15th Century Inscription Of Gajapati Kings Found In Guntur
The stone pillar has the images of Hanuman, Garuda and the symbols of Sun and Moon, symbols found in numerous other Gajapati era inscriptions. “The annual report of 1917 revealed the name of Ganadeba Rautaraya, a relative of Gajapati Kapilendra Deva's family,’’ Rana said.
VISAKHAPATNAM: Rediscover Lost Heritage (RLH) group has made a significant historical rediscovery with unearthing of a 15th Century stone inscription from the time of great Gajapati King Kapilendra Deva.
The inscription, found at Chintapallipadu village in Vatticherukuru mandal of Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh, has a Sanskrit verse in Telugu characters attributed to Ganadeba Rautaraya Mahapatra—a relative of the Gajapati Kapilendra and Governor of Kondaveedu. Its rediscovery is attributed to a survey team of the RLH group and included history researchers Deepak Kumar Nayak, Rabindra Kumar Rana and Bikram Kumar Nayak.
Sharing more details, Rabindra Kumar Rana said information of this inscription had first been published in the annual report of South Indian Epigraphy, 1917. The inscription is from the time of Gajapati Kapilendra Deva first found inscribed on a Hanuman pillar in front of the Rama Temple in Chintapallipadu village of Saka year 1376 that equals the year 1454 CE.
The stone pillar has the images of Hanuman, Garuda and the symbols of Sun and Moon, symbols found in numerous other Gajapati era inscriptions. “The annual report of 1917 revealed the name of Ganadeba Rautaraya, a relative of Gajapati Kapilendra Deva's family,’’ Rana said.
According to history researcher Deepak Kumar Nayak, who led the survey team, Ganadeba Rautaraya figures in another copper plate inscription from Kondaveedu of the year 1455 CE. After August 1453 CE, the Odia army of Kapilendra Deva crossed the Krishna River and occupied the fort of Kondaveedu. After this victory, Ganadeba was appointed as the Pariksha (Governor) of Kondaveedu, Addanki and Vinukonda.
The 1917 report mentions that Ganadeba made a donation to Raghavesvara Temple of Chadaluvada from Chintapallipadu. The Kondaveedu copper plate grant mentions that Ganadeba, son of Guhideba Patra, belonged to the Suryavamsha race. Ganadeba had defeated two Turaksha princes in the war which he fought during the service of Gajapati Kapilendra Deva.
Highlighting the importance of the finding, Bikash Prasad Das, a founder member of RLH group, said the rediscovery is of immense value for the shared history of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
“Our survey team is working relentlessly to document the forgotten and lost heritage sites of ancient Kalinga in south India. We will soon publish a book on this invaluable documentation,’’ Deepak added.