File:Monolithic Stone Pillar Plaque.jpg

English: This monolithic stone pillar is a part of the monuments at Pattadakal, where the early Chalukyan kings used to be crowned. Pattadakal is one of the three great centres of experimentation in temple architecture; the other two being Aihole and Badami. This octagonal pillar bears a Sanskrit inscription engraved in two scripts, viz. the Siddhamatrika and Kannada-Telugu scripts of CE 8th century. It opens with invocations to Siva and Haragauri. It refers to the setting up of a trisula pillar by Jnanasivacharya, who had come from Mrigathanikahara-vishaya on the northern bank of the river Ganga and was staying in the Vijayesvara temple (modern Sangamesvara). Apart from mentioning the location of this pillar, the inscription informs that the Vijayesvara temple was built by King Vijayaditya, the Lokesvara temple (modern Virupaksha) by Vikramaditya II's queen Lokamahadevi, and the Trailokesvara temple (modern Mallikarjuna) by Trailokya Mahadevi, who was the mother of King Kirtivarma II. It records that Jnanasivacharya made a grant of land near Arapunase village as provision for discourses and worship in the Vijayesvara temple. The reigning king was Kirtivarma II (CE 744-757).