Talagunda pillar inscription

The inscription mentions many cultural values in 5th-century India with the mention of "music" and goddess of wealth (Lakshmi),Mantosh Chandra Choudhury and M. S. Choudhary (1985), [https://www.jstor.org/stable/44141418 Musical Gleanings from Select South Indian Epigraphs], Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Vol. 46, pp. 671-678 the practice of marriage between north Indian kingdoms and South Indian ones, cherishing a king who has "compassion for the needy, proper protection of the people, relief of the distressed" and these as "rational ornament of a ruler".Prachi Sharma (2017), [https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26906069 Royal Self-representation in Early Kadamba Inscriptions], Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Volume 78, pp. 59-67 The inscription compares the Kadamba king to Kakutstha, or "divine Rama" of the ''Ramayana'' fame. The inscription also weaves the social and political role of a dynasty that views itself as a Brahmin, and as a generous wealth donors, benefactors to religious and social causes, while being Kashtriya-like soldiers willing to wage war against others they view as persecutors and enemy of the people.

The inscription mentions many cultural values in 5th-century India with the mention of "music" and goddess of wealth (Lakshmi),Mantosh Chandra Choudhury and M. S. Choudhary (1985), [https://www.jstor.org/stable/44141418 Musical Gleanings from Select South Indian Epigraphs], Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Vol. 46, pp. 671-678 the practice of marriage between north Indian kingdoms and South Indian ones, cherishing a king who has "compassion for the needy, proper protection of the people, relief of the distressed" and these as "rational ornament of a ruler".Prachi Sharma (2017), [https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26906069 Royal Self-representation in Early Kadamba Inscriptions], Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Volume 78, pp. 59-67 The inscription compares the Kadamba king to Kakutstha, or "divine Rama" of the ''Ramayana'' fame. The inscription also weaves the social and political role of a dynasty that views itself as a Brahmin, and as a generous wealth donors, benefactors to religious and social causes, while being Kashtriya-like soldiers willing to wage war against others they view as persecutors and enemy of the people.

According to Hampa Nagarajaiha, the Talagunda inscription reflects a [[Jainism|Jain-Brahmana]] (Bamana) traditions (In Jain philosophy, a pratimādhārī shravaka-a layperson with vows-is considered a Brahman) rather than a Vedic-Brāhmaṇa identity. He explains that within Jainism, the term Bamana was used for śrāvaka laypersons who had undertaken vows and possessed deep knowledge of the śāstras, as well as for learned scholars or pandits. Nagarajaiha further states that in the early historical context, Bamana denoted a deeply learned individual, not a caste or religious affiliation. He argues that the identification of such figures as “Vedic” Brāhmaṇas is a later retrospective interpretation, and that the inscription itself does not indicate a distinct Brāhmaṇa caste as understood in later periods.Hampa Nagarajaiah (1999). ''A History of the Early Ganga Monarchy and Jainism''. Bangalore: Ankita Pustaka. ISBN 978-81-87321-16-3.

According to Hampa Nagarajaiha, the Talagunda inscription reflects a [[Jainism|Jain-Brahmana]] (Bamana) traditions (In [[Jain philosophy]], a pratimādhārī shravaka-a layperson with vows-is considered a Brahman) rather than a Vedic-Brāhmaṇa identity. He explains that within Jainism, the term Bamana was used for śrāvaka laypersons who had undertaken vows and possessed deep knowledge of the śāstras, as well as for learned scholars or pandits. Nagarajaiha further states that in the early historical context, Bamana denoted a deeply learned individual, not a caste or religious affiliation. He argues that the identification of such figures as “Vedic” Brāhmaṇas is a later retrospective interpretation, and that the inscription itself does not indicate a distinct Brāhmaṇa caste as understood in later periods.Hampa Nagarajaiah (1999). ''A History of the Early Ganga Monarchy and Jainism''. Bangalore: Ankita Pustaka. ISBN 978-81-87321-16-3.

== Digital images of Talagunda Pillar Inscription ==

== Digital images of Talagunda Pillar Inscription ==