Bengaluru: Putting all uncertainties to rest, a team of historians have concluded that Bengaluru founder Kempegowda’s tomb is located in Kempapura village near Magadi Taluk. A team led by Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Centre for Humanities and Social Sciences director Dr N. Shaikh Mastan studied various sculptures and inscriptions found on the tomb.
A detailed study of the historical evidences has proved that Kempegowda died during a battle. However, the historians have not been able to establish the exact year of the death, though it is suspected that he might have died between 1599 and 1608.
Submitting the research report to Mayor Manjunath Reddy on Saturday, Mastan, said that 48 crucial sculptures were found, linking the presence of Kempegowda in Kunigal at the time of his death. “The most important one-line inscription led us to believe the tomb was of Bengaluru founder's was ‘this is the place where first he came from Kunigal, fought the battle, and went to ‘kailasa’ (heaven), Mastan said.
In the report, Mastan and team members have highlighted the strong presence of Hoysalas in the sculptures. “The presence of ‘Bhyrava’, ‘Yathi’ and ‘Guru’ are some of the insights to the link between the sculptures and Vijayanagara kingdom. It seems like there was a political connection with the Hoysalas,” Mastan added.
Further, Mr Mastan said that some of the sculptures found near Mallasandra and Kempapura lakes gave an insight to the life of Kempegowda’s leadership days. “Evidences like the Basavanna idol, sculptures and other statues prove that it is a ‘veera samadhi’ (warrior’s tomb) and it is that of Bengaluru founder Kempegowda. Though we have discovered only 10 per cent of the whole evidences, the inscription messages helped us substantiate the tomb is of the Bengaluru founder. The monument was constructed by his son, Kempegowda, the second,” concluded Mastan.
Nadaprabhu’s life
Study shows that Kempegowda was addressed as ‘Yelahanka Nadaprabhu’. Kempegowda’s brothers fought in Ramagiri Durga and Shivagangagiri Durga and following their death, Kempegowda took over as a ruler, which brought him to Kunigal for a battle.
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