Rare stone inscription dating to Vijayanagar era found in Shivamogga’s Kamaroor

Shivamogga: A rare stone inscription from the Vijayanagar era carrying both Shaiva and Vaishanava edicts has been found in Kamaroor village of Soraba taluk in Shivamogga. The inscription in Kannada is three-and-a half ft. tall and one-and-a -half ft. wide.

It was found lying abandoned near a lake by a few villagers, who got in touch with the department of archaeology, heritage and museums, Shivamogga to inform it about it. The stone inscription was earlier found on a village site while it was being cleaned and was placed under a tree before it got to the lake bed.

Mr Shejeshwar, assistant director of the department of archaeology, heritage and museums, told the Deccan Chronicle he had never come across a stone inscription carrying edicts of both the Shaiva (Shiva) and Vaishanva (Vishnu) sects and from the era of two different kings of a particular dynasty. This rare stone inscription has the Shaiva edict on its face and the Vaishnava on its back. Mr Shejeshwar says he plans to take it to the museum in Shivamogga if the villagers have no objection.

Going by him, the Shiva edict on the inscription belongs to the period of Vijaynagara king, Harihara II. While there is no mention of the king under whom the Vaishnava edict was chiselled, the official says it talks of donations such as land made to a Hanuman temple in the village. There is reportedly only one other stone inscription depicting two sects at a museum in Raichur.