Belawadi Mallamma

Belawadi Mallamma (ಬೆಳವಡಿ ಮಲ್ಲಮ್ಮ) was a queen of Belawadi kingdom (samshtana). She was the daughter of King Madhulinga Nayaka, of the Sodhe Kingdom, which controlled modern-day Uttara Kannada district and south Goa.^[4]

Mallamma’s education began at 5, where she attended a school built by her father for her and her brother, Sadashiva Nayaka.^[5] The school’s principal was Shankar Bhat, a notable scholar, and 10 senior shastris (respected teachers of philosophy and of ancient texts) acted as Mallamma’s teachers.^[5]

When Mallamma attained marriageable age, her father chose to arrange for swayamvara (whereby the girl would choosing her husband from among the courters).^[4] Mallamma decided to challenge her suitors to hunt the number of tigers equal to his age plus one, within one month.^[4]