Re: Freda Bedi Cont'd (#3)
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He still lives in his work [Vijnaneshwara]
by Anand V. Yamnur (anandyamnur@deccanherald.co.in)
News Editor/ Chief of Bureau, Hubballi
Deccan Herald
October 3, 2003
NOTICE: THIS WORK MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT
He wrote a law treatise in the 11th century, which is still in circulation. Serious efforts are now on to resurrect the greatness of Vijnaneshwara, the author of Mitakshara
An emperor in the 11th century touched the feet of this man to salute him. The inscriptions on a stone plaque, dated 1124 AD, found at the Kalingeshwara Temple in Martur village, 18 kilometres from Gulbarga, reveal: “Ariraya Mukuta Tadhita Charanan-enalu Negabdi Vikramankana Ratnokara Nichita Mukuta Tadhita,” meaning “When Emperor Vikramaditya bent down to salute Vijnaneshwara, the Emperor's jewelled crown touched the feet of Vijnaneshwara”.
Such was the respect Vijnaneshwara commanded during his time. The inscriptions state that Vijnaneshwara lived in the court of Emperor Vikramaditya (1076-1126 AD). He wrote Mitakshara, a law treatise explaining the Yagnvalkya Smruthi, propounded by philosopher Yagnvalkya.
Except for minor changes, the laws in India relating to Hindu Joint Family, distribution of property, property rights, stree dhana (women property), and succession are still governed by Mitakshara. Though written 10 centuries ago, the relevance of Mitakshara is greatly felt, especially in the courts all over the country.
Till 1932, little was known about when and where Vijnaneshwara lived, and where he wrote his Mitakshara. The credit of discovering the time and place of Vijnaneshwara goes to Prof P B Desai of Dharwad. In the journal Prachina Karnataka: Hosa Belaku (Historical Karnataka: New Light), dated February 1, 1932, he wrote about a stone inscription at Kalingeshwara Temple at Martur, which discloses that Vijnaneshwara was a Kannadiga, and was born at Masemadu village in the present Bidar district.
It was only recently that the famous epigraphist Sitaram Jagirdar took out a paper impression of the Martur inscriptions, and published its contents. Dr Jagirdar points out that the stone inscriptions date back to 1124 AD. The inscriptions also disclose that Martur was the place of work of Vijnaneshwara, and in recognition of his merit and contribution, he was gifted lands and honoured by Emperor Vikramaditya the VI of the Chalukya Dynasty.
Vijnaneshwara’s original name was Kancha, and he was the son of Somaraj and Bhagyavanithe. His wife's name was Kethikabbe. Of his four sons, Beethiraja got the temples of Shiva and Mahadeva constructed at Martur, and for this, the land was donated to him on January 6, 1123.
Through the inscriptions it is clear that Vijnaneshwara lived in Martur, where he also wrote his commentary Mitakshara.
Until the inscriptions were deciphered, it was believed that Vijnaneshwara was born in the Kalyan region of Maharashtra. But, the Martur inscriptions prove that the legal luminary of the forgotten era was a Kannadiga born in the Kalyan region, which is now Basavakalyan in Bidar district.
In 1970 the present Bihar Governor M Rama Jois who served as the Chief Justice in Punjab began writing a book Legal and Constitutional History of India. At that time, he came across the earliest translations of Mitakshara by H. T. Colebrooke of the UK (1867), and by Prof J R Gharapure of Pune (1912). Greatly impressed by the work, Justice Jois erected a befitting memorial for this medieval India’s greatest jurist. The fact that Vijnaneshwara was a Kannadiga and hailed from the Gulbarga region was little known to the world. The need to create awareness about this great personality among the common people, and promote research on his works led to the establishment of Vijnaneshwara Souhardhaka Co-operative Society.
The Society came into existence last year in Gulbarga with Justice Jois as its chief patron. The main aim of this Society is to construct a befitting memorial for Vijnaneshwara at Martur at a cost of Rs one crore, and start a full-fledged research centre to study the life and works of the man.
The State Government has already allotted six acres of land for the purpose. A local farmer Gundappa Kambar has donated half-an-acre of his land as a tribute to this great personality of yesteryears.
Anand V. Yamnur
Anand joined Deccan Herald in the Bengaluru office. In these two decades of service, he has worked in Bengaluru, and eight years in Kalaburagi, specialising in development reporting. At present, he is News Editor and Chief of Bureau of the DH Hubballi office, which has a jurisdiction of 16 districts covering North, Central and parts of South Karnataka. Hubballi bureau is the only bureau after Bengaluru where the local pages are done (12 pages).
Before joining Deccan Herald, Anand was a guest lecturer at Karnatak University in Dharwad in Mass Communication & Journalism. He has Masters in Mass-Communication & Journalism, and in Social Work. He has been awarded with the Karnataka Media Academy award in 2015.
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Martur fort and Mithakshara inscription [Maratur Fort] [Shri Kalingeshwara Gudi] [Shankaralingeshwara Gudi also called Mahalingeshwara Gudi]
by siddeshwar
Journeys across Karnataka
November 29, 2013 & Jul 2, 2014
Jul 2, 2014
Maratur fort was discovered by chance while scanning Gulbarga district on Wikimapia. Maratur is about 20+ kms south of Gulbarga, off Gulbarga-Shahabad road.
November 29, 2013
Our day rolled off with a drive to Malkhed fort and back to Gulbarga. Breakfast was at a cart vending fresh and hot idli, vade, upit, tea Then we took the ring road, found the right junction linking to Shahabad. Road was good, not much traffic at that time, its easy to miss the right turn. in fact we overshot 4 kms. Finally we found the turn and reached Maratur village. Fort's bastions very visible from the outskirts.
We drove through the very narrow street towards the fort entrance. We stopped at an ancient temple - I had no information about this temple.. two temples. Village folks were shy but eventually became friendly. They invited me to check out the main temple- Kashi Vishwanatha Gudi. Inside, the temple premises was clean, rituals were performed regularly. This temple is also called as Shri Kalingeshwara Gudi.
Attached to the temple is an open well with a steep stairway descending into it. Water was clean, this water is used for rituals and also for drinking.
The second temple is Shankaralingeshwara Gudi also called Mahalingeshwara Gudi (painted red and white). Rituals are performed everyday here too. This temple is interesting.. it has a cave like feel to it.
On the platform at the entrance are sculptures of Ganesha and other gods.
Also there are two inscriptions in Kannada. Later I learned that Maratur is known for an inscription named Mitakshara which was shifted and installed at Vijnaneshwara Bhavan.
These temple were built during the rule of Chalukyan king Vikramaditya VI. Just behind these temples is the fort entrance.
Siddanna Kalnoor an elderly person and Sharanabasappa Vishwanath the young man were my guides - first and second from left. The fort entrance is hidden behind the wall. Here two types of walls can be seen- in the front is Shahbad stone wall while the wall behind is built of harder black coloured blocks.
A closer look at both types of walls. Now are looking up at the fort's main entrance. This structure is generally known as vaadae rather than kote - Kannada words for fort.
This doorway was a grand sight during its days. The doorframe is decorated with rich art, a pair of prancing horses flank the lintel. Sadly woodwork has faded and corroded.
The massive wooden doors though aged carry out their function well. Note the raised platforms flanking the doorway - this is a common feature in any vaadae in North Karnataka. In fact some are higher.
View of the main entrance from inside. Within the fort, are several structures.. dwellings, animal shelters and store rooms. Few more people had joined us out of curiosity.
The white walled structure is actually the house, the present day owner of this fort lives there. Check out the sloping roofs here, what seems like tiled roof are actually stone slabs measuring 2' x 2'. Majority of buildings in rural Gulbarga have Shahabad stone walls and black stone slab roofs.
This fort has six bastions of which five can be seen. The bastion seen below is one of the three still standing.
Idol of ganesha abandoned below a banyan tree. A stone bowl for cattle to drink water (see inset).
The owner's house ~ Gaudappana Manae with a big Tulasi Katte. One of the villagers mentioned this fort had a secret tunnel to escape during emergencies.
Having seen the temple and fort, I was ready to leave but my friend Sharanabasappa mentioned the recently constructed Vijnaneshwara Bhavan. Vijnaneshwara was a prominent jurist of XII century. He authored Mitakshara, a legal treatise in Hindu law about property inheritance. Rules stated in Mitakshara have been adopted by courts through out India except West Bengal.
This building- Vijnaneshwara Bhavan & Research Centre -was inaugurated on Dec 31, 2004 by Shri. R C Lahoti, Chief Justice of India and Shri. T N Chaturvedi, Governor of Karnataka. This simple building, octagonal in plan has a courtyard like space in the center and surrounded by several individual halls. Idol of Vijnaneshwara mounted on a pedestal opposite the entrance.
A signage gave out below information:
This inscription was composed and inscribed during the reign of Vikramaditya VI of Chalukya dynasty. It is dated Saturday, Magha Shudha Saptami of Shobhakrutu Samvastra during Chalukya Vikrama year 48 corresponding to Saturday, the 6th January 1123 AD.
Scribes: Srimat Kulkarni Kunige Bhairava and Namana
Important stanza in the inscription indicating greatness of Vijnaneshwara the author of Mitakshara:
"When the emperor Vikramaditya VI of Chalukya dynasty, who was being honoured even by his enemies, hostile kings, wearing the jewelled crown touched the feet of Vijnaneshwara, the effulgent rays reflecting from the jewelled crown worn by him fell on the feet of Vijnaneshwara."
This inscription was found at Shri Kalingeshwara Gudi. It was shifted and installed at here.. the black stone slab bearing the inscription is embedded into a wall. Personally I feel this is a bad idea. Mounting it on a pedestal and keeping all four sides would have been better. Besides the inscription is a life size painting of Vijnaneshwara placed haphazardly on a wooden table.
Closer look at the painting and inscription. Years ago, some political leaders conceived an idea of having a law university at Martur, so far it has not materialized.
Thanks to Sharanabasappa for insisting on visiting this memorial. Now I realize the importance of Martur.
To see more more of Martur see Rajesh Naik's post: ಮರೆಯಬಾರದ ಮರತೂರು
Maratur fort coordinates: 17°12'43"N 76°53'7"E
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Ignoring Vijnaneshwara - There can’t be a greater crime!
by K.N. Reddy
Deccan Chronicle
Published Oct 15, 2017, 6:18 am IST Updated Oct 15, 2017, 7:16 am IST
The grass is overgrown in the lawns around the Bhavan and the bushes in the six acre park in front of it seem far too many.
Vijnaneshwara’s statue
In a land of a billion people, a million customs and hundreds of law treatises, deciphering the ancient texts and drawing up a common law to govern and make sure all are governed by the same rule, is no simple task. A legal luminary from Karnataka did it in the 11th century and has become a hallowed name in the annals of legal history but in Martur, his native village near Kalaburagi, a project to set up a research centre in his name has fallen into bad times, forgotten and ignored by those in power. K.N. REDDY highlights the monumental neglect of a legend, who should have been one of Karnataka’s leading lights of all time.
Former SC judge Markandey Katju says Mitakshara was accepted as an authoritative text on Hindu law not through any promulgation by a sovereign authority, but due to the scholarship, logical analysis and sheer intellectual force of its author.
Martur ironically, remains what it has always been - sleepy and calm, undisturbed by the presence of the Vijnaneshwara Bhavan and Research Centre in its midst.
Built in memory of the 11th century legal luminary, Vijnaneshwara, who wrote the famous ‘Mitakshara’ that became the basis of Hindu law and Indian jurisprudence, the Bhavan opened its doors here in 2009 with the promise of becoming one of the major law universities and research centres of the country.
But approach the building that houses it and you see that all is not well. The watchman, a man in his late fifties, who opens the gate, explains while glancing at the name board with all its letters erased, “Everything is gone due to the rain Sir.”
Step inside and you see more signs of neglect. The grass is overgrown in the lawns around the Bhavan and the bushes in the six acre park in front of it seem far too many. Ask the watchman how many people work at the centre, and his response is shocking. “Only two sir, myself and a lady, who is a sweeper,” he says.
Probe more and he admits gingerly, “You are right sir, but for the occasional visit by some law professor or retired judge and the organising of NSS camps by local institutions, not much activity takes place here.”
It was only in the early 20th century that Martur's link with Vijnaneshwara was revealed. Little was known about where and when he lived, and the place he penned his Mitakshara until Prof P.B. Desai of Dharwad wrote in the journal, "Prachina Karnataka: Hosa Belaku" (Ancient Karnataka: New Light), on February 1, 1932, about a stone inscription in the Kalingeshwara Temple in Martur, which disclosed that Vijnaneshwara was a Kannadiga born in Masemadu village of Bhalki taluk in Bidar district.
The watchman of Vijnaneshwara Bhavan and Research Centre
And it was only recently that the famous epigraphist, Sitaram Jagirdar, took a paper impression of the Martur inscription, and published its contents. Going by Dr Jagirdar, the stone inscription, which dates back to 1124 AD, says it was at Martur that Vijnaneshwara wrote his famed legal treatise and was gifted lands and honoured by Emperor Vikramaditya the VI of the Chalukya dynasty in recognition of his merit and contribution.
Visitors at Vijnaneshwara Bhavan
Until the Martur inscription came to light, it was believed that Vijnaneshwara was born in the Kalyan region of Maharashtra. The revelation was a feather in the cap of Karnataka as the laws in India relating to the Hindu joint family, distribution of property, property rights, stree dhana (women property), and succession are still governed by Mitakshara. Though written 10 centuries ago in the south of the country by a Kannadiga, its authority spread all over India, except Bengal and Assam where the Dayabhaga prevailed. Today it is accepted as the authoritative text on Hindu law from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
A former judge of the Supreme Court, Markandey Katju says the Mitakshara was accepted as an authoritative text on Hindu law not through any promulgation by a sovereign authority such as a king or parliament, but due to the tremendous scholarship, logical analysis and sheer intellectual force of its author.
“The importance of the Mitakshara lies in the fact that it made traditional Hindu law secular. Until it came into existence, Smritis and commentaries were largely religious and not secular. It was the Mitakshara which made the laws on property and inheritance secular,” Justice Katju observes, also noting that it liberalised the law on women, providing for maintenance of not only a “chaste” wife but also of an “unchaste wife or widow.” Due to Vijnaneshwara’s progressive views, women also became entitled to hold and inherit property, he recalls.
Greatly impressed by the earliest translations of Mitakshara by H.T. Colebrooke of the UK (1867), and by Prof J.R. Gharapure of Pune (1912), that he came across while writing his book, “Legal and Constitutional History of India” in 1970, former Governor, M Rama Jois, who also served as the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, took the initiative to build a Bhavan in Martur in memory of the great man. The project cost one crore, which he put together with donations from philanthropists and aid from the government. A local farmer, Gundappa Kambar donated half-an-acre for the centre. Besides sanctioning six acres of land for a park, the then Yeddyurappa government in the state also released Rs 1.30 crore for its development.
Senior Journalist, Srinivas Sirnoorkar, who authored the book “Mitakshara of Vijnaneshwarana,” is unhappy about the Bhavan’s neglect and the lack of research on its campus despite the fanfare surrounding its opening. Recalling that the state government had started a law college in Martur in Vijnaneshwara’s memory, he laments that it has now been shifted to the Gulbarga University due to lack of facilities in the village.
“In addition, a Vijnaneshwara Study Chair on Mitakshara and Human Rights has been established and a PG course started in Dharmashastra on him. But unfortunately all the academic and research activity here has come to a standstill,” Mr Sirnoorkar regrets, suggesting that the Bhavan should be taken over either by the Gulbarga University or the state Law University and upgraded to an international centre.
In the course of a thousand years, Vijnaneshwara’s prophetic wisdom and striking logic have remained infallible, standing up to the persuasive arguments of innumerable legal eagles.
But in Martur, at the Vijnaneshwara Bhavan surrounded by bushes, there’s nothing happening to remind anyone that Karnataka is doing its bit to give its great son the prideful place he deserves in history.
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11th Century Kannada Inscription Found
by The New Indian Express
Published: 28th may 2012 07:53 AM Last Updated: 02nd June 2012 10:34 PM
Bangalore: Historian and research scholar D.N. Akki Gogi from Yadagir district has unearthed an 11th century inscription written in Kannada from a ruined Jain temple in Allur village in Gulbarga district.
According to the experts, the inscription, which is on a stone pillar, was written in the form of Kannada that was used in 1050 A.D.
The inscription was read by eminent epigraphers, including Sitaram Jagirdar and Dr. M. G. Manjunath from Mysore University.
It is said that Allur village was ruled by the chieftains of Kalyana Chalukya rulers.
The ruined Jain temple, where the inscription was found, was reportedly built by the devotee Benneya Machisetty during the time of Jain saint Munigunachandra.
Experts said that the three line- ling inscription revealed an account of those who built the temple in the 11th century.
Apart from the inscription, the Jain temple also houses a three-foot-long statue of Lord Parshwanath, the 23rd Tirthankara in whose memory the structure was built.
"This temple is a treasure trove for researchers of ancient temples, " D.N. Akki informed.
Experts added that the place where the inscription was found has traces Nishadi Shilpas.
The findings signify that there Jain saints used to practice "Sallekhana Vritha," a rigorous ritual of holy fast unto death, which aimed to gain "Moksha" from the world.
by Anand V. Yamnur (anandyamnur@deccanherald.co.in)
News Editor/ Chief of Bureau, Hubballi
Deccan Herald
October 3, 2003
NOTICE: THIS WORK MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT
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He wrote a law treatise in the 11th century, which is still in circulation. Serious efforts are now on to resurrect the greatness of Vijnaneshwara, the author of Mitakshara
An emperor in the 11th century touched the feet of this man to salute him. The inscriptions on a stone plaque, dated 1124 AD, found at the Kalingeshwara Temple in Martur village, 18 kilometres from Gulbarga, reveal: “Ariraya Mukuta Tadhita Charanan-enalu Negabdi Vikramankana Ratnokara Nichita Mukuta Tadhita,” meaning “When Emperor Vikramaditya bent down to salute Vijnaneshwara, the Emperor's jewelled crown touched the feet of Vijnaneshwara”.
Such was the respect Vijnaneshwara commanded during his time. The inscriptions state that Vijnaneshwara lived in the court of Emperor Vikramaditya (1076-1126 AD). He wrote Mitakshara, a law treatise explaining the Yagnvalkya Smruthi, propounded by philosopher Yagnvalkya.
Except for minor changes, the laws in India relating to Hindu Joint Family, distribution of property, property rights, stree dhana (women property), and succession are still governed by Mitakshara. Though written 10 centuries ago, the relevance of Mitakshara is greatly felt, especially in the courts all over the country.
Till 1932, little was known about when and where Vijnaneshwara lived, and where he wrote his Mitakshara. The credit of discovering the time and place of Vijnaneshwara goes to Prof P B Desai of Dharwad. In the journal Prachina Karnataka: Hosa Belaku (Historical Karnataka: New Light), dated February 1, 1932, he wrote about a stone inscription at Kalingeshwara Temple at Martur, which discloses that Vijnaneshwara was a Kannadiga, and was born at Masemadu village in the present Bidar district.
It was only recently that the famous epigraphist Sitaram Jagirdar took out a paper impression of the Martur inscriptions, and published its contents. Dr Jagirdar points out that the stone inscriptions date back to 1124 AD. The inscriptions also disclose that Martur was the place of work of Vijnaneshwara, and in recognition of his merit and contribution, he was gifted lands and honoured by Emperor Vikramaditya the VI of the Chalukya Dynasty.
Vijnaneshwara’s original name was Kancha, and he was the son of Somaraj and Bhagyavanithe. His wife's name was Kethikabbe. Of his four sons, Beethiraja got the temples of Shiva and Mahadeva constructed at Martur, and for this, the land was donated to him on January 6, 1123.
Through the inscriptions it is clear that Vijnaneshwara lived in Martur, where he also wrote his commentary Mitakshara.
Until the inscriptions were deciphered, it was believed that Vijnaneshwara was born in the Kalyan region of Maharashtra. But, the Martur inscriptions prove that the legal luminary of the forgotten era was a Kannadiga born in the Kalyan region, which is now Basavakalyan in Bidar district.
In 1970 the present Bihar Governor M Rama Jois who served as the Chief Justice in Punjab began writing a book Legal and Constitutional History of India. At that time, he came across the earliest translations of Mitakshara by H. T. Colebrooke of the UK (1867), and by Prof J R Gharapure of Pune (1912). Greatly impressed by the work, Justice Jois erected a befitting memorial for this medieval India’s greatest jurist. The fact that Vijnaneshwara was a Kannadiga and hailed from the Gulbarga region was little known to the world. The need to create awareness about this great personality among the common people, and promote research on his works led to the establishment of Vijnaneshwara Souhardhaka Co-operative Society.
The Society came into existence last year in Gulbarga with Justice Jois as its chief patron. The main aim of this Society is to construct a befitting memorial for Vijnaneshwara at Martur at a cost of Rs one crore, and start a full-fledged research centre to study the life and works of the man.
The State Government has already allotted six acres of land for the purpose. A local farmer Gundappa Kambar has donated half-an-acre of his land as a tribute to this great personality of yesteryears.
Anand V. Yamnur
Anand joined Deccan Herald in the Bengaluru office. In these two decades of service, he has worked in Bengaluru, and eight years in Kalaburagi, specialising in development reporting. At present, he is News Editor and Chief of Bureau of the DH Hubballi office, which has a jurisdiction of 16 districts covering North, Central and parts of South Karnataka. Hubballi bureau is the only bureau after Bengaluru where the local pages are done (12 pages).
Before joining Deccan Herald, Anand was a guest lecturer at Karnatak University in Dharwad in Mass Communication & Journalism. He has Masters in Mass-Communication & Journalism, and in Social Work. He has been awarded with the Karnataka Media Academy award in 2015.
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Martur fort and Mithakshara inscription [Maratur Fort] [Shri Kalingeshwara Gudi] [Shankaralingeshwara Gudi also called Mahalingeshwara Gudi]
by siddeshwar
Journeys across Karnataka
November 29, 2013 & Jul 2, 2014
Jul 2, 2014
Maratur fort was discovered by chance while scanning Gulbarga district on Wikimapia. Maratur is about 20+ kms south of Gulbarga, off Gulbarga-Shahabad road.
November 29, 2013
Our day rolled off with a drive to Malkhed fort and back to Gulbarga. Breakfast was at a cart vending fresh and hot idli, vade, upit, tea Then we took the ring road, found the right junction linking to Shahabad. Road was good, not much traffic at that time, its easy to miss the right turn. in fact we overshot 4 kms. Finally we found the turn and reached Maratur village. Fort's bastions very visible from the outskirts.
We drove through the very narrow street towards the fort entrance. We stopped at an ancient temple - I had no information about this temple.. two temples. Village folks were shy but eventually became friendly. They invited me to check out the main temple- Kashi Vishwanatha Gudi. Inside, the temple premises was clean, rituals were performed regularly. This temple is also called as Shri Kalingeshwara Gudi.
Attached to the temple is an open well with a steep stairway descending into it. Water was clean, this water is used for rituals and also for drinking.
The second temple is Shankaralingeshwara Gudi also called Mahalingeshwara Gudi (painted red and white). Rituals are performed everyday here too. This temple is interesting.. it has a cave like feel to it.
On the platform at the entrance are sculptures of Ganesha and other gods.
Also there are two inscriptions in Kannada. Later I learned that Maratur is known for an inscription named Mitakshara which was shifted and installed at Vijnaneshwara Bhavan.
These temple were built during the rule of Chalukyan king Vikramaditya VI. Just behind these temples is the fort entrance.
Siddanna Kalnoor an elderly person and Sharanabasappa Vishwanath the young man were my guides - first and second from left. The fort entrance is hidden behind the wall. Here two types of walls can be seen- in the front is Shahbad stone wall while the wall behind is built of harder black coloured blocks.
A closer look at both types of walls. Now are looking up at the fort's main entrance. This structure is generally known as vaadae rather than kote - Kannada words for fort.
This doorway was a grand sight during its days. The doorframe is decorated with rich art, a pair of prancing horses flank the lintel. Sadly woodwork has faded and corroded.
The massive wooden doors though aged carry out their function well. Note the raised platforms flanking the doorway - this is a common feature in any vaadae in North Karnataka. In fact some are higher.
View of the main entrance from inside. Within the fort, are several structures.. dwellings, animal shelters and store rooms. Few more people had joined us out of curiosity.
The white walled structure is actually the house, the present day owner of this fort lives there. Check out the sloping roofs here, what seems like tiled roof are actually stone slabs measuring 2' x 2'. Majority of buildings in rural Gulbarga have Shahabad stone walls and black stone slab roofs.
This fort has six bastions of which five can be seen. The bastion seen below is one of the three still standing.
Idol of ganesha abandoned below a banyan tree. A stone bowl for cattle to drink water (see inset).
The owner's house ~ Gaudappana Manae with a big Tulasi Katte. One of the villagers mentioned this fort had a secret tunnel to escape during emergencies.
Having seen the temple and fort, I was ready to leave but my friend Sharanabasappa mentioned the recently constructed Vijnaneshwara Bhavan. Vijnaneshwara was a prominent jurist of XII century. He authored Mitakshara, a legal treatise in Hindu law about property inheritance. Rules stated in Mitakshara have been adopted by courts through out India except West Bengal.
This building- Vijnaneshwara Bhavan & Research Centre -was inaugurated on Dec 31, 2004 by Shri. R C Lahoti, Chief Justice of India and Shri. T N Chaturvedi, Governor of Karnataka. This simple building, octagonal in plan has a courtyard like space in the center and surrounded by several individual halls. Idol of Vijnaneshwara mounted on a pedestal opposite the entrance.
A signage gave out below information:
This inscription was composed and inscribed during the reign of Vikramaditya VI of Chalukya dynasty. It is dated Saturday, Magha Shudha Saptami of Shobhakrutu Samvastra during Chalukya Vikrama year 48 corresponding to Saturday, the 6th January 1123 AD.
Scribes: Srimat Kulkarni Kunige Bhairava and Namana
Important stanza in the inscription indicating greatness of Vijnaneshwara the author of Mitakshara:
"When the emperor Vikramaditya VI of Chalukya dynasty, who was being honoured even by his enemies, hostile kings, wearing the jewelled crown touched the feet of Vijnaneshwara, the effulgent rays reflecting from the jewelled crown worn by him fell on the feet of Vijnaneshwara."
This inscription was found at Shri Kalingeshwara Gudi. It was shifted and installed at here.. the black stone slab bearing the inscription is embedded into a wall. Personally I feel this is a bad idea. Mounting it on a pedestal and keeping all four sides would have been better. Besides the inscription is a life size painting of Vijnaneshwara placed haphazardly on a wooden table.
Closer look at the painting and inscription. Years ago, some political leaders conceived an idea of having a law university at Martur, so far it has not materialized.
Thanks to Sharanabasappa for insisting on visiting this memorial. Now I realize the importance of Martur.
To see more more of Martur see Rajesh Naik's post: ಮರೆಯಬಾರದ ಮರತೂರು
Maratur fort coordinates: 17°12'43"N 76°53'7"E
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Ignoring Vijnaneshwara - There can’t be a greater crime!
by K.N. Reddy
Deccan Chronicle
Published Oct 15, 2017, 6:18 am IST Updated Oct 15, 2017, 7:16 am IST
The grass is overgrown in the lawns around the Bhavan and the bushes in the six acre park in front of it seem far too many.
Vijnaneshwara’s statue
In a land of a billion people, a million customs and hundreds of law treatises, deciphering the ancient texts and drawing up a common law to govern and make sure all are governed by the same rule, is no simple task. A legal luminary from Karnataka did it in the 11th century and has become a hallowed name in the annals of legal history but in Martur, his native village near Kalaburagi, a project to set up a research centre in his name has fallen into bad times, forgotten and ignored by those in power. K.N. REDDY highlights the monumental neglect of a legend, who should have been one of Karnataka’s leading lights of all time.
Former SC judge Markandey Katju says Mitakshara was accepted as an authoritative text on Hindu law not through any promulgation by a sovereign authority, but due to the scholarship, logical analysis and sheer intellectual force of its author.
Martur ironically, remains what it has always been - sleepy and calm, undisturbed by the presence of the Vijnaneshwara Bhavan and Research Centre in its midst.
Built in memory of the 11th century legal luminary, Vijnaneshwara, who wrote the famous ‘Mitakshara’ that became the basis of Hindu law and Indian jurisprudence, the Bhavan opened its doors here in 2009 with the promise of becoming one of the major law universities and research centres of the country.
But approach the building that houses it and you see that all is not well. The watchman, a man in his late fifties, who opens the gate, explains while glancing at the name board with all its letters erased, “Everything is gone due to the rain Sir.”
Step inside and you see more signs of neglect. The grass is overgrown in the lawns around the Bhavan and the bushes in the six acre park in front of it seem far too many. Ask the watchman how many people work at the centre, and his response is shocking. “Only two sir, myself and a lady, who is a sweeper,” he says.
Probe more and he admits gingerly, “You are right sir, but for the occasional visit by some law professor or retired judge and the organising of NSS camps by local institutions, not much activity takes place here.”
It was only in the early 20th century that Martur's link with Vijnaneshwara was revealed. Little was known about where and when he lived, and the place he penned his Mitakshara until Prof P.B. Desai of Dharwad wrote in the journal, "Prachina Karnataka: Hosa Belaku" (Ancient Karnataka: New Light), on February 1, 1932, about a stone inscription in the Kalingeshwara Temple in Martur, which disclosed that Vijnaneshwara was a Kannadiga born in Masemadu village of Bhalki taluk in Bidar district.
The watchman of Vijnaneshwara Bhavan and Research Centre
And it was only recently that the famous epigraphist, Sitaram Jagirdar, took a paper impression of the Martur inscription, and published its contents. Going by Dr Jagirdar, the stone inscription, which dates back to 1124 AD, says it was at Martur that Vijnaneshwara wrote his famed legal treatise and was gifted lands and honoured by Emperor Vikramaditya the VI of the Chalukya dynasty in recognition of his merit and contribution.
Visitors at Vijnaneshwara Bhavan
Until the Martur inscription came to light, it was believed that Vijnaneshwara was born in the Kalyan region of Maharashtra. The revelation was a feather in the cap of Karnataka as the laws in India relating to the Hindu joint family, distribution of property, property rights, stree dhana (women property), and succession are still governed by Mitakshara. Though written 10 centuries ago in the south of the country by a Kannadiga, its authority spread all over India, except Bengal and Assam where the Dayabhaga prevailed. Today it is accepted as the authoritative text on Hindu law from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
A former judge of the Supreme Court, Markandey Katju says the Mitakshara was accepted as an authoritative text on Hindu law not through any promulgation by a sovereign authority such as a king or parliament, but due to the tremendous scholarship, logical analysis and sheer intellectual force of its author.
“The importance of the Mitakshara lies in the fact that it made traditional Hindu law secular. Until it came into existence, Smritis and commentaries were largely religious and not secular. It was the Mitakshara which made the laws on property and inheritance secular,” Justice Katju observes, also noting that it liberalised the law on women, providing for maintenance of not only a “chaste” wife but also of an “unchaste wife or widow.” Due to Vijnaneshwara’s progressive views, women also became entitled to hold and inherit property, he recalls.
Greatly impressed by the earliest translations of Mitakshara by H.T. Colebrooke of the UK (1867), and by Prof J.R. Gharapure of Pune (1912), that he came across while writing his book, “Legal and Constitutional History of India” in 1970, former Governor, M Rama Jois, who also served as the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, took the initiative to build a Bhavan in Martur in memory of the great man. The project cost one crore, which he put together with donations from philanthropists and aid from the government. A local farmer, Gundappa Kambar donated half-an-acre for the centre. Besides sanctioning six acres of land for a park, the then Yeddyurappa government in the state also released Rs 1.30 crore for its development.
Senior Journalist, Srinivas Sirnoorkar, who authored the book “Mitakshara of Vijnaneshwarana,” is unhappy about the Bhavan’s neglect and the lack of research on its campus despite the fanfare surrounding its opening. Recalling that the state government had started a law college in Martur in Vijnaneshwara’s memory, he laments that it has now been shifted to the Gulbarga University due to lack of facilities in the village.
“In addition, a Vijnaneshwara Study Chair on Mitakshara and Human Rights has been established and a PG course started in Dharmashastra on him. But unfortunately all the academic and research activity here has come to a standstill,” Mr Sirnoorkar regrets, suggesting that the Bhavan should be taken over either by the Gulbarga University or the state Law University and upgraded to an international centre.
In the course of a thousand years, Vijnaneshwara’s prophetic wisdom and striking logic have remained infallible, standing up to the persuasive arguments of innumerable legal eagles.
But in Martur, at the Vijnaneshwara Bhavan surrounded by bushes, there’s nothing happening to remind anyone that Karnataka is doing its bit to give its great son the prideful place he deserves in history.
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11th Century Kannada Inscription Found
by The New Indian Express
Published: 28th may 2012 07:53 AM Last Updated: 02nd June 2012 10:34 PM
Bangalore: Historian and research scholar D.N. Akki Gogi from Yadagir district has unearthed an 11th century inscription written in Kannada from a ruined Jain temple in Allur village in Gulbarga district.
According to the experts, the inscription, which is on a stone pillar, was written in the form of Kannada that was used in 1050 A.D.
The inscription was read by eminent epigraphers, including Sitaram Jagirdar and Dr. M. G. Manjunath from Mysore University.
M. Yaseen Quddusi and Sitaram Jagirdar, Persian Arabic and Urdu Inscriptions of Karnataka, p. 38.
It is said that Allur village was ruled by the chieftains of Kalyana Chalukya rulers.
The ruined Jain temple, where the inscription was found, was reportedly built by the devotee Benneya Machisetty during the time of Jain saint Munigunachandra.
Experts said that the three line- ling inscription revealed an account of those who built the temple in the 11th century.
Apart from the inscription, the Jain temple also houses a three-foot-long statue of Lord Parshwanath, the 23rd Tirthankara in whose memory the structure was built.
"This temple is a treasure trove for researchers of ancient temples, " D.N. Akki informed.
Experts added that the place where the inscription was found has traces Nishadi Shilpas.
The findings signify that there Jain saints used to practice "Sallekhana Vritha," a rigorous ritual of holy fast unto death, which aimed to gain "Moksha" from the world.