Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (MS)

Kundapur, Mar 24: According to the historical mythology of India, there is mention of Vasu Chakravathy building many temple and ponds on the banks of Varahi river of coastal Karnataka. This place was called as Basure Pattana or Barakaloor. In the 17th and 18th century it is mentioned as Vasupura in the inscriptions. Thousands of traders who visited this place called this historical town as Barcelor, Basnur Bares, Abu-Sarur and Barsellor. Today this historical port town is called as Basrur.

In the 16th century, Goa, Angdeiv, Mirzan, Honnavar, Bhatkal, Basrur, Brahmavar, Barkur, Udupi, Mangalore, Majeshwar and Kumbale were prominent port cities. The prominent port which used to accumulate rice in copious amounts that was grown in coastal region and supplied to overseas traders is Basarur. Though Basarur was ruled by the administrators of Vijayanagara and Barkur, it had a unique democratic type of government in those days. The citizens of Basrur used to elect great senior citizens of their town and used to get the administration run by them. The richness of traders in Basrur was measured in golden Bharas.

If we consider the sea route trading of our country the names that strike in our mind are Kalinga of South India (Orissa and eastern Andhra Pradesh of present times), Cholas and Pallavas. The traders who were involved in trading through ships and vessels were affluent and influential people. The kings used to seek the friendship of these people. These traders had built unique guilds according to the material in which they were trading or product or the place where they were carrying out their trading. Traders' association were formed by traders in order to carry out their business in South India. These associations had become a medium and the Indian culture was getting exported to other countries. Many associations were formed during the middle ages in south India. Prominent out of them were Gatrigas, Nakaras, Mummuridandas, Ayyavolu-500, Ubhayananadesigal, Settis, Settiguttas, Birudas, Biravaniges, Gavares, etc. Some associations like Nakaras and Gavares used to meet at the campus of the temple and used to make decision on their next activity. Some of the trading associations were very strong and used to decide the fate of the kingdom of those days. These traders associations had their own soldier forces and used to get special rebates from the kings.

Out of the 24 historical temples of Basarur Nakhareshwara temple is very renowned. Sri Thirumala Venkataramana temple of Basrur is magnificent. The speciality of this temple is the Lamp tower or Deepasthamba of God Vinayaka that is made of bronze. This tower has got many mysteries in it. There are 13 steps to keep the lamps on this tower. Tortoise is depicted at the base of the lamp tower in order to mention the Koorma Avatara of Lord Vishnu. The way this lamp tower is built is also very hilarious. Wooden and iron pillar is made to stand on the base of stone and various shapes of sculptures and lamps are constructed on it.

As the lamps were lighted on this tower for centuries, the tower got blackened due to the smoke of the lighted lamps. That is why the four line inscription that is there on the forehead of the tortoise on the lamp tower was not visible. However, youths of Yuva Brigade of Basrur cleaned up the lamp tower because of which the lower part of it shines like gold.

Local resident Pradeep Kumar Basrur saw the inscription that is made on the forehead of the image of the tortoise that is on the lamp tower. He read the inscription and brought it to the notice of public.

The four lines that Pradeep Kumar Basrur has found on the lamp tower are as follows:

1. Vinayaka Devara
2. Kanchina Kamba Ondakke
3. Naga 29kke Ashalu
4. 49//3//0

According to Dr Jagadish Agasibagilu, expert of archaeology, inscription and history, this inscription mentions the bronze that was required to make the lamp tower or the cost that incurred to build it. Bronze equal to around 49 Seru means 45.73 kg of weight of the coins that were used during those times, is used in the construction of the lamp tower.

The mention of Vinayaka in the inscription is Garuda himself as Garuda has many names including Vinayaka. That is why this unique lamp tower can be called as Vinayaka Sthambha also.

If the style of the sculpture that is inscribed on the lamp tower is observed closely it seems that the lamp tower was built during the last years of the rule of Vijayanagara Empire or the starting years of Keladi (Ikkeri) Nayaka. Dr Jagadish Agasibagilu is also of the opinion that this lamp tower of Lord Vinayaka belongs to the 16th century.

There is mention of kings, traders, trading associations and public building lamp towers in the southern coast from Goa to Kerala. In addition, the tradition of building lamp tower on the tortoise base is done in many temples from ages. This is visible in many renowned and ancient temples of India.

Vinayaka bronze lamp tower, which used to face all the three temples, 500 years ago, is completely changed now. Main road has bifurcated Kote Anjaneya temple and the lamp tower. On the other side Sri Umamaheshwara temple which was expecting its development on the lamp tower is dilapidated. An auditorium is built between the temple and lamp tower.

The bronze inscription on the forehead of the tortoise at the base of the lamp tower was notice by Pradeep Kumar Basrur. He was guided by Ajay Kumar Sharma. Cooperation was extended by Shruthesh Acharya Moodubelle, Vedabrahma Sri Prabhakara Bayari, Dr Ravikumar K Navalagunda, Madhukara Maiyya, Dr Jagadish Agasibagilu and Sathish Gundmi.