Kamat's Potpourri: The Hero of Nelavagilu

Saviyabbe

A damaged inscription of Shravanabelagola of the tenth century fails to give details on Saviyabbe's end; the details are effected. But the illustration that accompanies the inscription compensates this lapse. The gallant lady riding her horse engages her powerful enemy riding an elephant. The sheer physical strength of the enemy did not deter Saviyabbe. She must have fought with all the strength she could command and in the process got killed. But for this illustration, we would have been totally ignorant of this heroic lady.