literature the epithets Vadda-vyavahari (great merchant) and Raja-sreshthi (rəyal merchant) are applied to proninent merchants. An inscriptioni of about 11 20 states that Hoysala-setti and Nemi-setti were the royal merchants of the Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana, another of 1188 tells us that Chettapa-setti imported in ships excellent horses and elephants and superior pearls and sold them to kings, and that Daseya transported commodities of the east to the west and vice versa and articles of the south to the north and vice ve1 Sd; and a thirdz of 1255 says that Kunjanambi-setti, a celebrated merchant of the Hoysala kingdom, supplied all the things required by the Malava, Kalinga, Chola and Pandya kings. ARTISTS --The ornate buildings erected by the artists of the Kannada country at Ellora, Ittagi, Belur, Halebid, Somanathapur, Nandi, Sringeri, Sravana Belgola, Hampe and other places have caused not a little astonishment to foreign experts Soine of these artists have recorded their names on the pedestals of the images executed by them, this practice being rarely found outside Mysore A word may here be said about some peculiar features of the Vidyasankara temple at Sringerı built in about 1357 Its plan is unique in India it is apsidal (oval) at both the ends Even temples apsidal at one end are rather rare in India The present plan is somewhat similar to that of Trajan's basalica at Rome, built in 4 D 98, with apses at both the ends. The skill of the artists who designed and built such a unique temple is beyond all praise Further, the central hall is supported by 12 well carved pillars, each of which has sculptured on its back a sign of the zodiac such as the ram, the bull and so forth, arranged in such a way that the rays of the sun fall on them in the order of the solar months LOYAL SERVANTS - The Kannada country was adorned by loyal servants, both male and female, who showed their 1. Sravana Belgola 137 [Revised Edition) 2. Arsikere 22, 3. Arsikere 108 -- - -- -- -- -- ------ame ---
