Dr. H.A.Parshwanath at Basadi Hosakote.
Mysuru (Karnataka), 9th October 2022: An ancient Jain inscription of the 11th-12th century has been discovered along the pedestal of Lord Bahubali idol at Basadi Hoskote village, Krishnarajapete (K.R.Pete) Taluk, Mandya district. Nitin H P, Associate Director – MarTech & Digital at Wipro and the founder & executive director of www.jainheritagecentres.com (JHC) found this during his fieldwork recently.
The 2 lines inscription found in front of the feet of Lord Bahubali is worn out intermittently.
Inscription’s Summary – The inscription informs that Sripala Traividyadeva Muni was like an emperor among the ascetics and a champion with debates. One of his disciples got this idol of Lord Bahubali made.
Inscription’s Period – Mr. Nitin says that, “Based on the inscriptional text it can be concluded that it belongs to 11th – 12th century
One of the inscriptions found on a Manastambha (not seen now) in the vicinity belongs to the period of Narasimha-I (1165 A.D.), the successor of Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana. The other inscription mentions that Punasimmaiah, Vishnuvardhana’s general had built a Basadi/temple and had made donations for its maintenance. Based on these available evidences and the newly discovered inscription it can be concluded that this Bahubali idol was installed during the 11th-12th century A.D.
“Though scholars have opined that it was Punasimmaiah who had got the idol of Lord Bahubali at Basadi Hoskote installed there is no written evidence to prove this. Hence more research in this regard is required to unearth the facts,” says Mr. Nitin.
Acknowledgment – Nitin has thanked Dr. Ravikumar K Navalagunda (Harihara) for his guidance and help in deciphering the inscriptional text, his father Dr. H.A.Parshwanath, Sri N Prasannna Kumar of Mysuru and Sandesh Jain of Bengaluru.
– Jain Heritage Centres News Service