Shimoga,
as per traditional derivations ,the name pertains to Lord Shiva ( 'Shiva
- Mukha' - Face of shiva , 'Shivana - Mogu' - Nose of shiva, 'Shivana
- Mogge' - Buds of flowers meant for shiva ) . According to the legend,
the place had the ashram of the famous sage 'Durvasa' who was noted
for his sharpness of temper. He used to keep on the oven a pot boiling
with sweet herbs. Once, some cowherds, who chanced upon it, tasted
the beverage out of curiosity and called the place 'Sihi- Moge' (Sweet
Pot) , Which was later called as 'SHIMOGA' .
Flashback :
Remains found in the district disclose that man was reisdent in
the area in those early times. In 1881, two early stone-age tools
were discovered in a 'Shingle bed' at Nyamati, at a short distance
from the Tungabhadra river. They were bifacial pebble tools made
of quartzite, one with a rounded working edge and the other with
a pointed working edge. Some Neolithic sites were noticed and uncovered
at
-
Guddemaradi
on the bank of Tunga river near Shimoga city
-
Nilaskal
near Nagar in Hosanagar taluk
-
Kunda
hill near Agumbe in Thirthahalli taluk
-
Yeddegudde
near Thirthahalli
-
Ashoka
nagar, Anaveri and Nagasamudra in Bhadravati taluk
-
Three
iron age megalithic sites, with different megaliths, have also
been found in the district, at
Nilaskal
in Hosanagar taluk and Shimoga, which have menhirs, and at
Arehalli in Thirthahalli taluk, which has portholed burial
chambers.
3rd -
This part was the dominions of the Maurayas. Later a branch of Satavahanas
held sway over.
4th - The Kadambas of banavasi ruled the western
part, the Gangas of Talakad administered the eastern part.
6th - Chalukyas of badami subdued both the
Kadambas and the Gangas, who however continued as feudatories
of the former. Later the Gangas lost a major portion .
7th - Prinicipality was established at Humcha
by Santara Deva, a jain chieftain.
8th - The Rastrakutas of Malakhed establised thier
suzerainty.
10th - The Banavasi along with some other parts
were added to Ganga kingdom by the Rastrakutas in recognition of
help rendered by the Gangas in defeating the Cholas.
11th - The Hoysalas became powerful. As a result
of several wars between the Hoysalas and the Sevunas(Yadavas) of
Devagiri, the northern parts were held by the latter for some time.
12th - Kalachuris were in power for only a short
period . Belagutti was the capital of a principality during this
time and also later
14th - Hoysala power came to an end ,the district
became part of Vijayanagar Empire. Araga was the capital of a province
under Vijayanagar.
16th - At the beginning of this century the house
of Keladi Nayakas ( also called Ikkeri or Bidnur Nayakas)established
themselves in this area.There was also a small principality of
Basavapatna in the east of the district.
17th - In 1763 , Haider Ali captured Bidnur, capital
of Keladi nayakas, and as a result, this district along with other
areas of thier kingdom was annexed to Mysore. After 1799 ,during
the early period of Wodeyars of Mysore, the Nagar Naujdari included
the shimoga & Kadur(now Chickmagalur).
Shimoga's
part in India's Freedom Fight Movement : In 1930-31 , a succesfull
satyagraha was offered by women at Hechche in Sorab taluk of the district
for recovery of properties of satyagrahis, purchased at government
auctions in a neighbouring taluk of North Kanara. Poet Kuvempu (Dr.
K.V. Puttappa) from this district and several others wrote powerful
patriotic lyrics voicing the freedom urge of the people. In August
1927 Gandhiji along with C. Rajagopalachari and Gangadharrao Deshpande
visited Shimoga, Bhadravti, Thirthahalli and Sagar talukas of shimoga
district, In order to give a fillip to nationalist movement and constructive
programme. From 17th August 1942 onwards, an display of great courage
and defiance was showed by people of Isoor village of Shikaripur taluka.
Everyday processions were carried out round the village with slogans
like 'Do not pay taxes', 'Cut down teak trees and wires', 'Burn the
account books of gaudas and shanbhogues'. On 25th September when the
village officer came for collection of assessment and preparation of
pahani, their registers were seized by the village youths. The next
day the villagers put up a sign board which declared that theirs was
a freedom-village. A 'parallel Government' of youngsters was setup.
|