Coorg Inscriptions

The inscriptions of Coorg, though few in number, are of importance, especially the earlier ones. It is true they tell us little about the Kodagas, or Coorgs, themselves. Nor was this to be expected, for the Coorgs are naturally an unlettered race; their very language having no written characters1; and although the predominant class, they form no more than one-fifth of the population. The earliest express mention of the Kodagas that has been met with in inscriptions is in 1174, in the time of the Hoysala king Vira-Ballala (Hs 20). They are also mentioned in 1722, in the time of Chikka Deva-Raja of Mysore (Sr. 64). But the name Kudakam (Coorg) apparently occurs in Tamil literature so far back as the 2nd century; and the Seven Kombu of Sk 136 may have reference to Coorg in 1068. The earlier inscriptions show that the Jain faith was exclusively the State or court Religion at first. The followed the Saiva and Vaishnava creeds; and lastly the Vira-Saiva or Lingayit form of Saivism. All this while the Coorgs no doubt, as now kept to their own Ancestor and Demon worship.