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Revisiting Hoysala Dynasty
The Hoysalas ruled a significant part of modern-day Karnataka and even some parts of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu from the 10th to 14th century. The name Hoysala originated from a story of Kannada folklore. A young man, Sala, was directed by his teacher to strike a dead tiger near the temple of the Goddess Vasantika at Sosevur. The teacher handed him an iron rod, and with a single blow, the tiger was gone.
Some inscriptions sparked a connection of the Hoysalas with Yadavas from the North. They were also referred to as Maleparolganda, which means the ‘Lord of the Male (hills) chiefs.’
King Vishnuvardhana is the successor of King Nripa Kama II, Vinayaditya, and Veera Ballala I. The Hoysalas began as subordinates of the Western Chalukyas when Veera Ballala II, King Raya’s grandson freed the Hoysalas from the Chalukya subordination. They eventually established their own empire in Karnataka. Moreover, Veera Ballala II is considered to have founded Bengaluru.
Kannada and Sanskrit languages were used extensively by the Hoysalas to convey their closeness to religious deities. Temples became a destination for learning where novice monks were educated by Buddist monasteries, and Brahmins taught the Sanskrit language to people.
This era also indicated active trade with overseas kingdoms as they harvested teak from their forests and exported them through ports in present-day Kerala. Moreover, the dynasty is remembered for its temples and its architecture. Even today, there are several temples from the Hoysala era standing strong in various parts of Karnataka. Their architectural style is known as Karnata Dravida, which means distinct from the traditional Dravida. While these temples such as those in Belur, Somanaputhra, and Halebid are inching towards recognition from UNESCO, they continue to reflect life during the Hoysala dynasty.
Our plantations are located in the ‘Western Ghats’ of India, in the land of the Hoysala Kings.
The Western Ghats are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Western Ghats, older than the Himalayas and described as one of the world’s eight ‘hottest hotspots’ of biological diversity, were inscribed in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage sites list in July 2012.
