Śāstra in Stone - Tracing Dharmaśāstra in the Inscriptions of Kakatiya, Hoysala and Vijayanagara empires

Name: Śāstra in Stone - Tracing Dharmaśāstra in the Inscriptions of Kakatiya, Hoysala and Vijayanagara empires
Price: ₹ 1499 (incl. of 18% GST) / $18 INR
Availability: InStock

What happens when ideas from sacred texts are carved into stone? Śāstra in Stone explores how the philosophical and legal frameworks of Dharmaśāstra, inscribed in stones, shaped the public life of medieval South India, not only in theory, but in lived governance, social order, and sacred institutions.

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17 Apr 2026 - 16 May 2026

07:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Fri-Sat | 10 Sessions | 20 Hours

₹ 1499 (incl. of 18% GST) / $18

Overview

This course, through the study of inscriptions issued by the Kakatiyas, Hoysalas, and Vijayanagara emperors, reveals how concepts such as dāna (sacred giving), rājadharma (ethical kingship), varṇa–āśrama dharma, puṇya, justice, and social duty were translated from Saṃskṛta treatises into the language of administration, temple culture, and community life.

Inscriptions were not merely records.

They were public declarations of dharma, etched in stone for society to witness and follow.

This course invites participants to rediscover these inscriptions as living texts - where śāstra meets society.

Intent

Our formal education systems, modern narratives interpreting our ancient texts, often present a false divide between śāstra (theoretical knowledge) and vyavahāra (practical life).

But when we go to the epigraphic record of medieval India, it tells a very different story.

Through inscriptions, we see how dhārmika principles guided governance, dispute resolution, economic systems, and temple institutions.

By studying these inscriptions alongside Dharmaśāstra sources, participants will discover:

• How ethical governance functioned in historical India

• How Dharma shaped law, administration, and public life

• How textual ideas travelled into lived institutions

Most importantly, this course equips learners to engage directly with primary historical sources rather than relying on simplified or distorted retellings

Structure

Śāstra in Stone is a 20 hours foundational course designed to provide a broader but deeply insightful understanding of the relationship between Dharmaśāstra and its real-life applications during medieval periods.

17 Apr - Introduction to Inscriptions

This session introduces the participants to the history of Inscriptions (in South India). It also allows the participants to learn about different types of inscriptions and the purpose(s) they served.
18 Apr - Introduction to Inscriptions

This session introduces the participants to the history of Inscriptions (in South India). It also allows the participants to learn about different types of inscriptions and the purpose(s) they served.
24 Apr - Śāsana & Śāstra

In this session, participants will explore the repository of ancient literature that explains the concept of issuing inscriptions.
25 Apr - Śāstra in Stone

This session will enable the participants to explore the world of inscriptions pertaining to the Kakatiya, Hoysala, Vijayanagara and other minor dynastic rule of South India and learn how these inscriptions reflect various dhārmika concepts related to administration, legal & justice system, dispute resolution, crisis management, etc.
1 May - Śāstra in Stone (continued)

This session will enable the participants to explore the world of inscriptions pertaining to the Kakatiya, Hoysala, Vijayanagara and other minor dynastic rule of South India and learn how these inscriptions reflect various dhārmika concepts related to administration, legal & justice system, dispute resolution, crisis management, etc.
2 May - Śāstra in Stone (continued)

This session will enable the participants to explore the world of inscriptions pertaining to the Kakatiya, Hoysala, Vijayanagara and other minor dynastic rule of South India and learn how these inscriptions reflect various dhārmika concepts related to administration, legal & justice system, dispute resolution, crisis management, etc.
8 May - Śāstra in Stone (continued)

This session will enable the participants to explore the world of inscriptions pertaining to the Kakatiya, Hoysala, Vijayanagara and other minor dynastic rule of South India and learn how these inscriptions reflect various dhārmika concepts related to administration, legal & justice system, dispute resolution, crisis management, etc.
9 May - Śāstra in Stone (continued)

This session will enable the participants to explore the world of inscriptions pertaining to the Kakatiya, Hoysala, Vijayanagara and other minor dynastic rule of South India and learn how these inscriptions reflect various dhārmika concepts related to administration, legal & justice system, dispute resolution, crisis management, etc.

Module 2

Lessons to be Learnt

15 May - Lessons to be Learnt

In this session, participants understand how the supposedly ‘outdated’ inscriptions are relevant to our times.
16 May - Interactive Session

Interactive question and answer session with cohort.

Key Takeaways

Reclaim Authentic Sources

Engage with inscriptions and understand how they reflect the all-encompassing śāstrīya concepts.

Strengthen Discernment

Distinguish genuine insights from biased or commercialized retellings of our history.

See Inscriptions as Relevant Sources of Knowledge

Understand them as not only historical records but also as textbooks of Śāstra.

Decode Narrative Techniques

Inscriptions, too, are like poetry. They are layered and many a time throw challenges to decipher their contents.

Apply Teachings Practically

Use timeless lessons taught by the inscriptions in ethics, leadership, relationships, and public administration.

Preserve Cultural Continuity

Carry forward the wisdom of our ancestors recorded in the stone for future generations.

Who is this course for?

Learners and seekers who want an unbiased and deeper understanding of history.
Young adults (21–35 years) looking for an opportunity or guidance to study history through primary sources.
Activists navigating misinformation and half-truths about history on social media.
Curious learners interested in original sources such as inscriptions, texts, and archaeological records.
Those seeking authentic grounding in India’s past and wishing to gain cultural wisdom with clarity and confidence.

Know your Instructor

Śrī Raghothama Rao

Raghothama Rao is a Tirupati-based writer, life skills coach, and documentary filmmaker who left a 17-year corporate career in 2012 to devote himself to Indian culture and history. As a resource person for Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel (SVBC), he scripted over 300 episodes and played a key role in launching SVBC–3 for Kannada broadcasting. He also translated more than 150 Kannada devotional kīrtanas into Telugu for TTD’s Dasa Sahitya Project, supporting Telugu bhajana groups.

Since 2018, he has produced over 200 videos on the Vijayanagara Empire and recently begun work on the Kākatīya Dynasty. He runs aavakaaya.in, a well-regarded Telugu content portal, and documents Madhva community history on his blog Madhva History. A postgraduate in English Literature, Raghothama ji has been training TTD employees in Purāṇas, Itihāsas, and devotional literature since 2011.

With his work spanning scriptwriting, translation, media, teaching and corporate, he is a respected scholar and storyteller, bringing clarity, accessibility and authenticity to the study of Itihāsa and Purāṇas.