Talagunda

Talagunda is a village in the Shikaripura taluk of Shivamogga district in the state of Karnataka, India. Many inscriptions found here have provided insights into the rise of the Kadamba Dynasty.

==History== Talagunda was earlier known as Sthanakunduru and it was an agrahara (a place of learning- ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಕೇಂದ್ರ). This is the earliest known agrahara found in Karnataka. Built at the time of Gouthamiputa Shathakarni (ಗೌತಮಿಪುತ್ರ ಶಾತಕರ್ಣಿ). An inscription found at Talagunda indicates that Kanchi was a major centre (ghatika) for learning, especially of the vedas taught by learned brahmanas. It indicates that 32 Brahmins were relocated from a place called Ahi-kshetra to Sthanagundur by Mukanna (or Trinetra), thereby creating an agrahara.. Mukanna was an ancestor of Mayurasharma, the founder of the Kadamba Dynasty. The word Ahi means snake or Naga in Sanskrit. Nagas were a group of ancient people who worshiped serpents. The word khsetra means region in Sanskrit. This implies that Ahi-kshetra was a region of Nagas. This could mean that the region was populated originally by Nagas, Nairs, Bunts of Kerala and Tulu Nadu who claim Kshatriya descent from the nagas trace their origins to this place. and historically and traditionally, Balligavi and Talagunda are recorded as important Jain centres and significant places of learning.