Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c16.s1.2

c16.s1.2

Hampi to some extent is somewhat informative in the light of the recent archaeological studies. In Hampi proper, in the recent excavations an inscription of lime stone has been found, this inscription palaeographically ascribable to 2nd c. A.D. Near Mahānavami Dibba are many structures. In the construction of these structures are found many well out lime stone blocks and slabs. These indicate that the inscription in question was not brought from else where i.e. from a distance but from nearby structure/s in the same area; that is to say that Hampi was an important centre during the Sātavāhana period and it continued to be so almost throughout the history, for the original part of the Virūpāksha temple and some of the inscriptions are of the Kalyāṇa Chālukya period, i.e. the times of Somesvara I and Vikramāditya VI in the early part of the 12th century A.D., who had established one of the strong political bases at Kampili, nearby Hampi. In the wake of the dwindling Hoysala kingdom, during the early part of the 14th century A.D., there was already rising a small but powerful principality in Kamalāpur area; and further, its security is provided by the natural hill ranges of immense strength. All these factors in addition to the religious significance the place has i.e. Kishkinda or Bhāskara Kshētra, must have prompted Hukka and Bukka to make it the capital of their kingdom under the guidance of sage Vidyāraṇya. An inscription at Bāgepalli (E.C. X No. 70) states that Vidyaranya directed the building of a city called Vijayanagara and the king Harihara following these directions built a city near Pampā-Kshetra and called it as 'Vidyanagara' in honour of the sage.