King Ashoka’s edict (ca.250 BC) of Girnar mentions his people-friendly services in several regions of southern India.Buddhism, in southern India apparently was introduced during Ashoka's regime. The word 'Sangham' in the early literature of Tamils was influenced by or borrowed from Buddhism. During the beginning ten centuries of the CE Buddhism thrived well in southern India coexisting side by side with mainstream Hinduism and Jainism.
The Bhagavthi cult of Kerala and Karavali is a direct descendant of Buddhist Tara Bhagavathi cult that was widespread in southern India. Statues of Tara have been found at Kolivada, Banvasi, Balligave and Dambala (Dhammavolal). Buddhist idols have been found at Kadri (Mangalore) and Kapu area (Udupi district). The architecture of Aihole Durga temple,of early Chalukyan art(6 to 8th Century CE) in Bagalkot district, has been considered to be of Buddhist style.There are also an ancient temple in Aihole dedicated to Bhagavathi.
Prof. Rahamath Tarikere (2006) lists numerous geographic locations and lakes/ tanks in Karnataka that have names connected to icons of Buddhism. He cites several ancient places that have names connected to typical Buddhist words like Dharma, Hema, Vajra, Manju, Avalokita, Lokeswara, Tara,Bhagavathi, Chandra, Kadali and Joga.Some of the places with Buddhist names are enlisted below:
1. Tara. (Tara,Taare,Tavare) Places reminiscent of Tara Bhagavthi:
Tavarekere or Tarikere at Kadri (Mangalore),Tavarekere (Tarikere, Bangalore, Mandya, Nagamangala, Magadi, Mangalore, Chennagiri, Shira, Turuvekere, Nelamangala, Tumkur, Arasikere); Taarikere (Hoasadurga, Holalkere), Tarikere (Tarikere, Kunigal, Maddur).
Taarihalli (Hospet), Taarehalli (Jagalur), Tavargera (Kushtagi), Tavarekoppa (Shimoga, Hanagal), Taariahaal(Hubli), Tavaragi (Hirekerur), Tarapura (T.Narasipura).
2.Bhagavathi:
Bhagavathi kaaDu (Hosanagar, Belthangadi), Bhagavathi kaTTe (Tarikere), Bhagavathi kere (Bhadravathi, Hiriyur), etc.
3.Dharma/Dhamma:
Dharmastala (Belthangadi), Dharmapura (Hiriyur, Devanahalli), Dharmaapura (Sandur, Arakalgud), Dharamsagar (Hospet), Dhammavolal (>.Dambala).
Dharma-Shastavu temples of Tulunad are considered to have originally been Buddha Chaitalayas that have been later converted to Aiyappa shrines. Dharma-Shastavu was one of the names of the Buddha.
4.Loka,Lakya,Lakka: (places dedicated to Avalokiteswara/ Lokeswara)
Lokapur (Mudhol), Lakya dam, Lakkavalli (Tarikere), Lokavalli (Mudigere), Lakka/ Lokki(Chikmagalur), Lakkolli (Mundagodu), Lakkanahalu, Lokadoallu (Holalakere), Lakkundi (Gadag),Lokkigundi(?), Lokikere (Davanagere, Kudligi, Tarikere), Lakkeguli(Ankola), Lokanatha temple(Rona).
5.Vajra: .( places reminiscent of Vajrayana Buddhism)
Vajra (Hosadurga),Vajralli(Yellapura), Vajrahlli(Nelamangala),Vajradahalli(Madhugiri), Vajramatti (Mudhola), Vajrahoshalli (Dodballapur), Vajjanakurke (Koratgere) etc.
6.Manju . (places named after Manjunath or Manjusri)
Manjeswar (Kasargodu), Kirimanjeswara (Kundapura), Manjenahalli (Kadur), Manjuguni (Ankola) etc.
7.Mangala: There are three Mangalurs in Karnataka (Dakshina Kannad, Badami, Yelaburga).The Mangala is a word frequently used in Buddhist literature and is also name of one of the 24 Buddhas.
Besides,there are several villages with Mangala as prefix or suffix in their names. Mangalapade, Nagamangala, Nelamangala, Binnamangala, etc may be places where centers of Buddhism existed in the past.
Similarly,the Bhaagamandala (Kodagu), place-name of origin of the River Cauvery, may be of Buddhist origin.
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A heritage blog by: Ravindra Mundkur & Hosabettu Vishwanatha
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A Coastal estuary
Holegadde near Honavar,Uttara Kannada dist, Karnataka
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Do Tuluvas worship Dharma Shastavu? I suppose those temples belong to Malayali Billavas (or Tiyyas).
ReplyDeleteDharama Shastavu temples(originally Chaitalaya-s)have been converted to Aiyappa temples. I don't think any of us remember what was it like tens of centuries earlier!Yes, Malayalee billawas still worship Dharma Shastavu.
ReplyDeleteWell, the olden depictions of Sasthavu was a warrior mounted on the horse. That in my opinion shows the equivalent of Bermer deity in Kerala. Tuluvas worshipping Bermer and Malayalis worshipping Sastavu shows a continuity that is probably earlier than Buddhist or Jain influence in these regions. Of course, if Tuluvas worship Sasthavu (traditionally, not due to present day popularity of Ayyappa) along with Bermer then my view is wrong.
ReplyDeleteInteresting observation!Maybe there is continuity from Bermer to Shastavu through the ages.Possibly Buddhism was founded on a preexisting cult of Bermer in this part of India.The psychology was: People agree to smooth transitions better than replacements.
ReplyDeleteI see you havent posted for a while, but this is a very interesting blog, so please post more whenever you get a chance.
ReplyDeleteThanks