Savadatti[3] is one of the oldest towns in
Belagavi district in the
Indian state of
Karnataka. It is a celebrated
pilgrimage centre located 78 kilometres from
Belagavi and 41 kilometres from
Dharwad. Savadatti is also the name of the
taluk (sub-district), which was previously named Parasgad. There are several ancient temples in Savadatti.
History of Rashtrakuta kings
The historical name of the Savadatti was Sugandavarti "Sougandipura". It was the capital of the
Ratta dynasty (from 875-1230), until the capital shifted to Belagavi.
During the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, Belagavi[4] was the capital of the Rattas, the chieftains of Savadatti. The fort at Belagavi was built by Bichiraja (Ratta Dynasty) in 1204.
Rattas of Savadatti accepted[5] the overlordship of Taila II (AD 973-977).
Two of the pillars at Belagavi fort have
Kannada inscriptions in
Nagari script, one inscription from around 1199 is attributed to the Ratta king Kartaveerya IV.
In one of the inscriptions related to Rattas of Savadatti it is mentioned that
Krishna III having appointed Prithvirama[6] as a chief feudatory had dignified the Ratta dynasty of Savadatti.
The Rattas of Savadatti, used to represent themselves as Lords of Lattaluru[7](present day
Latur).
Inscriptions
At Savadatti,
Jain inscription slab written in Sanskrit and Kanarese (
Kannada)[8] of KrishnaRashtrakuta, Shaka 797 (c. 875 AD), and Vikramaditya, Shaka 1017 (c. 1095 AD).
At Savadatti, in front of the
Western Chalukya-style Ankeshwara temple, there is an inscription carved into the wall by the Ratta Chief Ankarasa.
In the 11th century Rattas of Savadatti and their provincial governors were great patrons of
Jainism.[10] Kartivirya's son, a Jain saint Munichandra, a minister to Laksmideva and a teacher, and has the title of Acarya, the founder of Ratta-rajya.
Savadatti has two small Jain
basadis dating back to Ratta times.
18th century Savadatti fort was built by the Sirasangi Desai with 8 bastions.
Savadatti fort has a Kadasiddheshwara temple, surrounded by four
bastions. Around the Kadasiddheshwara temple in the inner chajja of the prakara there is a row of carvings of geometrical patterns with over two hundred designs, some painted.
Renuka Saagara Reservoir
Renuka Sagara is a reservoir formed by damming the
Malaprabha River adjacent to Savadatti. The Dam is called by the name Navilu Tirtha, also the name of the adjacent village,
Navilatirtha. The name Renuka Saagara is because of the Renuka (Yellamma) temple at Yellammagudda, Savadatti.
Savadatti Yallammana
The
temple of the goddess Yellamma or Shree
Renukadevi, is a pilgrimage site for Shakti devotees. Every day, hundreds of pilgrims visit the temple. The congregation is especially large, crossing the one million mark, on two auspicious days in the year - Banada Hunnime and Bharatha Hunnime. The century-old temple of
Yellamma is situated atop Yellammanagudda, amidst the picturesque Ramalinga Hills, about 5kmsfrom Savadatti. Between Savadatti and the temple is the magnificent fort of Paarusgad, dating back to the 10th century.
Naviluteertha
The Renuka Sagara, formed by the
Naviluteertha Dam, touches the low-lying areas of Savadatti. There is a spot called Jogullabhaavi here, where there is a temple. Pilgrims take a holy dip here before visiting the Yellamma hill. This
Samaadhi (grave) is in the Ramapura area of Savadatti.
Shirasangi Shri KalikaDevi Temple
Shirasangi a small village located approximately 25 kilometers from Savadati is famous for Shri Kalikadevi temple.[citation needed] The temple is known to be very ancient and is believed to be the place where Shringa maharishi worshiped Shri Kalikadevi. Shirasangi is also known for Shri Tyagveera Lingaraja Desai. Shri Lingaraj was one of the main donors to give land to K.L.E Society.
Savadatti Temples
The town has
temples dedicated to Ankeshwara, Puradeshwara, Nagarkere Mallikarjuna, Veerabhadra, Ulvi Basavaeshwara, Mouneshwara, Dyamavva and
Venkateshwara, which is the largest.
Puradeshwara temple
The Puradeshwara temple in the later
Chalukya style is a trikutachala with three ardhamantapas, a common navaranga and two mukhamantapas. Gurlhosur Chidambar temple is also an historical temple. All three
garbhagrihas with pierced windows have
shivalingas. The
shikhara, now damaged, over the central garbhagriha is in
Kadambanagara style and the navaranga
pillars are
lathe-turned. Inside the niches of the navaranga are images of
Parvati and
Veerabhadra. This temple has been renovated very crudely. On the day of
Ugadi, the rising sun's rays fall directly on the main shivalinga. The outer walls have fine sculptures depicting
Hindu mythology and there are inclined
chajjas all round. The open mukhamantapa, a later addition, is also in the same style with massive pillars.
Ankeshwara temple
The Ankeshwara temple in Desaigalli, built by Rattas in 1048 is in the
Western Chalukya style and is below the ground level. There are steps descending to the mukhamantapa.
In front of the temple, there is an inscription carved into the wall by the builder, Ratta Chief Ankarasa.