A new Kannada inscription dating back to the 13th century has been discovered at Untunahole Erannanamakki in the Kaltodu village of Kundapur taluk of Udupi district, according to Prof T Murugeshi, associate professor of Ancient History and Archaeology, MSRS College, Shirva in a media release.
The inscription begins with an invocation of lord Shiva, written in the Saka year 1219 which corresponds to 1293 A.D. One Devarasa has been mentioned as the emperor but other details are not clear enough to identify this ruler.
An Alupa ruler called Nagadevarasa had been mentioned as the ruler of Tulunadu in other records. It is likely that both are the same. During his rule, a land grant was made to the ‘Hebbariyara Math’ of Herali.
At present, it is known as Heranjalu Math. Finally, it ended with the imprecatory words.
On the top of the inscription is a Shivalinga and on the side are two bulls, a trident, a lamp, a nidhikumbha and a yupa or sacrificial post. The first line of the inscription is written in medieval Nagari script and the rest of the record in Kannada script and language.
Significance of the inscription:
The present-day Heranjalu Math is referred to as Hebbariyara Math in the record. The presiding deity of the Math is goddess Mahalakshmi. Incidentally, it is the only Math in Karnataka to have had had Adi Lakshmi as its presiding deity. Adi Lakshmi was Shaivite in antiquity.
The Nidhikumbha (treasure pot) represented in the record has also very clearly indicated that the donation was given to goddess Maha Lakshmi. A 13th century Mahalakshmi bronze figurine is also found in the Math.
Prof Murugeshi has thanked Battnadi Ramayya Shetty, Kollur Muralidhar Heggade and Raghavendra Aital, Untunahole Gopal, the Kottari family and the students of Archaeology.
with inputs from media release
For old times’ sake:
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Udupi: Linga of Phallic Nature Found at Gosada in Kasaragod
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Udupi: Inscription from Vijayanagar Empire Era Discovered at Kandavara near Kundapur
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Kundapur: Typical Hero-stone Discovered at Kollur
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Puttur: 5-ft-long Cannon Found while Digging Earth for Temple Brahmakalashotsava
