Work begins to preserve remains of 12th century inscriptions in Hosur

In 1974 the Archaeology Department documented a total of 26 stone inscriptions inside the temple. “But there are five other inscriptions on the steps and close to the steps leading to the temple. A major portion of the inscriptions have been unintentionally damaged for centuries. Only a portion of it remains,” says Aram Krishnan, founder of Krishnagiri District History Search Committee. He said that when such inscriptions are damaged a valuable transfer of knowledge and information on historic events are abruptly ended. 

The inscriptions inside the temple that have been documented 40 years ago stand testimony that this region was initially ruled by Gangas, followed by Nulambas (both from Karnataka) before Rajaraja Cholan conquered them. After the Cholas, the region was then ruled by Vysyas and the Vijayanagara Dynasty. 

While this information has been recorded the damaged inscriptions outside the temple also have some relevance to the inscriptions inside. “Two of the inscriptions have the name of Rajendra Chola and first Kulothunga Chola. But we are unable to make out the information in it because the inscriptions are on the steps,” he said. Krishnan said that these two inscriptions are about seven feet long (each) and 3.5 feet wide. “But since they are on the steps a major share of the inscriptions in the middle of the steps have been completely got erased. Only a few words in bits and pieces are visible on either side of the steps,” he observed. 

These steps are in front of the Vinayaga Temple. Two other inscriptions are located on the rock close to the steps leading to the huge Anjaneya idol. One of them is about four feet long and three feet wide. The other is six feet long and four feet wide, but only inscriptions for a length of 3.5 feet are readable. These inscriptions are on allotment of land for agriculture. 

Sadly, only a couple of letters remain in the fifth inscription as the rest has been cut (long back), making it unreadable. sOn Tuesday, the organisation met the EO of the temple and pressed for protecting the remaining inscriptions. 

“The EO has agreed to cover the inscriptions on the rock close to the steps with a metal mesh. He also assured to remove the inscriptions on the steps to a safe place and replace the steps,” Krishnan said and was confident that these works would be completed in a month.