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Vathapi: Where History Never Sleeps

Dr. P. K. Sree Kumar

Vathapi Caves

Metro Times is into a live project now: to reinstall the idols of our culture and tradition in the hearts of our innumerable readers by exploring, documenting and preserving the historical and archeological evidences that have stood the test of time. True to our culture and tradition, we begin with Ganapathi, Vathapi Ganapathi, to be precise. Even the knowledge that Vathapi is a place in Karnataka, (the present Badami taluk in Bagalkot district) might be new to many. Badami has got great importance in the history of South India.

'Vathapi' will be so familiar for anybody connected with Carnatic music. But very few know that Vathapi is the ancient name of the present Badami taluk of Karnataka, India. According to history, it was the royal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD.

The locality is famous for the ancient rock-cut temples of Central and Southern India. It was the capital of Badami Chalukyas who ruled Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka between the 6th and 8th centuries. Vathapi was founded in 540 AD by Pulakesi I (535-566 AD), also known as Vallabheswara, an early ruler of the Chalukyas. His sons, Kirthivarman and his brother Mangalesha, are supposed to have constructed the cave-temples on red sand stone cliffs that surrounded their capital that was only about 10.3 square kilometres in area. The land is at an elevation of about 1992 ft. from sea-level, with sand stone hills engulfing a water body called Agasthya Thirtha. Naturally, the Chalukya kings could find no other place but the cliffs to carve temples.

The Badami Rock Temples, as they are known today, were constructed between 6th and 8th century AD. The Chalukyas constructed 4 cave temples during this period and dedicated one of them to Shiva, two to Vishnu and the last to the Jain Tirthankaras. It clearly shows that the Chalukya rulers were very tolerant towards other religions such as Budhism and Jainism. The inner caverns of the temples have beautifully carved images of Hindu gods Shiva,Vishnu and other deities, among whom Ganapathi has, as usual, a special place. In short, these Vathapi Cave Temples exemplify the architectural styles of Hindu temples of the South.

Coming to our protagonist, Vathapi Ganapathi. The Chalukyas were an aggressive lot and were always in war with the Pallavas of Tamil Nadu. The great grandson of the first Chalukya ruler, Pulakesi II, constantly tried to overpower the Pallavas and capture Kancheepuram that was the Pallava's capital then. But the Pallava king, Narasimhavarman I, known as Mamalla Pallava, seized Vathapi in 642 AD. His military general Sirutondar brought an idol of Ganapathi from Vathapi to Kacheepuram as a mark of their victory over the Chalukyas. Thus Vathapi Ganapathi came to Tamil Nadu. Today the idol of Vathapi Ganapathi is kept in Thiruchenkaatankudi near Tahnjavur, in Tamil Nadu.

History repeated in Badami. Again Badami was freed from the Pallavas by King Vikramaditya I of Chalukyas in 654 AD. Since then, Badami's changed hands, those of Hyder Ali. Later Badami was attached to the Bombay Presidency by the Britishers. But Vathapiy Ganapathi has survived all these ups and downs through Carnatic music since then.

You can reach Badami by air, rail or road. It is about 500 km from Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka State. The closest airport is at Belgaum (150 km). The nearest railway station is only 5 km away from Badami town, along the Hubli-Sholapur route.

Times invites genuinely interested people who can sponsor or donate our Vathapy Hertiage Project. Also we would take a team of only 10 selected individuals who can contribute to our expedition to Vathapy with their knowledge, talent and interests. If you are interested in partaking in our documentation project kindly email us with your full biodata, willingness to sponsor or donate or contribute to our 10-day-long first leg of expedition. Or call us on mobile:9633903362. The team is led by Dr. P.K.Sreekumar, Feature Editor, and Mr K. Santhosh Kumar, Chief Editor, Metro Times.