1,000-year-old Shivamogga inscription shows Santara king playing polo

For the first time, there is sculptural evidence of the game of polo being played in Karnataka 1,000 years ago. An inscription that came to light while renovating a wall at the Hombuja/Humcha Padmavati basadi in Shivamogga district has an image of Santara king Trilokyamalla Veerasantara II, showing his expertise in the sport. "This is the first time we have the description of polo in a sculpture. Previous references to the game were in inscriptional texts and poems. The sculpture shows the Santara king riding a horse with the rein of the horse in his left hand and the polo stick held high in his right hand. The ball is also depicted at the end of the stick," historian Dr Ravikumar K Navalagunda, who deciphered the inscription, said.The inscription also announces that the king has been bestowed with the title Kanduka Brahma, acknowledging his supremacy in the game. Kanduka is the Old Kannada name for polo. Veerasantara was the king of the Santaras, a minor dynasty which ruled the surroundings of Humcha and Malnad in the medieval ages. Humcha or Hombuja is now a village in Hosanagara taluk of Shivamogga district.Veerasantara ruled between 1059 and 1069 CE. This inscription has been dated back to 1060 CE based on the age of the king mentioned in it.Dr Devendrakeerthi Bhattaraka Pattacharya of the Humcha basadi announced the discovery of the inscription. Interestingly, the latest discovery is of just one face of the pillar inscription. Three other faces had been recorded in Epigrapica Carnatica Volume 8. The northern face of the pillar, which was hidden in a wall, was discovered when the wall was taken down for renovation recently.The inscription further narrates the military exploits of the king and his gifts to the basadi when he turned 33. With this sculpture and inscription, all the ancient references to Kanduka Kreede can now be safely assumed to be related to the game that was played on horseback involving a stick and ball. "Though there are paintings and terracotta figurines of polo, this is the first sculpture anywhere in India," Navalagunda said. "I am told that this is the first inscription with a sculpture of a person playing polo. This shows how ancient the sport is and how our people were experts in it. I am glad the inscription which was hidden for centuries has come to light finally. This should enthuse researchers and those interested in our history to make more discoveries," Pattacharya said.