Bhojana Shala, Hampi

During my earlier visits I'd seen Bhojana Shala from afar. Back then there was no information board planted at the spot. That's one of the reason tourists ignoring it.

December 10, 2024. The day started early with ascending Anjanadri Betta for a darshan of Anajanadevi, mother of Hanuman. Then we visited Anegundi, spent almost an hour at Chintamani, the place where Rama observes penance after slaying Vali the lord of Kishkinda. Then we saw the hill top temple complex Malayavantana Raghunatha Devastana. With that the first half of the day was gone. We lunched and rested and then started the tour of Hampi. We arrived at Bhojana Shala around 4-30.

Now the spot has a fence, a information board and a caretaker. These are appreciable because they are sustainable. This gives employment to local people, the artifact is guarded and kept tidy. Turning our attention to the artifact. Bhojana Shala means dining hall. Perhaps a thatched shelter existed back then.

The board planted describes Bhojana Shala as below:

ಭೋಜನ ಶಾಲೆ ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯಲ್ಪಡುವ ಈ ರಚನೆಯು ಕ್ರಿ.ಶ. ೧೬ನೆಯ ಶತಮಾನದ ಕಾಲದ್ದಾಗಿದ್ದು, ರಾಜಪ್ರಾಂಗಣದ ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಮತ್ತು ಅಷ್ಟಕೋನ ನೀರಿನ ಮಂಟಪದ ಪೂರ್ವ ದಿಕ್ಕಿನಲ್ಲಿದೆ. ಇದು ೭೫ ಸೆಂಟಿ ಮೀಟರ್ ಅಗಲ ಹಾಗೂ ೭೫ ಸೆಚಿಟಿ ಮೀಟರ್ ಆಳವಿರುವ ನೀರಿನ ಕಾಲುವೆಯ ಇಕ್ಕೆಲಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹತ್ತು ಮೀಟರ್ ಉದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣಗೊಂಡಿದೆ. ಒಂದು ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಕಾಲುವೆಯ ಎರಡೂ ದಂಡೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹಸಿರು ಬಣ್ಣದ ಕಲ್ಲಿನಿಂದ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿದ ಊಟದ ಫಲಕಗಳಿಂದ ಜೋಡಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಈ ಕಲ್ಲುಗಳ ಮಧ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ತಟ್ಟೆ ಮತ್ತು ಬಾಳೆ ಎಲೆಯ ಆಕಾರದ ತಗ್ಗು ಇದ್ದು ಸುತ್ತಲೂ ಬಟ್ಟಲಿನಾಕಾರದ ತಗ್ಗುಗಳಿವೆ. ಅವುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲವು ವಿವಿಧ ರೀತಿಯ ಆಕಾರಗಳನ್ನು ಮತ್ತು ಕುಳಿಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿವೆ. de ಕಲ್ಲಿನ ತಟ್ಟೆಗಳನ್ನು ವಿಶೇಷ ಸಂದರ್ಭಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾವಲುಗಾರರು/ಸೈನಿಕರಿಗೆ ಊಟ ಬಡಿಸಲು ಬಳಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರೆಂದು ಊಹಿಸಬಹುದು. ಕೃಷ್ಣದೇವರಾಯ ಅರಮನೆಯ ಪಶ್ಚಿಮಕ್ಕೆ ಸೈನ್ಯದ ಶಿಬಿರವಿದ್ದು, ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ರಸ್ತೆಯು ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ ರಚನೆಗಳನ್ನು ವಿಂಗಡಿಸಿದೆ. ಭೋಜನ ಶಾಲೆಯ ಉಲ್ಲೇಖ ಪೆನುಗೊಂಡ ಬಾಗಿಲ ಹತ್ತಿರವಿರುವ ಶಾಸನದಲ್ಲಿದೆ: ಕ್ರಿ.ಶ.೧೫೪೦ರ ಈ ಶಾಸನವು ರಘುನಾಥ ದೇವರಿಗೆ ದಾನವಾಗಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಭೂಮಿಯ ವಿವರವನ್ನು ಕೊಡುವಾಗ “ಮುದಲಾಪುರ ಗ್ರಾಮದ ಕೆರೆಮೊಳಗೆ ಊಟದ ಕಾಲುವೆ ಸ್ಥಳದಲ್ಲೂ ಲಕುಮಯ್ಯ ಹೊಂನ್ನಯ್ಯ ಮಲ್ಲಯ್ಯಗಳ ಗದ್ದೆ" ಎಂದು ಉಲ್ಲೇಖಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಮೇಲೆ ವಿವರಿಸಿದ ಊಟದ ಕಾಲುವೆಯೇ ಶಾಸನದಲ್ಲಿ ಉಲ್ಲೇಖಗೊಂಡಿರುವ ಊಟದ ಕಾಲುವೆಯಾಗಿರಬಹುದು. ಇದರ ಸಮೀಪದಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜಪ್ರಾಂಗಣ ಮತ್ತು ಅಷ್ಟಭುಜ ನೀರಿನ ಮಂಟಪಗಳಿರುವುದು ಇದರ ಮಹತ್ವವನ್ನು ಸೂಚಿಸುತ್ತವೆ.

This structure known as the Bhojana shala was probably built in the 16th century CE. It is located to the south the Royal Enclosure and southeast of the Octagon Water Pavilion. The Bhojana Shala has a 10 metres long water channel on either side; each of which is 75 cm wide and 65 cm deep Dark green coloured stone slabs are arranged on the banks of a small canal. Between these slabs there are small pits in the form of circular eating plates, banana leaves and bowls. This Bhojana shala was used on special occasions to serve food to the guard/soldiers. The present road has divided the associated structures it with the army barrock to the west of the royal residence of Krishnadevaraya. The reference to the Bhojana shala is in the inscription near the Penukonda Gate. The inscription of 1540 CE mentions the land donation to the Raghunatha Temple and details Lakumayya's, Homnayya's, and Mallayya's fields near the dining canal towards the lake of the village of Mudalapur village The Bhojana Shala described above may be the dining canal referred to in the inscription. The nearby Royal Enclosure and the Octagonal Water Pavilion make this Bhojane Shala significant.

Now I have to mention that it's an ancient practice to eat out of stone surface. Even to this day, on certain festivals, village people pack food and other offerings, trek to an ancient shrine on a rock hill where they perform rituals including offering food to the deity (deities) and then partake that food. No plates would be used. A flat smooth surface would be chosen, washed with water, food would be served and the group would eat from it. Probably some for some ancient people that was a daily practice. May be they even used slabs as plates. 

I wonder how food was served.. probably the servers walked in the canal and served both sides. There are a few of questions; 1. Did fresh water flow all the time; 2. Was waste water discharged into the canal; 3. When Vijayanagara was so prosperous why wasn't brass plates or baked mud plates used; 4. Did all soldiers eat here or only a certain regiment used this arrangement.

While most of the plates were circular, there were a handful banana leaf shapes plates.

Here we have a banana leaf and circular plate side by side. Notice the details like the center line across the banana leaf plate. Its narrow side pointing to the left which is the norm while placing a leaf. The little groove to drain out water is a nice touch. The circular plate sides are not vertical, it's angled ergonomically. 

A hundred steps away from Bhojana Shala is an ancient water tank which according to the caretaker was excavated recently. Probably soldiers bathed here and then went to Bhojana Shala.

From here we went in search of the granaries and panorama platform.

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