to extend its territories gradually in the northern direction. We are told that by 1673, i.e., the last year of Devaraja Wodeyar’s (1659-1673) reign, the kingdom of Mysore, now powerful and practically independent, had been extended “as far as Hassan and Sakrepatna in the west, Salem in the east, Chiknayakanahalli in the north, and Erode and Dharapuram in the south”¹⁴. This means that, by the end of Devaraja Wodeyar’s reign, a considerable portion of the Tumkur district had formed part of the Mysore territories. The third stage consists of the conquests of Chikka Devaaraja Wodeyar (1673-1704). There are several inscriptions found in this as well as surrounding districts which give the particulars of Chikka-Devaraja’s wars. One of the earliest of these inscriptions dated 1675,¹⁵ describes him as sitting on the throne of the Karnataka country like the great Indra, and enumerating his conquests in all directions, it states that in the north, he defeated Ranadulla Khan (the Bijapur general) and captured Ketasamudra, Kandikere, Handalakere, Gulur, Tumkur and Honnavalli, all in the tumkur district.

Further, defeating Narasa Nayaka, also called Mushtika (fighter with the fist), in a battle Chikka-Devaraja is said to have captured Jadakanadurga (now called Devarayanadurga in tumkur district) and changed its name to Chikka-Devarayadurga. Another record belonging to 1679¹⁶ also gives these particulars and adds that he defeated akso Timmappa Gowda and Ramappa Gowda and took Maddagiri, Midigeshi, Bijjavara and Channarayanaduraga, all in the Tumkur District. As the capture of these places is not mentioned in the inscription dated 1675, but is referred to in the one dated 1679, it follows that these places were places were taken between 1675 and 1679. The acquisition of this chain of impregnable hill-forts largely widened the sphere of influence of Mysore in the north. In view of these conquests and addition of a considerable territory to the kingdom, the view of Mark Wilks ¹⁷ that the conquests of Chikka-Devaraja, “present little interest or demand no particular explanation” is obviously untenable. By the end of his reign, thus, large parts of the Tumkur district formed part of Mysore. Whatever had remained outside, finally fell to it during the time of Haridar Ali on his conquest of Sira in 1761 and annexation of Hagalvadi in 1776.

Art and culture

Theatre & Cinema

Gubbi Veeranna (ಗುಬ್ಬಿ ವೀರಣ್ಣ)

Gubbi Veeranna was an Indian theatre director, one of the pioneers and most prolific contributors to Kannada theatre. He established the drama company, Gubbi Veeranna Nataka Company that played a crucial role in promoting the Kannada theatre. Some of the stalwarts that have emerged out of this company include Dr. Rajkumar, B. Jayashree and G. V. Shivananda. He is conferred the title Nataka Ratna meaning jewel in the theatre world. Gubbi Veeranna Nataka Company is the first theatre company in Karnataka to employ female artists to portray female characters on the stage. There is a popular saying that the story of Gubbi Veeranna's company is the story of the Kannada theatre which indicates the standing of this company in the theatre world. Apart from theatre, Gubbi Veeranna has also produced films and acted in them as well.

Biography

Gubbi Veeranna was born in the town of Gubbi in the Tumkur district of Karnataka in the year 1890. He started a drama company called Gubbi Shree Chenna Basaveshwara Nataka Company and started producing plays in which he also acted sometimes. He had four wives, three of them being Sundaramma, Bhadramma and Jayamma. He had an unnerving commitment towards the theatre. An incident to corroborate this is when his second wife Sundaramma who was also an artist with the company died on the stage while enacting a play. It is said that Gubbi Veeranna who was also acting in the play along with his children, did not stop the play but allowed it to continue till the end. He and his children attended to her dead body only after the play stopped. Veeranna also is credited for having groomed people like Rajkumar and B. V. Karanth. He not only helped them groom their career in the theatre field but also provided them with other financial help. As an example, Veerana provided financial contribution towards B. V. Karanth's graduation and masters degree at Banaras Hindu University.

Theatre company

Initially located in Gubbi, the company started to travel to different places and stage plays in those locations. The company had a troupe of more than 150 artists and backstage workers. Some popular plays staged by the company included Sadaarame and Yechamma Nayaka. These plays consisted of innovations like trick scenes, floods, clouds and rain. In those days, dramas used were staged for free with people only paying according to their liking at the end of the drama. However, Gubbi Veeranna's dramas were an exception with people willing to buy tickets to watch them. Most of the actors and actresses that entered the Kannada cinema world in those days were from this drama company. Later the company opened branches in different places. An important branch of the company was the Mysore branch which staged popular plays and the finances generated from this branch actually sustained the whole company. The humorist Hirannaiah was one of the persons responsible for the popularity of the Mysore branch. Gubbi Veeranna's company first came to Bangalore in the year 1916. Later Gubbi Veeranna constructed his own theatre in Bangalore on the Subedar Chatram Road in 1924 and the Shivananda Theatre (now called as Movieland) in 1930. Probably, the most famous artist to emerge out of the Gubbi Veeranna company was Rajkumar. Rajkumar's father Singanallur Puttaswamiah was an actor in the company and Rajkumar and his brother joined the company as child artistes. Rajkumar actually attributed his command over the Kannada language and his singing skills to the training he underwent under the watchful eyes of Gubbi Veeranna.

Film production

Gubbi Veeranna also started Karnataka Gubbi Productions which was a company to produce films. Later called as The Karnataka Films Ltd., it is attributed to have started the film career of Rajkumar when it agreed to offer him the lead role in his first film Bedara Kannappa. He has also produced silent movies like His Love Affair which was directed by a foreigner, Raphel Algoet. In this film, the lead role of the actor was played by Gubbi Veeranna himself and the actress was none other than his wife, Jayamma.

Recognition

The Karnataka government has instituted the Gubbi Veeranna award for excellence in theatre in his memory. B. V. Karanth is a recipient of this award

---

Narasimharaju ( 1926–1979 )

Born 24th July 1923,    Tiptur, Karnataka, India
Died July 11, 1979,  Occupation Actor, Comedian

T. R. Narasimharaju was an Indian Kannada popular actor specialising in roles that required ample comic timing. He has acted in more than 250 Kannada movies between 1954 and 1979. He had the necessary looks and voice needed by a comedian. A successful Kannada film of that period always had the recipe of four main things: the hero, the heroine, a villain, and an equally illustrious role of a comedian. Narasimharaju was the default choice for the comedian's role. It was impossible to conceive the idea of a Kannada film without all of these.

Biography

Narasimharaju was the son of a police constable Ramaraju, from Tiptur. Venkata Lakshmi Amma was his mother's name. His stage debut happened when he was 4 years old. The poverty prevailing in the house made his uncle Lakshmipatiraju take the young lad to the 'Chandra-moul-eshwara drama company' run by Shri C.B. Mallappa who happened to be touring Tiptur during that period. After some time, Narasimharaju left that company and formed his own troupe and enacted his roles from his now previous performances - 'Gora-kumbara,' and 'Harishchandra'. He soon joined 'Edathorey Drama Company' after his troupe sustained losses. He took on the garb of a lady in the mythological 'Vishvamitra', 'Rama', 'Ravana', and 'Bharata' among others. He spent the first 27 years of his acting career in professional drama companies. He donned different roles in the plays of different companies like "Shri Chandramauleshwara Nataka Sabha", "Hirannaiah Mitra Mandali", "Bharatha Lalitha Kala Sangha", "Gunda Joisara Company" of Belur, and Gubbi "Channabasaveshwara Nataka Company". He did not neglect these drama companies even after becoming hugely popular film actor .

He made his film debut in 1954 when he acted in the film Bedara Kannappa alongside Dr. Raj Kumar in the role of the son of the temple priest. Both were colleagues from the time they were in Gubbi Veeranna's drama company. Narasimha Raju took inspiration from Charlie Chaplin. He had somewhat slightly protruding upper jaw teeth, which gave him a comic appearance. He made use of his natural abilities to the full extent possible.

Though known for his comic timing, Narasmimharaju unfortunately spent his last days mourning the death of his son in an accident. He died aged 56 on the 11th of July, 1979 at around 4.30 a.m. due to severe heart attack. After his death, an annual cine award, the Narasimharaju Prashasti was established in his memory. However, despite his iconic status among Kannadigas, it is ironic that he was not awarded even once either by the state or the central governments. Till date, no road/memorial exists commemorating this great actor.

Filmography
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

• 1954: Bedara Kannappa
• 1956: Renuka Mahatme
• 1957: Prabhulinga Leale
• 1957: Nala Damayanthi
• 1958: Chori Chori guest appearance
• 1959: Dharma Vijaya
• 1960: Ranadheera Kanteerava
• 1961: Kittur Raani Chennamma
• 1961: Vijayanagarada Veera Putra
• 1962: Gaaligopura
• 1963: Vaalmiki
• 1963: Amarashilpi jakkana
• 1964: Navajeevana
• 1965: Satya Harischandra
• 1965: Paathala Mohini
• 1965: Baalaraajana Kathe
• 1966: Love in Bangalore
• 1966: Thugu Deepa
• 1967: Black Market
• 1967: Devara Gedda Maanava
• 1967: Lagnapatrike
• 1967: Padaveedhara
• 1968: Bangalore Mail
• 1968: Amma
• 1968: Govadalli CID 999
• 1968: Manasaakshi
• 1970: Shri Krishnadevaraya
• 1970: Rangamahal Rahasya
• 1970: Bhupati Ranga
• 1971: Jatakaratna Gundaajoisa
• 1972: Naari Munidare Maari
• 1972: Yaava Janmada Maithri
• 1972: Gandhada Gudi - role Shivaji
• 1974: Professor Huchurayya
• 1975: Aashirvaada
• 1977: Lakshmi Nivasa
• 1977: Yella Hanakkagi
• 1980: Preethi Maadu Tamashe Nodu
• 1966: sathya harishchandra

---

Manjula (ಮಂಜುಳ) (5 April 1951 - 12 September 1986)

Manjula was an Indian film actress who acted in Kannada language films. She was one of the most successful and prominent actress of Kannada films. She has acted in more than 100 films

Personal life

Manjula was born in Honenahalli, a village in Tumkur district on 5 April 1951 to Shivanna and Deveramma. She belonged to a prominent lingayat family, her father Shivanna was a policesub inspector. She was married to film director Amritham who had directed her in films like Hudugaatada Hudugi, the couple have one son Abhisekh and one adopted daughter Abhinaya. Abhisekh was married in 2009 to Sushma Srinivas.

Career

Manjula started her acting career in 1965 with a drama troupe Prabhat Kalavidaru. She then entered the Kannada film industry in a small role through the film Mane Katti Nodu in 1966, the film was directed by Sri Sadguru. She made her debut as a lead actress in the film Yaara Saakshi, the film released in 1972 and it was directed by veteran director M. R. Vittal. She paired up with most prominent Kannada actors like Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, Srinath and Shankar Nag, but most successful is with Srinath, they acted together in about 35 films. She has starred in over one hundred films during her film career, where she played variety of roles and most of her films became successful. Some of her notable films includeSampathige Savaal, Durgi, Yeradu Kanasu, Besuge and Seetha Ramu.

Filmography
Partial list

• Mane Katti Nodu (debut film)
• Yaara Sakshi (first film as a lead actress)
• Mooruvare Vajragalu
• Bhakta Kumbara
• Sampathige Savaal
• Mayura
• Daari Tapidha Maga
• Nee Nanna Gellalare
• Yeradu Kanasu
• Bhayasade Bhanda Bhagya
• Sreenivasa Kalyana
• Galate Samsara
• Hudukatada Hudugi
• Point Parimala
• Savathiya Neralu
• Seetharamu
• Deepa
• Mareyada Haadu
• Marayalagada Kathe
• Kumkuma Rakshe
• Baduku Bangaravayithu
• Ninagagi Naanu
• Shikari
• Sose Tanda Sowbagya
• Mithuna
• Besuge
• Singapuradalli Rajakulla
• Kittu Puttu
• Bettele Seve
• Taayigintha Devarilla
• Yeradu Mukha
• Ninagaagi naanu (1975) (Co-Actors: Lokesh, Srinath; Directed By C. V. Sridhar; Produced By N Veeraswamy; Music By Vijay Bhaskar)
• Bhale Huduga (1978)
• Mane Gedha Maga (last film)

---

B jayashree

Granddaughter of the legendary Gubbi Veeranna, B. Jayashree debuted as a child in his company before going on to study at the National School of Drama. After her graduation in 1970, and acting under directors such as Alkazi and Karanth, she started directing her own group, ‘Spandana’, in Bangalore. It made a name for itself across the country with “Lakshapati Rajana Kathe” (“Raja Lakshapati’s Story”, 1986), a production resplendent with folk energy and vibrant music. She also directed Chandrashekhar Kambar’s “Karimayi” (1987), on ritualistic worship of the goddess by that name, in the same style.

---

Umashree (ಉಮಾಶ್ರೀ) born on (10 May 1957)

Umashree is an Indian theatre and film actress of Kannada film industry also well-known politician. She was a Member of the Legislative Council in Karnataka. She has done so many varied roles as a character artiste with equal finesse and aplomb. However she is most famous for her portrayal of comic roles. Her range in acting is unparalleled - mainly due to her stint in stage plays - and has acted in more than 350 Kannada movies, of which her portrayal in Swabimana, Golmal Radhakrishna, Yaru Hone,Sangya balya, Putnanja, Tumbida Mane, Kotreshi Kanasu, Kurigalu Sir Kurigalu, Kotigalu Sir Kotigalu, Yaarige Saalutte Sambala, Mani,Veeru, Gulabi Talkies and now recently Kanasemba Kudureyaneri are few to be appreciated. 

Theatre experience

She has 31 years long experience in village, amateur, mythological and professional drama. She has acted under the direction of great theatre directors like German director Fritz Bennewitz, B.V. Karanth, Girish Karnad, C. G. Krishnaswamy, R. Nagesh, T.S. Nagabharanaetc. She has been part of many eminent theatre groups of the State and is an active member of Rangasampada Amateur Theatre group of Bangalore. She has performed nearly hundred different plays in Amateur, Professional, Rural and Industrial theatre sectors. As of date more than 6000 shows have been performed. Well known actress of Kannada film industry, Umashri has got Best Actress National Award for Gulabi Talkies film. This is directed by four time Swarna Kamal National award winner director Girish Kasaravalli.

Movie experience

(if i am not wrong, she debuted with AV Sheshagiri Rao's 1981 movie Pattanake Banda Patniyaru) She started her movie career with an inconsequential role in the movie Anubhavaopposite Kashinath in the late 1980s. Even though she had only a supporting role - which had a comic streak and also grey shades - in the movie, her acting was appreciated by one and all. She even bagged an award for the role. But later she was branded for same kind of comedy roles bordering on the line of indecency with double meaning dialogs. Initially she formed the best pair with N. S. Rao and with his unique kind of dialog delivery; they both regaled the Kannada audiences in many movies. Later after the actor's demise she was paired with Mukhyamantri Chandru, Doddanna and karibasavaiah with whom also she formed a great pairing and shared a unique comic timing. Her acting in the movie Kotigalu Sir Kotigalu as Muniyamma a limp washer-woman was enjoyed thoroughly by children as well as grown-ups.

The role in the movie Puttananja changed everything for Umashree. Her portrayal of an 80 years old grandmother in the movie made everyone sit-up and notice her immense talent, even though she was praised for her performances in movies like Tayyavva, Amrutha Ghalige, Sangya Balya, etc. Later she was provided better roles which had immense scope to perform and display her talent by many directors S. V. Rajendra Singh Babu, Yograj Bhat. Her portrayal as an aged prostitute trying hard to save her daughter from the flesh-trade in the movie Mani was exemplary and won her Karnataka State award for Best Supporting Actress in the year 2005. She is the only Kannada actress to receive Karnataka State awards/prizes (Silver Medals) six times conferred on her by one Governor and six chief ministers of karnataka. She is also the recipient of the state's prestigious 'Rajyothsava Award' Gold Medal.

Umashree starred in the 2008 film Gulabi Talkies directed by Girish Kasaravalli,which even bought her The Osians' Cinefan Film Festival's Best Actress Award. She was also nominated for the Best Actress award for Gulabi Talkies at Middle East International Film Festival Abu Dhabi 2008. And presently Gulabi Talkies is also nominated for Indian International Film Festival 2008 for Indian Panorama category. She has also received Karnataka State award for Best Actress for the year 2008 for the same movie.

She is currently acting in various movies which offers her better roles. She is interested in politics and was an MLC (Member of Legislative Council) in the Karnataka State Government and currently she is the Chairman for Other Backward Class Department in Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. She had also contested in the 13th Karnataka State Assembly elections from Terdal constituency in Bagalkot district, under an Indian National Congress Congress ticket. But she lost the election with a reasonable margin. And that to was with just 20 days of campaigning, though it was the same for her as well as her opponent.

Television experience

• Nondavara Haadu (documentary on leprosy) Directed by T. S Ranga for Doordarshan
• Hattye (telefilm) directed by Dr. H. Girijamma for Doordarshan
• Musanje (serial) directed by T. S Nagabarana for Udaya TV
• Musanje Katha Prasanga (serial) directed by Prakash Belawadi for ETv
• Kicchu (serial) directed by Chaitanya for ETv
• Amma Ninagagi for ETv

Personal life

Umashree's husband had deserted her at a very early age and had married someone else. She had single-handedly brought up her two children. That is the reason she took to acting - to ably support her family. Her elder daughter Gayathri is a dentist and completed her Master of Dental Surgery and her son Vijayakumar is an Advocate, also completed his Post Graduation in Master of Laws from Australia. She is also involved in many social activities in upliftment of rural and suppressed women and has done many stage-plays highlighting the issues they face, in many interior villages of Karnataka. She also brought these issues to notice of the Karnataka government as a sitting MLC.

Awards

She has been awarded with many awards and prizes and to name few are:

• International Award - Best Actress at Osian's Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema 2008 for Gulabi Talkies.

Nominated for international Award as Best Actress for ‘Gulabi Talkies’ at Middle East International Film Festival, Abu Dhabi 2008

• National Award (Rajat Kamal) - Best Actress 55th National Film Awards for Gulabi Talkies. This will be given by President Of India and on behalf of Government Of India.
• Rajyothsava Award 1999-2000 - Gold Medal - Karnataka State Government's highest honour for her enormous service to the Theatre and Film industry).
• Filmfare - Best Supporting Actress - Krishnan Love Story 58th Filmfare Awards South
• State Awards (6 times Rajata Kamala) from Government of Karnataka fllms are Yaru Hone - Sangya Balya - Kottreshi Kanasu - Kurigalu Sar Kurigalu - Mani - Gulabi Talkies. First Lady in Kannada Film Industry.
• Karnataka Nataka Academy Award 1997-98
• NTR Puraskar by the Karnataka Telugu Academy in association with NTR Fans' Association and other Telugu cultural organisations.
• Devika Rani Memorial Award – 1996 being honoured by Veteran Actor Dev Anand
• Madras Film Fans’ Award – 3 times.
• TV Ratna Puraskar 2010 by Karnataka Television Association.
• Aryabhatta Award (Twice)
• K. V. Shankare Gowda Award 2004-05
• Felicitation by Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce and Karnataka Film Directors’ Association in 2008 (for being the first Kannada actress to obtain an International Award).
• Basava Guru Karunya Prashasthi
• Former Chief Minister Late D. Devaraj Urs National Sri Rathna Award - 1999 (for serving women, children and in particular the social and economical Backward Class).
• Sri. M. Vishweswaraiah Memorial Award (for Social Service)
• Nekarara Bhushana Award (for the Upliftment of Weaver Sector)
• International Fellowship - Paul Harris fellowship by Rotary International.

Apart from these she has also received more than twenty Best Actress prizes in different Industrial Competition Plays.

---

Jaggesh (ಜಗ್ಗೇಶ್)

Jaggesh is an Indian actor in the Kannada film industry, known for the comedy roles he portrays in his movies. He has acted in movies such asSuper Nan Maga and Tharle Nan Maga. Jaggesh has a big fan following and is popularly referred to by his fans as Navarasa Nayaka. Jaggesh is a versatile comedy actor in the Kannada film industry, known best for his unique and sometimes cheeky dialogue delivery and his mannerisms. He uses, among other varieties of humor, scatological humor. He started his career in the movie industry in the early 80's by playing minor roles. He got his big break as a hero in Tharle Nan Maga, and has been quite popular since then.

Politics

Jaggesh is originally from Mayasandra (Jade Mayasandra) of Turuvekere Taluk in Tumkur district. His political affiliation was with the Congress party. He ran in the Turuvekere constituency, and won with a healthy margin but resigned from the Legislative Assembly to join the Bharatiya Janata Party later. Currently he is the vice-chairman of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (K.S.R.T.C.)

Filmography

Some of his Movies are:-

• Rustum
• Bhanda Nanna Ganda
• Tharle Nan Maga
• Super Nan Maga
• Indrana Gedda Narendra
• Patela
• Makeup
• Matha
• Honey Moon Express
• Tenali rama goes to dubai
• Server Somanna
• Gundana Maduve
• Bhanda alla bahaddur
• Manmatha Raja (1989) (Co-Actors:Kaashinaath, Sudhaa Raani; Directed By Sai Prakash; Produced By J Devadas Reddy; Music By Chakravarthy )
• Jeetendra
• Shivanna
• Kodagana Koli Nungitha
• Bombat Hudga
• Rowdy MLA
• Rupayi Raaja
• Yaardo Duddu Yallamana Jaathre
• Manmatha
• Ide Police Belt
• Tata Birla
• Gadibidi Ganda
• Kalla Malla
• Kas Iddone Baasu
• Rana Dheera (has played supporting actor role)
• Eddelu Manjunatha
• Lift Kodla
• Double Decker

Dialogues

One of his famous dialogues which he uses in most of his movies is "Yescape aagbidbeku". His other famous dialogues include:

• Mane mundhe smoke
• Napoleon dove aa
• Anna yakanna hing sumnag bittri
• Suinn tapak
• Kadle kayi kadle kayi
• Aitha lakadi pakadi jhumma
• Tapa tapa tapa anta hodad bitru
• Avvu napalend davvu
• Dabba nanna magandu
• Halka nan maklu
• Kaage haarstiya
• Ella dagargalu siva
• Ka ka
• Kojas pampa
• Otla ilva kutti putti patate
• Nimmayan
• Nanna magane
• Nimakkan
• Touching.. touching.. touching..
• Catch haaki bidu
• Ad hengaito eno
• Man proposes god disposes
• Yappo kette
• Aai theri lakdi pakdi jumma
• Maaramman dishku
• Hogey hakiskond bittiya
• Thaayi thandeya seveya yoga
• Ayyayyo
• Kaage harisu
• Kachham sharanam bichhami
• Ivnyak hang gurayistavne!!

Family life

Jaggesh, formerly known as Eswar, married Parimala. Theirs was the first marriage case from south India to reach the Supreme Court. It was a love marriage where the bride was underage and the Honorable Chief Justice Bhagwati allowed for the marriage to be recognized on a humanitarian basis.

Jaggesh's younger brother Komal kumar too is a noted actor in the Kannada film industry, who gained recognition in the 2008 comedy movie, Mr. Garagasa, co-starring Anant Nag. 

Jaggesh has two sons - Guru Raj and Yathi Raj. Guru Raj has written the script for their home production Make Up. He has completed successfully his training from the famed Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting Institute, in Mumbai and is lined up for a launch in February 2009.

Yathi Raj is a well established child artiste with close to 15 movies to his credit, including his touching performance in the movie "Deadly Soma", directed by Ravi Srivathsa. Parimala Jaggesh and son Guru Raj Jaggesh are also known for their interest in cars, drag racing and rally.

Jaggesh is known for his unique style of acting and at one point of time was the highest paid actor amongst non-lead roles in Kannada film industry, which is now overtaken byRangaayana Ragu. This was when he was very popular for his negative roles which had highly popular dialogues such as "Aouh, touching.. touching.." in teasing college girls' characters.

Born Eeshware Gowda
March 17, 1963 (age 48)
Mayasandra, Turvekere, Tumkur,Karnataka

Nationality Indian

Other names Navarasa nayaka

Occupation Actor

Notable works Tarle Nan Maga, Super Nan Maga, Rani Maharani, Matha, Eddelu Manjunath

Political party Bharatiya Janata Party

---

P Sheshadri

P Sheshadri is a renowned filmmaker and director in the Kannada cinema industry. A postgraduate in Kannada Literature and a diploma holder in journalism, after a short stint as Journalist, he entered Film land in 1990 as Screenplay and dialogue writer. In 1995 he became Independent Director of Television serials,Documentaries and Tele- films. His maiden effort as Director of feature film MUNNUDI (A Preface) in the year 2000 has brought him great applause for his sensitive approach to cinema and was also hailed as a Landmark film. He followed it up with Atithi (The Guest-2001), BERU (The Root-2004) and THUTTURI (The Bugle-2005). All these Four films received National Award.

Filmography

• Munnudi (A Preface)
• Atithi (The Guest)
• Beru(The Root)
• Thutturi (The Bugle)
• BeTTada Jeeva

Tele Serials

• Inchara
• Kamanabillu
• Kathegaara
• Maayamriga
• Nikshepa
• Kannaamuchaale
• Uyyale
• Subbanna
• Mounaraaga…

Awards

• 10 TH Aravindan PURASKARAM-2000: Best Debut Director for film MUNNUDI
• 48th National Film Awards-2001: Best film on SOCIAL ISSUES- MUNNUDI
• KARNATAKA STATE FILM AWARDS- 2000-2001: Best film on Social concern – MUNNUDI
• 49th National Film Awards-2002: ATITHI- Regional Best film of 2001
• 52nd National Film Awards-2005: BERU- Regional Best film of 2004
• KARNATAKA STATE FILM AWARDS- 2004-2005: Second Best film – BERU
• 53rd National Film Awards-2007: THUTTURI- Best film on Environment Conservation/Preservation 2007
• KARNATAKA STATE FILM AWARDS- 2005-2006: Children Best film – THUTTURI
• 58th National Film Awards-2011: BeTTada Jeeva - Best film on environment

Belluru.Mylaraiyya. Srikantaiah (ಬಿ ಎಮ್ ಶ್ರೀಕಂಠಯ್ಯ) (1884–1946)
alt="image_2" v:shapes="_x0000_i1051">
B M Srikanthaiah or B M Shri  was one of the most influential authors, writers and translators of Kannada literature. He was born in Sampige village, Tumkur District Gubbi taluk. He studied at Srirangapatanam and Mysore, before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from a Bangalore College and a Master of Arts degree in Madras. He joined Maharaja College in Mysore as a Lecturer. After completing 25 years of service there he moved to Central College in Bangalore, later Vidyaranya College under the K. E. Board in Dharwad. He was also an honorary professor at the Kannada Department of the University of Mysore when it was founded in 1927.

One of this most famous works is the translation of the hymn Lead, Kindly Light as Karunaalu Baa Belake.

Known as the Kannada Kanva for his guardianship of Kannada Literature, he was instrumental in encouraging and promoting Kannada and inspiring writers such as Kuvempu and G. P. Rajarathnam to write in Kannada, at a time when English was becoming the common medium.

He championed the cause of Kannada and encouraged a generation of writers to express in their mother-tongue.

His book of translations, English Geethegalu is one of the famous books.

English Geethegalu inspired several budding poets, thus laying the foundation of a new pattern of lyrical poetry in kannada. In his poems, Sri experimented with new forms of metre and diction. The three poems of his own composition in the collection of poems Honganasugalu (Golden Dreans, 1943) affords examples of his vision of life and his deep love for the motherland. These poems were composed three decades prior to their publication. His Shukrageete sums up his vision of life thus: "Truth alone shall triumph and not untruth, Knowledge, and not ignorance, is nectar. Bow to VishwabhArati - mother India of Universal Vision, and not to anything less"

Sri Gave impetus to the genre of poetic drama by writing three plays- Gadayuddha nataka (1925), Ashwathaman(1929), and Parasikaru(1935)- all Tragedies, on the Greek pattern.

For the first time, tragedy appeared on the kannada stage, Gadayuddha modelled on poet Ranna's epic of the same name.

He was awarded the 'RAja SEvAsakta' award by the Maharaja of Mysore and was the president of the Kannada Sahithya Sammelana in 1938 at Gulburga. A circle in Bangalore where 100 feet road and CMH road meet, has been named after him: B M Sri Circle.

Works

• Gadayuddha Natakam (play)
• Aswatthaaman (Play)
• Honganasugalu (Poetry)

Translations

• English Geetagalu (English Songs, 1921).

Literary Criticism

• Kannadigarige olleya saahitya (Good literature for Kannada People)
• Kannada Kaipidi (History of Kannada Literature)

Born 3-Jan-1884
Turuvekere taluk, Tumkur district, Karnataka
Died 5-Jan-1946
Bangalore, Karnataka
Occupation Poet, Writer, Professor
Nationality India
Genres Fiction
Literary movement Navodaya

---

Aacharya Tirthapura Nanjundaiah Shrikantaiah (ತೀರ್ಥಪುರ ನಂಜುಂಡಯ್ಯ ಶ್ರೀಕಂಠಯ್ಯ)

T.N. Shrikantaiah also known as ThiNamShree (November 26, 1906 - September 7, 1966) was a Kannada literary poet, scholar, and teacher.Shrikantaiah was instrumental in preparing and publishing Kannada version of Constitution of India in 1952. He is also credited for suggesting the term Rashtrapathi, a Sanskrit equivalent for President of India. When there was a discussion on the equivalent term for the President of Indian republic, as a member of Indian constitution council, it was he who suggested Rashtrapathi, a word with a similar connotation to President. The term was accepted unanimously and is still the term in use.

Early life

T.N. Shrikantaiah was born on November 26, 1906 in Teerthapura in Tumkur district. His father's name was Nanjundiah and his mother'sBhageerathamma. His family were the descendants of the Kings of Hagalavadi. He received his B.A. in 1926 and an M.A. in English in 1929. He received an M.A. in the Kannada language from Mysore University later that year.

Works

His most famous work was a book titled Bharatiya Kavya Meemamse (ಭಾರತೀಯ ಕಾವ್ಯ ಮೀಮಾಂಸೆ) about Indian poetics. This work was a thorough analysis of the relationship between 11th century Alankara poetry (Figure of speech) and India in prose and poetic forms. Tu Nan Sri's book delves into the tradition of Kavyalankara and related classical texts and asserts that Rasa-Dhvani principles are an integral part of this comparison of different streams of poetry.

He is credited for suggesting the term Rashtrapathi, a Sanskrit equivalent for President of India. When there was a discussion on the equivalent term for the President of Indian republic, as a member of Indian constitution council, it was he who suggested Rashtrapathi, a word with a similar connotation to President. The term was accepted unanimously and is still the term in use.

His poetry work of Olume (ಒಲುಮೆ) is a collection of poems on Love, first of its kind in Kannada language.

Later life

He worked in an array of government offices and educational institutions, including the Karnataka University and the University of Mysore. He retired from government service in 1952. He received a Rockefeller's scholarship in 1955 to pursue advanced studies of linguistics in the United States. He continued to work as a professor of Kannada until he died of a sudden heart attack in Kolkatta in 1966.

Bibliography

• Bharatiya Kavya Meemamse
• Rakshasana Mudrike
• Olume
• Nantaru
• Samalokana
• Pampa
• Kavya Sameekshe
• Samalokana

Remembrances

The Department of Kannada and the Ti Nam Sri Birth Centenary Committee initiated a yearlong celebration of Shrikantaiah's life in 2006 to commemorate his birth centenary. This was done in coordination with a number of educational institutions including the Central Institute of Indian Languages in Mysore, Deccan College in Pune, and the Central Sahitya Academy in Delhi.

South End Circle Jayanagar Bangalore has a statue of Ti. Nam. Sri has been unveiled and park has been named after him.

Born 26 November 1906

Teerthapura, Tumkur district,Karnataka

Died 7 September 1966 (aged 59)
Kolkata, West Bengal

Occupation Poet, Writer, Professor

Nationality India

Genres Fiction

Literary movement Navya

Tumkur district gears up to celebrate Shravana , The month of Shravana is extremely special in several respects. It is marked with different festivals and rain. Everything is auspicious during this

month :

Gudda Gudda Sthavara Linga, Avaka Abhyanga, Eritavanno Hanga, Koodyava Moda - Suttella Noda Noda’ explains noted poet Da Ra Bendre, inspired by the grandeur of Shravana. Shravana, the auspicious month

of the Hindu calender has arrived, bringing along with it the grandeur of greenery, rain and festivals. True to the poet’s words, Tumkur district is now resplendent with greenery. This time it will be a typical

Shravanamasa with the raindrops turning the red soil into lush greenery.More than half of hills and mountains in the district look decked in green which is a great treat for nature lovers. The month is extremely special

in several respects. Shravana is marked with different festivals and rain, everything is auspicious during this month.Special poojas are offered in the temples, throughout the month. Large number of devotees throng

the temples, especially the women folk are busy during this part of the year. People are looking forward for better things in life. After, a spate of drought for the last five years, they hope to forget the gloomy past.

Lack of rain resulted in drought, the water in the ground level receded, farmers and labourers migrated to other cities in search of means for their livelihood. Flouride water made the matter worse and life came to a

standstill, due to rise in the prices of commodities. This year, rain has been satisfyingly sufficient in the district. Though it has not been torrential, yet certain parts in the district has experienced heavy rainfall.

Good rainfall was experienced in the Hemavathi catchment area, which is the backbone of Tumkur district. Hemavathi dam had been full and water was being let into the canal.

Some of the villages of Devarayanadurga, Turuvekere, Narasimhabetta and Gubbi taluks have turned green. The farmers seem to have handful of work in the fields. Agricultural activities are in full swing.

The people here are expecting more rain. The meteorological scientists have predicted that there would be some more rainfall. This was good news, since, more rainfall meant, increase in the groundwater level. The

farmers have been desperately waiting for it.

In accordance with the usual practice Tumkur district too has been named after its headquarter town. Tumkur is the angliciscd form of Tumakuru which is itself a derivative of Tummeguru, the original name of the place. The present town has a history of just a couple of centuries and is said to owe its origin to Kante Arasu, a member of the Mysore royal family. The town does not have any historical relics to boast of, for even the traces of the fort, said to have been erected at the time of its founding, have already vanished completely. The area comprised in the district consists of a few places of great antiquarian interest and several places of historical importance. Sage Kadamba is believed to have had his hermitage near Kadaba in Gubbi taluk. On his way to Ayodhya after the conquest of Lanka, Shri Rama is said to have called on this sage at his hermitage for a brief sojourn, during which, at the request of his spouse Sita, he ordered the river Shimsha to be dammed so as to form a large lake here. Sampige in Turuvekcre taluk is identified with the ancient Champakanagara, the capital of Sudhanva of the Mahabharata period. The Paleolithic artifacts discovered near Biligere and Kibbanahalli reveal that certain places of the district were inhabited by the pre-historic man. The district has a megalithic site also and this is located on a crest of the low ridge near Keralakatte village.

The district has not yielded any historical records belonging to the early dynasties of the South India. such as the Banas, Satavahanas, Kadambas,Badami Chalukyas, etc. The earliest record discovered here, consisting of 5 copper plate grants ascribed to 400 A.D., belongs to the Gangas. The Gangas ruled over the southern and eastern districts of the State from the early years of the Christian era upto 1025 A.D., and obviously Tumkur district formed part of their. kingdom. The district has yielded numerous inscriptions belonging to the period of Sri Purusha (725-758 A.D.) and several hero stones testifying to the battles that were fought between the forces of the Gangas and the Rashtrakutas. The last Ganga inscription found here is dated in 972 AD., - the period when Satyavakya Nolamba Kulantaka, that is Marasirnha-Ill, was on the throne. Of the Rashtrakutas there are three inscriptions and one of these refers to Vimaladitya as the Adhiraja of the entire Ganga-mandala while another confirms the date and mode of death of Indra-raja, the last of the Rashtrakutas who passed away on 20th March 982 at Shravanabelagola. There are numerous inscriptions which apparently belong to the Chalukyas of Kalyana and these range from 1040 to 1200 A.D. However, these merely acknowledge the supremacy of the Chalukyas and are actually those of the Cholas and Hoysalas. During this period it may. Be noted, the Nolambas were the principal local rulers and their kingdom was known as Nolambavadi 32000. They had their capital at Henjeru which is identified with the Hernavati village on the northern border of Sira taluk. Nidugal of Pavagada taluk was one of their strongholds. The district has yielded several records relating to the Nolarnba rulers such as Mahendra who is stated to have uprooted the Cholas, his son Nanniga and grandson Anniga or Bira Nolamba and Ahavamalla Nolamba. In about 974 AD., the Nolambas were overrun by the Ganga king Marasirnha-Il who earned the title Nolamba-Kulantaka, The Cholas who appear to have wielded supreme power in this region from 1000 AD., to 1070 AD., were over-fun by the Hoysalas.
The earliest Hoysala inscription found in the district is dated in 1078 AD. Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana is stated to have been in possession of both Gangavadi-96000 and Nolambavadi-32000. During the Hoysala supremacy also different tracts of this district were being administered by different local chiefs. For instance, an inscription dated in 1151 AD., states that a chief named Guli Bachi was ruling Marugerenad in Kaidala near Tumkur. He built the temples of Gangcshvara, Narayana and Chalavarishvara at Kaidala. The Vijayanagara empire gradually absorbed the Hoysala dominions including this district. The earliest of the Vijayanagara inscriptions found in Tumkur district refers to the reign of Bukka Raya (1344-77 AD.). and is dated III 1354 AD.
During the 15th and 16th centuries, the  Vijayanagara kings granted various tracts of lands to their vassal chiefs bearing different titles, in recognition of the services rendered. Some of the petty principalities already in existence were  allowed to continue to administer their traditionally acquired territories. Among such feudatory principalities that arose in this district a mention may be made of those with their headquarters at Nidugal, Holavanahalli, Madhugiri and Hagalavadi.
The Nidugal chiefs were the descendants of Harati Tippa Nayaka whose possessions were in the north-east of the Chitradurga district. One of the inscriptions found in Pavagada taluk describes him as ruling from Nidugal hill fort. He divided his territory among his seven sons. But on invasion of their share of the country by the Bijapur army, the descendants of the family retired to Nidugal fort under the leadership of Thimmanna Nayaka who had lost Dodderi. This family remained at Nidugal  for a long time paying tributes to the Subedar of Sira. In 1761 A.D., when Sira was captured by Haidar Ali, the Nidugal chief also submitted himself to the conquerer and agreed to abide by the conditions imposed on him. This chief, Thimmanna Nayaka, was later compelled by Tipu Sultan to relinquish his rights over the territory. His sons were taken prisoners and lodged at Shrirangapattana where they were ultimately put to death by the British.
The Holavanahalli family was founded by Baire Gowda, said to be one of those that settled at Avati during the l5th century. This chiefdom was soon taken over by the chief of Magadi who gave it away to his own brother Ankana Gowda. The dispossessed chief joined the Sira court where he was well received and invested with an important command. His younger son however sought the help of the chief of Doddaballapur who captured Holavanahalli and placed the administration in the hands of the Sanna Baiche Gowda. But within the next couple of years a Sira army attacked and captured Doddaballapur, The former chief, Baire Gowda, who had gone over to Sira court fell in the Siege and his eldest son Dodda Baiche Gowda was invested with the government of Holavanahalli with an increase of territory. Subsequent members of this family fortified Koratagere and extended their territories until they were finally dispossessed by Haidar Ali of Mysore.

The Madhugiri family or the Maddagiri line of chiefs arose in a similar manner and extended its territory over the northern parts of the district by fortifying Madhugiri, Channarayanadurga and such other strategic points. In  1678 A.D., Madhugiri was captured by Dalavai Devaraja and the joint rulers named Rama Gowda and Timma Gowda were taken prisoners and conveyed to Shrirangapattana. However, they were later released and granted Midigeshi as an estate.
Founded by Erimada Nayaka, the Hagalavadi line of chiefs exercised power over a large portion of the present Tumkur district for nearly 300 years from 1478 A.D. The credit for expanding their territories goes to Sali Nayaka, the second ruler who captured Kandikere, Settikere, Honnavalli,  Turuvekere and such other places of strategic importance and also founded Chiknayakanhalli. His grandson Mudiyappa Nayaka-I was also equally successful in extending his territories. The ninth ruler of this line, namely Mudiyappa Nayaka-II was a benign ruler who later gave up his throne to pursue his spiritual pursuits. His son, Mudduveerappa Nayaka, earned the title Jung Bahadur for having successfully resisted the onslaughts of Salabat Jung and Dilawar Khan. The twelfth ruler Channabasappa Nayaka was captured and imprisoned by Haidar Ali at Shrirangapallana. Soon after his death in the prison the Hagalavadi Chiefdom was totally annexed to Mysore.
In 1638 A.D., under the command of Ranadulla Khan, the Bijapur army invaded the northern portions of this district. Along with the southern principalities of Doddaballapur, Bangalore, Kolar and Hoskote, Sira was placed under the charge of Shahji and for quite some time Malik Rihan was the governor of Sira. With the capture of Bijapur in 1686 A.D., Aurangazeb established tlie Moghul supremacy in this region. Sira was made the capital of a new province consisting of the seven paraganas of Sira, Basavapattana, Budihal, Doddaballapur, Hoskote, Kolar and Penukonda and was placed under the charge of a Subedar or Faujdar. Kashim Khan was the first Subedar and Dilawar Khan (1724-56) the last. During this period Sira and its neighbourhood assumed considerable importance as a seat of administration and received royal patronage. Sheikh Farid for instance built a big mosque. Rustum Jung, who earned for himself the title of Bahadur built a fort and a petta.
During the same period parts of this district came to be annexed by the Wodeyars of Mysore in a phased manner as it were. In 1650 A.D., Kanthirava Narasaraja Wodeyar (1638-59) made a beginning by acquiring Hebbur in Tumkur taluk from immadi Kempe Gowda. By 1673 A.D., the kingdom of Mysore had been extended as far as Chiknayakanhalli in the north. This was followed by the conquests of Chikka-Devaraja Wodear (1673-17). He is said to have captured Jadakanadurga (which he named after himself as Chikka Devarayana Durga), Maddagiri, Midigeshi, Bijjavara, Channarayadurga and several other places, "By the end of his reign except for Sira and its immediate  surroundings, rest of the Tumkur district formed part of Mysore. These areas too were taken during the period of Haidar Ali on his conquest of Sira in 1761 and the annexation of Hagalavadi in 1776. With the fall of Tipu Sultan in 1799, this territory too passed into the hands of the British who restored it to the Wodeyars of Mysore, from which date the history of the district coincides with the history of the erstwhile Mysore State. During the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar-III (1811-31), the State consisted of six Faujdaris and the present Tumkur district stood included in the Maddagiri i.e., Madhugiri, ,,'Faujdari.: In 1834, these were reconstituted into four divisions and Tumkur became the headquarters of Chitradurga division which encompassed the areas now included in these two districts ..

TUMKUR DISTRICT TOURIST PLACES

Tumkur, a land where Lord Rama and his wife Sita are said to have rested of their way back from Lanka. A land whose countryside is dotted with temples, each narrating stories of divine grace. Of times when the lord descended on earth to rid his devotees of their misery.

Experiencing Tumkur

Magnificent temples. Majestic forts. Scenic splendor... Tumkur has them all. Covering a total area of 10,598 sq.km., Tumkur district’s villages and taluks have fascinating stories attached to them.

	SIDDHAGANGA. A famous centre for pilgrimage, Siddhaganga has a temple dedicated to Siddhalingeshwara on a hillrock which is held in high esteem by devotees. At the entrance of this temple six shrines can be seen. Near this temple, amidst scenic surroundings, stands a Veerashaiva Matha. The Matha feeds thousands of students and pilgrims daily. This is one of the important educational centres. HOW TO REACH The nearest railway station is Kyatasandra near Tumkur. The temple is half a km away from the railway station. Siddaganga is also well connected by buses from Bangalore and Tumkur.
	SIRA About 50 kms from Tumkur, Sira was founded by Rangappa Naik. Later, Sira was Conquered by Ranadullah Khan, a general in Bijapur army. After the conquest, Malik Hussain was appointed Sira’s Governor. After the Bijapur kingdom fell to Aurangzeb, Dilawar Khan was appointed governor of Sira. He then built a fine palace here which is said to have inspired the palaces of Bangalore and Srirangapatna. He also laid out a beautiful garden that is said to have been the model for the Lalbagh Garden at Bangalore. Located in Sira is the Juma Masjid and the tomb of Malik Rihan Made from hewn stone, both these structures are fine examples of Saracenic architecture. Another monument worth seeng is the Ibrahim Rauza that contains many tombs. Built in the Hindu style of architecture, except for its minarets, this building has cornices and doorways with hindu motifs. HOW TO REACH Sira is well connected by buses from Tumkur and Bangalore.
	TURUVEKERE About 12 Km, South of the Banasandra railway station. Turuvekere was once an 'Agrahara' or 'Rent Free Village' granted to scholarly brahmins in the 13th century A.D. Turuvekere boasts of many fine Hoysala temples. The temple of Channakeshava is one of them. It was built by Mahadandanayaka Somanna who also built the famous Somnathpur temple. The Gangadhareshwara temple at Turuvekere has a Shivalinga with serpent hoods carved in a single piece of stone and is considered an example of fine sculpting. This temple also a bull finely carved in horne blend, which has retained its shine even today. To the east of the Gangadhareshwara temple is a large soapstone bell, the when tapped emits a metallic sound. The Moole Shankareshwara temple located in this village was built during the hoysala rule in 1260 AD. HOW TO REACH Nearest railway station is Banasandra, 12 km., away. Buses are also available from Tumkur and Tiptur.
	TURUVEKERE Yadiyur was the home of a famous Veerashaiva spiritual teacher and author, Totada Siddhalinga. His samadhi stands today in the Siddhalingeswara temple which is built in Dravidian style. This temple has a Ratha (Procession car) with six stone wheels. A car festival takes place annually in March-April and lasts a fortnight. This is a pilgrimage centre for Lord Shiva’s devotees. HOW TO REACH Yadiyur is well connected with buses from Bangalore, Tumkur and Kunigal.
	SEEBI Situated on the Tumkur Sira Road at distance of 30 kms from Tumkur, this village contains a beautiful temple of Narasimha. The terrakota and frescoes of this temple are of 18th century. HOW TO REACH Tumkur is the nearest railway station from where buses are available to Sibi.
	CHANNARAYANADURGA Situated at a height of 3734 feet, Channarayana Durga was strategic fortress during , medieval times and many battles were fought for its possession. The fort was originally built by Channapa Gouda in the 17th century, a feudal lord from Madhugiri. Later the fort fell into the hands of the Mysore king and also the Marathas. Today Channarayana Durga is a popular trek route. It abounds in ayurvedic herbs because of which it is also called Siddharabetta associated with the Siddhas of Natha Pantha. At the bottom of the hill, there is a shrine of Murarimatha, a saint. HOW TO REACH Buses are available from Tumkur and Madhugiri.
	DEVARAYANA DURGA Situated amidst hill and dense forests, Devarayana Durga seems as though it has stepped right out of a picture postcard. In the hilly terrain of Devarayana Durga, are various holy spots like the temples of Durga (Fort) Narasimha built by Mysore rulers in the Dravidian style of architecture, the Sanjivaraya temple dedicated to Hanuman and the temple of Kumbhi Narasimha. Near the Narasimha Temple are three sacred ponds called Narasimha Teertha, Parashara Teertha and the Pada Teertha. The Pada Teertha is inside a large cave. There is another cave with the statues of Lord Rama, his consort Sita and his brother Lakshmana. On going a little further from the hills, there is a natural spring called ‘Namada Chilume’. There are also some other springs nearby. The rivers Jayamangali and the Shimsha originate from these hill ranges. The place is quite cool in summer. HOW TO REACH Tumkur is the nearest railway station. Devarayana Durga is also well connected by buses from Bangalore and Tumkur.
	KAIDALA Originally named Kridapura, Kaidala acquired its present name because of a supernatural incident believed to have taken place here, connected with the legendary sculptor Jakanchary. A flaw was pointed out in masterpiece by this sculptor by another young sculptor called Dankana. This resulted in the senior sculptor cutting off his right hand. On building the kaidala keshava temple, Jakanchary’s lost hand was restored and hence the name Kaidala (Kai means Hand in Kannda). To his great surprise, Jakanachary later found that Dankana was his own son. This beautiful Keshava temple in the Dravidian style contains a 5 feet 6 inches tall figure of channigaraya. HOW TO REACH The nearest railway station is Tumkur from where buses are easily available for Kaidala.
	MADHUGIRI Surrounded by hills, Madhugiri is a prosperous town famous for its pomegranates. It has one of the finest hill forts in the state. A feudal family of Vijyanagar had this place as their capital. It was here that the queen of Keladi, Veerammaji and her son were exiled by Haider Ali, in 1763. Adjoining this fort is the Mallinatha Basti, a jain temple. Apart from this temple Madhugiri also houses the Melleshwara and Venkteshwara temples. Both these temple have a huge pillars on which lamps are kept. Also at Madhugiri are several wells such as the Jainyana-bavi, the Arasana-bavi and the Pradhanara-bavi. These wells have steps leading to the water and are beautifully decorated with sculptures. HOW TO REACH Tumkur is the nearest railway station. Madhugiri is also well connected by buses from Tumkur, Bangalore and Mysore among other places.
	MARCONAHALLI Situated about 25kms from Kunigal, Marconahlli is the site of a dam built across the Shimsha river. This dam which was built in 1939 led to the birth of an agricultural colony in 1942 which was run on modern lines. HOW TO REACH Marconahlli is well connected by buses from Kunigal.
	PAVAGADA Also known as Pavagada or 'Snake Hill', Pavagada wa so named after the discovery of a stone with a snake engraved on it. The hill fort here was built by a Vijayanagara emperor in 1405, and it was the headquarters of a feudal lord of this empire. The fortified hill, standing at a height of 3000 feet, was attacked by the chiefs of Ratnagiri, Nidugall and Rayadurga. It was also attacked by the Marathas before being annexed by Haider Ali who further strengthened the fort. During the Srirangapatna campaign this fort fell to the combined might of the Marathas and the English. However, after the signing of the peace agreement, Tipu Sultan recaptured the fort. HOW TO REACH Pavagada is well connected by buses from Madhugiri and Tumkur.
	ARALAGUPPE Is a place in Tumkur districtt., 6 km from Banasandra railway station where there is a famous Kalleshwara temple in the Ganga-Nolamba style of the 9th century A.D. Its ceiling has wonderful dancing Shiva sculpture with musical accompanists and eight Dikpalas surrounding him with all their paraphernalia. There is a Chennakeshava temple of the Hoysala style. The image of Vishnu in the garbhagriha is magnificent. There are four Ganga temples at the place.
	Goravanahalli MahaLakshmi Temple About 30Km from Tumkur in Koratagere taluk there is a famous Lakshmi Temple whose idol is said to be self originated , there will be special poojas which will be performed on fridays.
	NAMADHA CHILUME Is one of the historical place which has a small Streak of water flowing, it is said that this streak of water is flowing from Threthra yuga it is said in history that during Rama - sitha vanavasa, Sitha was thirsty to quench her thirst Rama aimed a arrow to a Rock from which water splurged out since than this spring of water has never got dried up even during worst droughts.Source from which this water is flowing is unknown till today.it has thick forest and beautiful Deer Safari which is quite amusing. It has beautiful Travellers Bunglow which makes staying here more pleasant.This place is 62Km to 65Km from Bangalore.8km from Tumkur
	SIDDARABETTA (Boodagavi) Boodagavi, in Koratagere taluk has a hill, Siddharabetta. It is an attractive centre of pilgrimage. An interesting feature of the hill is that it is hollow inside and one can ascend the hill which is in the midst of a forest and come down to its base inside through the hollows. There is a samadhi of Saint Gosala Siddheshvaraswamy which is visited by pilgrims from the surrounding parts, particularly on Mondays. It has a cave-temple enshrining a Linga at the foot of which is a perennial spring in the form of a well, which is said to be the source of the Suvarnamukhi river.

http://tumkur.nic.in/images/ph-sira.jpg

Arluguppe temple

Aralaguppe is a small village in the Tiptur taluk. Aralaguppe is considered the 'museum of temples.' The Kalleswara and Chennakeshava temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu respectively. They are built by Nolambas and Hoysalas respectively.

Kalleshwara temple is a pre-Hoysala structure. Its mukhamantapa ceiling, is considered the most beautiful sculpture found in the State. The extraordinary ceiling of the mukhamantapa, with the Nolambas style portrayal of Umasahita (Shiva and Parvati together) at the central panel, is a stark contrast with the otherwise ordinary interior.

Consisting of garbagriha, antarala, and a mukhamantapa (with three lateral shrines), the temple's sanctum sanctorum is adorned with a huge black-granite Shivalinga.

While the adhishtana is made of granites, the temple's walls and towers are constructed with bricks. The outer walls are insipid without projections and recesses, but for the lone niche at the antarala that divides the vimana from the mukhamantapa. Pilasters built closer at the temple's interiors however, appears more refreshing.

The extraordinary ceiling of the mukhamantapa, with the Nolambas style portrayal of Umasahita (Shiva and Parvati together) at the central panel, is a stark contrast with the otherwise ordinary interior.

The image of Gajalakshmi on the doorway adds charm to the place. The four lathe-cum-pillars, with cubical bases, supports the navaranga's ceiling. Apart from the Shiva-Parvati panel, the ceiling has eight other carvings of ashtadikpalakas, depicted with their consorts and vehicles. Four vidyadharas, with garlands in their hands, face up to the Natesha (with the expression of approaching him from the corners of the panel's beams).

These garland-bearing vidyadharas are quite common to Nolamba architecture; a clear evidence of the elegance and comprehensiveness of their style. The Natesha, meanwhile, is a remarkable three-dimensional image, wearing jewels such as the katibandana and tassels. The dancing lord is accompanied by three bhutas playing a three-headed percussion instrument. They are also seen with ayut and other symbols.

The northern and eastern lateral shrines contain idols of Keshava and Surya, while the southern one contains the Umasahita mounted over a large stele with a lotus pedestal and a prabhavali with a couple of flying vidyadharas.

The Chennakeshava temple, on the other hand, is a 13th century ekakuta shrine, familiar to Hoysala specialists.

Chennakeshava temple Front View. alt=Arallaguppe border=0 v:shapes="_x0000_i1025">

Built on a hexagonal-star plan, the temple stands on a raised platform, with elephant idols (of four to five feet) at each corner is portrayed to be supporting the structure. The raised structure is also the typical feature of the Hoysala architecture.

The temple's vimana is a full star complete with towers. Figurines adorning it are lined up in six rows and contain a menagerie of elephants and mounted cavalry interspersed with words from the scriptures. Yalis and hamsas with an additional row of scrolls that support the walls (common in Hoysala temples) are found here.

None of the 85 reliefs found in the outer walls contain images of Shiva, suggesting that this is a typical vaishnavite shrine. A later addition to the structure on the southern side obstructs its view from the side. The four lowest friezes extends from the closed hall as the base of the wall in the poach.

The wall's top portion has a group of elegant small towers and slanted seat-backs. The temple's interior is fairly elaborate, while the garbagriha has Keshava's cult images. Signatures over the sculptures here contain the name Honoja or Honnoja - the sculptor.

How to get there? Aralaguppe is Located 20 km from Tiptur. Aralaguppe can be reached by trains running in the Bangalore - Tiptur - Arasikere route (Please check with the Railway department for a list of trains that stop here). Carry your own food, as the place has no restaurants. 120 km from Bangalore, the village can also be reached by road from Tiptur.

Aralaguppe is a small village in the Tiptur taluk. Aralaguppe is considered the 'museum of temples.' The Kalleswara and Chennakeshava temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu respectively. They are built by Nolambas and Hoysalas respectively.

Kalleshwara temple is a pre-Hoysala structure. Its mukhamantapa ceiling, is considered the most beautiful sculpture found in the State. The extraordinary ceiling of the mukhamantapa, with the Nolambas style portrayal of Umasahita (Shiva and Parvati together) at the central panel, is a stark contrast with the otherwise ordinary interior.

Consisting of garbagriha, antarala, and a mukhamantapa (with three lateral shrines), the temple's sanctum sanctorum is adorned with a huge black-granite Shivalinga.

While the adhishtana is made of granites, the temple's walls and towers are constructed with bricks. The outer walls are insipid without projections and recesses, but for the lone niche at the antarala that divides the vimana from the mukhamantapa. Pilasters built closer at the temple's interiors however, appears more refreshing.

The extraordinary ceiling of the mukhamantapa, with the Nolambas style portrayal of Umasahita (Shiva and Parvati together) at the central panel, is a stark contrast with the otherwise ordinary interior.

The image of Gajalakshmi on the doorway adds charm to the place. The four lathe-cum-pillars, with cubical bases, supports the navaranga's ceiling. Apart from the Shiva-Parvati panel, the ceiling has eight other carvings of ashtadikpalakas, depicted with their consorts and vehicles. Four vidyadharas, with garlands in their hands, face up to the Natesha (with the expression of approaching him from the corners of the panel's beams).

These garland-bearing vidyadharas are quite common to Nolamba architecture; a clear evidence of the elegance and comprehensiveness of their style. The Natesha, meanwhile, is a remarkable three-dimensional image, wearing jewels such as the katibandana and tassels. The dancing lord is accompanied by three bhutas playing a three-headed percussion instrument. They are also seen with ayut and other symbols.

The northern and eastern lateral shrines contain idols of Keshava and Surya, while the southern one contains the Umasahita mounted over a large stele with a lotus pedestal and a prabhavali with a couple of flying vidyadharas.

The Chennakeshava temple, on the other hand, is a 13th century ekakuta shrine, familiar to Hoysala specialists.

By: Tipturkrishna, journalist, Tiptur, mobile: 9448416550

Mail: tipturkrishna_news@yahoo.co.in, blog: tipturkrishna.blogspot.com

Curtesy: (Krupe): tipturinfo.net, tumktur information,