History of Karnataka

Ancient
The history of Karnataka dates back to the period of epics. The capital of Vali and Sugriva, ‘Vanara Sena’ of the Ramayana, is said to have been Hampi in the present day Bellary district. Hidimbasura of Mahabharatha, a cruel and fierce demon, is said to have lived in present day Chitradurga district of Karnataka, who was then exterminated by the Bhima who came there along with the other Pandavas and their mother Kunti during the Vanavaasa. Stone transcriptions from the period of Ashoka are the oldest available archaelogical evidence.

In the 4th century BCE, a local dynasty called Satavahana came to power, and its rule lasted nearly 300 years.

Early Kannada Kingdoms

With the disintegration of the Satavahana dynasty, the Banavasi Kadambas(325-540AD) came to power in the north Karnataka, and the Gangas(325-550AD) in the south of the state. These were the first kingdoms to give official status to Kannada language. There after, these kingdoms continued their rule as feduciaries of larger Kannada empires, the Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas upto end of 10th century.

The 450AD Halmidi inscriptions in old Kannada are attributed to the Kadambas.The Kadambas built some fine temples in Banavasi, Halashi, Goa etc. Some of the earliest Kannada literature (from references made in Kavirajamarga of 9th century AD)is attributed to early 6th century king Durvinitha of the Gangas. The gigantic 10th century AD monolithic statue of Gomateshwara in Sharvanabelagola is considered to be the monument of the Ganga period. They also built some fine jain temples in Kambadahalli.

Political and Cultural Expansion

The Chalukyas of Badami (500-757AD) ruled over a large area, from the Narmada to the Kaveri from the days of Pulikeshi II (609-642AD) who had even defeated Harshavardhana of Kannauj. This dynasty created fine monuments at Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal, both structural and rock-cut in what is called the Chalukya style of architecture.

Aihole has been the cradle of hindu temple architecture in the country. Over 140 temples were built in Aihole between 550-650AD. They encouraged Kannada and Sanskrit. The famous Badami inscriptions are testimony to this. The temples of Pattadakal are a designated UNESCO world heritage site. The state government is proposing the cave temples of Badami and temples of Aihole for world heritage site status.

Imperial Kannada and the Great Karnataka Expansion

The Rashtrakutas (753-973AD) of Manyakheta who succeeded them levied tribute on the rulers of Kannauj successfully in the so-called Age of ‘Imperial Kannauj’. Kannada literature flourished in this period. Outstanding Jain scholars of India lived in their court. Kannada Language spread far and wide. Kannada inscriptions have been discovered as far north as Jabalpur, MadhyaPradesh. The Rashtrakutas have made significant contribution to architecture in Ellora and Elephanta (Maharashtra), Kuknur, Lokapura and Pattadakal in Karnataka. The great mathematician Mahavira lived in Manyakheta during this time.

Return of the Chalukyas

The Chalukyas of Kalyana played an important role in shaping the history of Karnataka during time period (973-1198AD). They were the descendants of the famous Chalukyas of Badami and were able to emerge from the obscurity of two centuries when the Rashtrakuta power declined. This period saw tremendous growth in Kannada literature. More Inscriptions have been attributed to King Vikramaditya VI than any other king in history of South India. They ruled from Kaveri to Narmada excluding Gujarath.

They created the Gadag style of architecture, fine eaxmples of which are Kasi Vishveshvara at Lakkundi, Mallikarjuna at Kuruvatii and Mahadeva at Itagi are the finest examples produced by the later Chalukya architects. In all over fifty temples of their vesara style exist today. Noted jurist Vijnaneshwara (who wroteMitakshara) lived at Kalyana. The great religious leader Basaveshwara was a minister at Kalyana. The great mathematician Bhaskara lived during this time in Bijapur District.

Hoysalas and the Vesara Architecture

Hoysalas of Halebidu (1000-1346AD) built fine temples, encouraged Kannada literature and fine arts. Examples of their splendid architecture can be found in Belur, Halebidu and Somnathpura. They further improvised on the vesara style used by their early overlords, the Chalukyas of Kalyana. They ruled a compact kingdom comprising of Karnataka and parts of Andhrapradesh and Tamilnadu when at their peak.

Unlike the vertical temple styles of the northern Rekhanagara and pure dravida, the Hoysala temples find strength in horizontal structures consisting of ornate mantapas and navaranga. Their focus was on highly sculpted pillared architecture to support these large mantapas. Over a hundred temples survive today. The temples of Belur and Halebidu are being proposed as “UNESCO World Heritage Site”. Other notable temples are located in Arsikere, Belavadi, Amruthapura, Doddagadavalli, Haranhalli, Nugehalli, Govindanhalli, Hosaholalu, Basaralu etc in Hassan, Mandya and Chikmagalur districts.

Last Great Hindu Empire

The Vijayanagar empire (1335-1565AD) with its capital at Hampi fostered indigenous traditions and encouraged arts, religion and literature in Sanskrit, Kannada and Telugu. Overseas trade flourished. The stunning hindu monuments at Hampi and hundreds of Vijayanagar style temples built across south India are testimony to their cultural contributions. They adopted the Chalukya style of architecture but eventually evolved their own style that was a combination of the deccan (Karnata dravida) and pure dravida (Tamil dravida) styles. After their defeat at Tallikota in 1565AD, the kingdom receeded to a much smaller kingdom administered from Penagonda in Andhra Pradesh. It remained in existance for another hundred years or so. The stunning monuments at Hampi are a designated UNESCO world heritage site.

Decan Sulthanates

The Bahmani sultans of Gulbarga (1347-1686AD)(later capitals were Bidar and Bijapur) and the Adil Shahi sultans of Bijapur raised fine Indo-Saracenic buildings and encouraged Urdu and Persian literature. Gol Gumbaz is said to be the inspiration that eventually lead to the building of Taj Mahal in Agra. Its whispering dome is said to be an acoustic marvel.

Kingdom of Mysore

The Kingdom of Mysore (1490-1761)and (1800-1947AD)was a kingdom of southern India, which was founded by the Wodeyar dynasty, who ruled the state until the independence of India in 1947, when the kingdom was merged with the Union of India. The kingdom originated as a small state based in the city of Mysore, and was established by two brothers, Vijaya and Krisha Wodeyar.

It remained a vassal kingdom to the Vijayanagara empire until the collapse of the latter in the second half of the 16th century. In common with every other feudatory of that Empire, Mysore, under the Wodeyar dynasty, then assumed the trappings of independence. It was in the reign of Raja Wodeyar and his successor, the celebrated Ranadheera Kantheerava, in the mid-1600’s, that the kingdom really asserted its independence, and expanded to include most of the southern part of modern-day Karnataka, as also parts of neighbouring states.

The Mysore kings were patrons of carnatic music and other arts. They are also credited to having encouraged modern science and technology. During the brief period from 1761-1799AD the Mysore kingdom came under the rule of Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan.

After the fall of Maratha Peshwa (1818AD) and Tipu Sultan (1799 AD) Karnataka came under the British. After Indian independence, the Wodeyar Maharaja acceded to India. In 1950, Mysore became an Indian state, and the former Maharaja became its rajpramukh, or governor. After accession to India, the Woyedar family was provided with a pension by the Indian state until 1975, and members of the family still reside in part of their ancestral palace in Mysore.

Nayakas

Like the Kingdom of Mysore, the Nayakas were vassals of the Vijayanagar Empire who became independent after fall of the empire. The Keladi Nayakas ruled from Shimoga from (1500-1763AD) and built a few fine temples at Ikkeri, Keladi etc. At the same time, the Palyagar Nayakas ruled from Chitradurga and they built the famous stone fortress (”kallinakote”)

Kittur Rani Chennamma

Chennamma (1778-1829) received training in horse riding , sword fighting and archery in her young age. She was married to Raja Mullasarja of Kittur, a princely state of Belgaum in what is today Karnataka. Her husband died in 1816. Her only son died in 1824. Chennamma adopted Shivalingappa as her son and made him heir to the throne.

The British did not accept this and ordered the expulsion of Shivalingappa. The Rani defied the order. A great battle ensued. The Rani fought the British with great courage and skill. She could not, however, hold out for long. She was taken captive and lodged in Bailhongal Fort where she died on 21-02-1829.

On November 1, 1956 or Kannada Rajyotsava Day (Formation Day), Mysore State was enlarged to its present boundaries, incorporating the state of Coorg and the Kannada-speaking portions of neighboring Madras, Hyderabad, and Bombay states, with an elected Chief Minister and state assembly. On November 1 1973 the name of the state was changed to Karnataka.