Kempegowda was the chieftain of the Vijayanagar empire and the founder of Bangalore. Here are some interesting faqs regarding the ancestry, family, Jayanthi and contribution of Kempe Gowda I, the able and people-friendly ruler.
1) Who are the ancestors of Kempegowda?
- Regarding Kempe Gowda’s ancestry, some historians, like Brunton Stein and others, believe that the community of Morasu Vokkaligas, which Kempe Gowda belonged to, were Telugu-speaking people who migrated to Morasu Nadu in the 14th century.
- Others state that the Morasu Vokkaligas spoke Kannada and originated from Karnataka, although they were fluent in Telugu.
- Some others say that they were originally from Kanchi, Tamil Nadu, who moved to Karnataka in the 15th century to serve under the Vijayanagar empire.
2) Who is the son of Kempegowda?
Literary sources reveal that Kempe Gowda’s son was Gidde Gowda, who succeeded him after his demise.
3) Who is Kempegowda’s daughter-in-law and what is the story of her sacrifice?
Lakshmamma was Kempegowda’s daughter-in-law, who sacrificed her life when the chieftain was building the Bangalore Fort. As per legend, the southern gate of the fort would crumble every night, and astrologers advised the chieftain to make a human sacrifice. But the benevolent Kempagowda refused to do so. However, one morning, the gate stood firm without collapsing, and the workers found the body of the pregnant Lakshmamma nearby, who had sacrificed her life for the cause. The devastated Kempegowda then built a temple for Lakshmamma, about half a kilometre from the Lakshmamma Memorial, Koramangala.
4) Which temples were built by Kempe Gowda?
Basavanagudi Bull Temple, Ulsoor Someshwara Temple, Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple, Lakshmamma Memorial, Kempambudhi Kere were built by Kemmpe Gowda. The Dodda Ganapathi Temple, Dodda Anjaneya Temple, and Veerabhadhra temples are other temples he built outside the Bangalore Fort on the southern side.
5) What is Kempegowda’s imprisonment story?
Kempegowda was imprisoned and detained in Jinjara Hill in Anegundi for five years. The chieftain displeased the Vijayanagara king, Aliya Ramaraya, for introducing his own coinage called ‘Bhaireshwar’. Thus, he defied the emperor to set right an ailing economy. The emperor cunningly invited him to Vijayanagara for the Dussehra festival and took him into custody.
Kempegowda was imprisoned for five years from 1560 – 1565 and detained in the Jinjara Hill in Anegundi, according to local sources and the extensive discovery of Sharanbasappa Kolkar, an archaeologist. Kolkhar says that the defensive structures, guard houses, watch towers, prisons, soldiers’ quarters, granaries, natural ponds, etc., on the hill are not visible from the bottom. It is thus concluded that a prison existed on the hill.
6) Where is Kempegowda buried?
According to Prashanth (Marur)’s 2015 findings, Kempe Gowda’s tomb is in Kempapura near Magadi in the Ramanagara district. Other historians also approve of this. An inscription on the 16th-century epitaph states that Kempe Gowda breathed his last in that spot. Kempe Gowda’s successor, Kempe Gowda II, built the tomb of his father in that place.
7) Where is Kempegowda’s family now?
Haider Ali defeated the ruler from Kempe Gowda’s lineage and the family was shifted to Hulikal. However, Diwan Purnaiah bestowed on them lands in Hosur, now in Tamil Nadu, where the descendants continue to live as agriculturists.
8) When is the Kempegowda Jayanthi celebrated?
From 2017, the state government celebrates Kempe Gowda Jayanthi on June 27th every year as a sign of reverence for his contributions.
Kempe Gowda’s life is undoubtedly an interesting one owing to his dynamic personality and contribution to the society.