Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c11.s3: The Fort in Sannati

Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c11.s3

Language: English

The Fort in Sannati

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critical analysis Sannati, in Chitāpur Taluka of Gulbarga district, is now a well known site for its Buddhist inscriptions, sculptural remains and huge mounds, that are probably stupas (Fig. 15). As early as 1956, this Buddhist site was noticed by Sri Kapatral Krishna Rao, who had genuine interest in the study of inscriptions and such cultural remains and had considerably surveyed the area in and around Gulbarga. Subsequently, in 1964, Dr.S.Nagaraju explored the site and published a note on the Buddhist remains in the site assessing its due importance in the news paper. From that time onwards, scholars such as Dr.Seshadri,M. (Seshadri,M., 1965-66, pp.35-37), Dr.Desai,P.B. etc., 1968, pp. 158-73) have been visiting the site and writing on different aspects of the site. The site is now a very important Buddhist site, rich in Buddhist sculptures,inscriptions and stupa remains, having no parallel in Karnātaka elsewhere and next to Amarāvati of Āndhra Pradesh.

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Among the remains noticed in the site are the fortification walls; but these walls have attracted little attention so far, from the scholars. I have, therefore, surveyed the walls and made a study in detail.

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The whole region is a plain land covered with black soil overlying lime stone and other sedimentary rocks of the Bhîma series. The river Bhîma runs southerwards and takes a sudden abrupt curve almost at right angle eastwards (Fig.10). It is at this deep curve, are located the fortification walls and the village Sannati between the two walls. The area enclosed by the bend is the highest point in the region. A careful examination of the course of the river (Fig.16) reveals that the course southwards is not strictly straight that takes a bend slightly south south-west wards and then again south-wards and finally it takes east turn in a curved way. The water at the point of the curve is relatively very deep, so deep that crocodiles are often found at that point. Taking into consideration these natural protective facilities, a fort wall in a semi-circular way has been constructed across the area and connecting the two arms, the southern and the eastern bends of the river. The area enclosed is not flooded, as it is at very high level. It is not affected by the ferocious floods, because of the natural south-south-westerly direction of the flow of the water on the northern side and north-easterly direction of the flow on the eastern side. Thus possible destruction by the angry floods of the left bank in the area, where the fort is raised is naturally averted. On the other-hand, the right bank is relatively low lying area, which is overflown by the floods; thus the force of the flood water affects the right bank and almost never the left bank at the curve. Further, the water is very deep infested with crocodiles at the bend and forms a natural moat with deadly creatures; and the elevation of the area provides a commanding view over the whole area (Illn. B3). It is therefore but natural that the builders had selected the strategic area for fortified habitation.

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Although many inscriptions now are known from the site, none of them gives any clear indication regarding the political supremacy in that area. Inscriptions from the well known sites like Nāgārjunakoṇḍa, Amarāvati to the east of this site, and from Banavāsi to the west, also do not incidentally refer to this place as political centre. Moreover, all the inscriptions known so far are mostly donative records and a few commemorative, pertaining to the Mahā-Chaitya at the place. Thus, it appears that this area was essentially religious centre and perhaps not a capital of even a chieftain, let alone a king. However, the inscriptions from the site mention the names of ladies, who donated to the religious and constructional activities there, had official designations of the dignitaries of the state, such as Amātya, Rāja Amātya. For example, two ladies named as Yakhanika (Yakshanika) and Saghanika (Sanghanika) bore the epithet Amatya. Another lady, Ganganika was having the designation wife of 'Rājāmātya'. These indicate that there were some local chiefs here and near administrating the region, (Desai,P.B., 1968, pp.158-163).

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This political condition probably explains the simple nature of the fortification, for the fortification consists of two concentric semi-circular walls with entrances. They function essentially as protective enclosures rather than a carefully designed defensive walls to counteract the military attacks.

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The outer wall (Illn. B4) is actually semi-circular in plan, 600 M. long enclosing fairly a large area. The wall (Fig. 17) is about 12 m - 15 m wide at the base and 4 m at the top, and rises to a hight of about 5 m on the outer side and 3 m - 4 m in the inner side.

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There are two entrances almost equidistance from the river banks. Both the entrances are similar to each other. The entrance is just an opening about 5 m wide made across the wall. One can have clear view of the interior from outside. These entrances are quite simple without any protective measures and are directly straight openings.

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Now, the core of thewall consists of well burnt bricks; whether this core wall is throughout of the bricks, from the bottom to the top, is not very clear, but at the top level, that the wall is of bricks, is clearly evident. On both the sides of the wall are clay ramps, gradual and steady. On the outside of the periphery of the ramp there is no indication anywhere that there was a moat. But, even cursory observation of the location of the town at the acute bend of the river makes it clear that with minimum effort, an effective moat could have been provided with. It would have been just easy to cut a channel at the point. When the river takes a turn in south-westerly direction, at point 'X' (Fig. 17) and to connect it with the moat. This would have subjugated the probable damage to the fort by the forceful currents of the river. Although such device could be thought of, there is no indication of such attempt. We have seen above, how such simple but intelligent device was adopted at Banavasi.

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Coming to the wall proper, it may be noted that at the top of the brick-wall portion, horizontal offsets are provided both on the exterior and on the interior. Provision of the steps on the interior side is understandable, but the same on the outside is certainly not advisable from the point of defence, since it would be very favourable for enemies to climb up the sloping wall.

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The end point of the wall right over the northern bank of the river clearly exposes the core brick wall and the brick pitching (Fig. 18) work to the bank from the river bed to the middle of the bank, to over come the serious cutting along of the bank by the forceful currents of the river, that dash damagingly against the northern bank, where the fort exists. Hence it is very necessary to have strong brick pitching work at this point. At the opposite end the force of the current would affect more seriously the opposite bank, where therefore, a brick Ghāt is provided.

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Now coming to the inner wall (Fig.19 and Illn.B2), it is similar in construction to the outer, excepting the dimensions. It is about 450 m. long and asymmetrical in its plan and not as semi-circular as the outer. It has only one entrance.

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The wall of bricks is 12 m. wide and 3 m. at the base and the top, and about 3 m and 1.7 m high on exterior and interior, respectively. On both the sides of the wall are ramps of clay more gradual than that of the outer. The brick wall has horizontal offsets on the top on both the sides. Thus, the wall is smaller in dimension than the outer.

Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c11.s3: The Fort in Sannati

The Fort in Sannati

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