Belgami (or Balgami)
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Belgami (or Balgami)
Village in the Shikarpur taluk of Shimoga District, Mysore, situated in 14° 24' N. and 75° 15' E., 14 miles north-west of Shikarpur. Population (1901), 1,330. Its name appears in inscrip- tions as Balligamve, Balligrame, Balipura, and similar forms. Even in tlie twelfth century it was of such antiquity as to be styled the mother of cities, the capital of ancient cities, the immemorial capital, and is said to derive its name from the giant Bali. On account of its religious merit it was called the Dakshina Kedara, and also had the name Kamatha. Under the Chalukyas and Kalachuris it was the capital of the Banavasi ' twelve thousand ' province. It contained five maths, with temples dedicated to Vishnu, Siva, Brahma, Jina, and Buddha, and three puras, besides seven Brahmapuris. At the Kodiya math of the Kedaresvara temple medicine and food were dispensed to all comers. Of eighty-four inscriptions in the place most are of the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Its prosperity continued under the Hoysalas and Seunas, but the city no doubt fell a prey to the Muhammadan invaders of the fourteenth century who overthrew the Hoysala power. The ruined temples are rich with carving equal to any in Mysore.
