#Pepper_Queen_of_India
#Rainha_de_Pimenta.
#Tomb_of_queen_chennabhairadevi
#Located_at_Avinahalli_Sagar_taluk_Of_Shivamogga_District.
#Colonel_colin_mackenzie_recorded_this_location
#Six_years_back_historian_DilipNadig_of_shivamogga_retracing_this.
#sharavathiriver #gerusoppe #chennabhiradevi #jain #saluvadynsty #Dilipnadig #DrSamakh
The tomb of Queen Chennabhairadevi, known as the Pepper Queen, is located at Aavinhalli in Sagara Taluk, Shivamogga district.
About two centuries ago, Colonel Colin Mackenzie vilsited this site and recorded its location.
Around six years ago, historians used Mackenzie’s old map to conduct research and rediscovered this place.
Queen Chennabhairadevi of Gerusoppa, a prominent Jain ruler, governed her kingdom for a long time.
She was the only queen from the Western Ghats region who exported black pepper collected from Malenadu to various European countries via the Arabian Sea.
Because of this thriving pepper trade, the Portuguese honored her with the title “Rainha de Pimenta” (Queen of Pepper).
Born into the Salva dynasty, the queen ruled for 54 years during the 16th century (1552–1606).
Her kingdom included Hadavalli (Sangeethapura) in Bhatkal taluk and the Gerusoppa region.
She was known as Rani of Gerusoppa, who exported black pepper widely cultivated in the coastal and hilly areas to Europe.
The Portuguese, the Keladi Nayakas, and the Bijapur Sultans all interacted and sometimes conflicted with her, but she managed these political tensions wisely.
Locals still worship her as “Avvarasi” in the Gerusoppa region where a temple is dedicated to her.
Historical records mention that she was born on 1 January 1536 at Hadavalli, Bhatkal (Karnataka, India) and passed away on 1 January 1606 at Keladi, Shivamogga district.
The Samadhi at AavinhalliHer burial shrine (Samadhi) is located in Aavinhalli, once part of the Gerusoppa kingdom and near the Keladi royal capital.
King Venkappa Nayaka of Keladi captured Queen Chennabhairadevi and imprisoned her first at Anandapura Fort and later in the Ikkeri Fort.
There hb, following Jain tradition, the queen observed the Sallekhana vow—a spiritual practice of peacefully renouncing the body through fasting—and attained liberation (Jinaike).
Her Samadhi was then built near Ikkeri at Aavinhalli.
In Jainism, Sallekhana or Santhara is not suicide but a sacred vow taken at the end of life when one is afflicted by age or illness.
The person gradually reduces food and water intake, relinquishing all passions, and meets death with peace and equanimity.
Two centuries later, Colonel Colin Mackenzie reached this site and documented the route and map leading to it.
Over time, the memory of this site faded from public knowledge until no clear information remained.
Even the local Jain community and major Jain maths (monastic centers) lacked awareness of it.
Rediscovery and ResearchAbout 220 years later, #Dileep_Nadig, a historian from Shivamogga, retraced Mackenzie’s map and journey.
Following Mackenzie’s description of three ponds near the site, Nadig located the exact Samadhi of Queen Chennabhairadevi.
Today, this place is worshipped by locals as the #Eshwara_Temple of #Aavinhalli.
When people settled in this area after it had been forested for centuries, they mistook the structure for a Shiva temple and continued worshiping it as such.
This local reverence incidentally helped preserve the monument to this day.
Architectural elements and carvings in the temple clearly display Jain Samadhi features.
The structure even includes an upper chamber, which remains closed under temple administration.
Researchers believe that inscriptions (Nishidhi Shasana) related to the queen’s Sallekhana vow may still be found nearby.
The Samadhi shrine might have been built under the Keladi kings’ supervision while the queen was held captive.
Conservation and Cultural Importance Despite being one of the few women rulers who maintained foreign trade ties, her memorial has not yet been recognized as a national monument.
In comparison, the tomb of #Chhatrapati_Shahaji_Maharaj (father of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) at #Hodegere, formerly part of the undivided Shivamogga district, has national heritage status.
Religious heads of prominent Jain institutions—such as Hombuja Matha, Sravanabelagola Matha, and Sri Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala—could take initiative to safeguard and promote this forgotten historical site.
The current pontiff of Shravanabelagola, who hails from the Sagara-based Indra family, also carries this responsibility.
Historians and the Jain community should collaborate with the government to preserve Aavinhalli’s Samadhi of Queen Chennabhairadevi and develop it as a major national heritage and tourist destination.
Congratulations are due to historian Dileep Nadig for retracing Colonel Mackenzie’s path and rediscovering the long-lost tomb of Queen Chennabhairadevi of Gerusoppa—the celebrated Pepper Queen of India.
Translation by :#Dr_S_G_Samak.
Really I am proud of Famous Researcher of History Dr Shantharam samhak for his kind support and wonderful translation of my Facebook post.
ನಾಡಿನ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧ ಇತಿಹಾಸ ಸಂಶೋದಕರಾದ ಡಾಕ್ಟರ್ ಶಾಂತರಾಮ್ ಸಾಮಖ್ ನನ್ನ ಪೇಸ್ ಬುಕ್ ಬರಹ ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ಬಾಷೆಗೆ ಭಾಷಾಂತರ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಕೃತಜ್ಞತೆಗಳನ್ನ ಅರ್ಪಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಅವರ ಇತಿಹಾಸದ ಕಾಳಜಿಗೆ ಅಭಿನಂದಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.
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