Karnataka   

Who was Basavanna Bhatta?

New finding: The inscription that was found at Bannur village in Ramdurg taluk of Belgaum district.

DHARWAD: The recent discovery of an inscription in Belgaum district has made the researchers to wonder whether the original name of twelfth century social reformer Basaveshwara was “Basavanna Bhatta.”

According to in-charge Director of Kannada Samshodhana Samsthe of Karnatak University, Dharwad, R.M. Shadaksharaiah, the inscription was found at Bannur village in Ramdurg taluk of Belgaum district during an archaeological survey by his research student P.K. Karabhari.

Carved in “Halegannada” the inscription dates back to the period of 1179-1180 A.D. and refers to an endowment given to a temple.

Mr. Shadaksharaiah said the Bannur inscription had similarities to inscription found at Uddupudi in the same taluk situated 5 km away, which referred to various endowments given to temples by the local ruler Sooraiah Nayaka and several merchants.

The Bannur inscription refers to Sooraiah Nayaka giving endowments in the form of land, house and farmland to the temple of Macheshwara.

As per the tradition before giving the endowment, Sooraiah Nayaka washed the feet of Rudra Bhatta, son of Basavanna Bhatta, who was son of Rudra Bhatta, says the inscription.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Shadaksharaiah said that the name of Basavanna had appeared in various inscriptions and also in literary works only after about 80 years from the time of Basavanna.

“The Bannur inscription dates back to the period of Basavanna, wherein his place is given as Ingaleshwara Bagewadi. According to the findings so far, Basavanna’s mother belonged to Ingaleshwara and father hailed from Bagewadi. It is also known that Basavanna was a ‘Shaiva Brahmin’ belonging to ‘Kashyapa gotra.’ Both these aspects find a place in the inscription”, he said.

He said so far no inscription dating back to 12th century had revealed that a member of Brahmin community had his name as Basavanna barring Basavanna himself.

“However the inscription says that both the son and father of Basavanna Bhatta had the same name Rudra Bhatta, which is nowhere found in other inscriptions and literary works”, he said.

Mr. Shadaksharaiah said the discovery of the inscription had necessitated a further study on it and the other subjects mentioned there, which would be definitely throw new light on Basavanna.

However, he clarified that it would be premature to come to conclusion on the subject unless further study was carried out.

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