Badami is a small town located in
Karnataka. It is known for rock sculpture and temple architecture. The town was
originally known as Vatapi and was the seat of government of the Badami
Chalukyas in the 6th century AD. The name Vatapi has its origins in a mythological
tale of the Ramayana.According to mythology, Vatapi and Ilvala were two demons.
They used to eat beggars alive by tricking them. Vatapi would pose as red meat
which Ilvala then offered to the beggars. Before the beggars could digest the
meat, Ilavala would call out Vatapi’s name and he would rip through the
beggars’ body.Ilvala had a boon of calling back people from anywhere by just
calling out their name. However, once, Sage Agastya ate and digested Vatapi
before his elder brother could call out his name. Thus, Vatapi’s life was
brought to an end.Historically speaking, Badami was the Chalukya Dynasty’s
capital from the 6th to 8th century AD. The city was founded by a Chlukya ruler
named Pulakesi in the 6th century.
