Massacre of Jains/samanar at Annigeri: Archeological Evidence Found

Annigeri is a town near Hubli in Dharwad District of Karnataka. Recently the archeology department has found 601 human skulls in an excavation. The skulls date back to 10th to 12th century. According to reliable sources, Archeology Department has found very important materials and references mentioned in the Bombay State Dharwad Gazetteer about a massacre that took place near Annigeri.

J M Nagaiah, associate professor of Dr RC Hiremath Institute of Kannada Studies ( KUD), has said that he has discovered the inscriptions, one each at Hottur near Shiggon taluk of old Dharwad district, and at Gawarwad near Annigeri.

According to the Hottur inscription, Chola emperor Rajaraja, during an expedition, had attacked Belaval-300 province with the help of his nine-lakh-strong army and captured Annigeri during 1007-08. The emperor then tried to forcibly convert people into Shaivas (followers of Lord Shiva). He is also said to have ruthlessly chopped people, including children, who refused to be Shaivas. King Sataysharava Irive Bemdag of Chalukyas of Kalyan was ruling Annigeri then.