A centuries-old Veeragallu (hero stone) with a Kannada inscription was discovered at Neeragunda, Karnataka, shedding light on Hoysala ruler Vishnu vardhana’s death.
The inscription records that soldier Boppa died soon after Vishnuvardhana’s death at Bankapura and was commemorated by his wife Maravve.
The inscription gives the date as Ekadashi of Pushya Masa, Durmathi Samvatsara, 1064, corresponding to December 11, 1141.
Vishnuvardhana is believed to have died at Bankapura, but historians have differed between 1149 and 1152 for his death.
The Veeragallu was found at the Lakshmi Narayana Swamy Temple in Neeragunda village, Hassan district, Karnataka.