Gajapati-era Stone Inscription Found In Vijayawada
According to Rabindra Kumar Rana, the inscription was found on land owned by resident Gandam Shivaji. Nearby, an ancient idol of Lord Ganesh and a herostone also came to Rana’s notice.
Visakhapatnam: A team from Rediscover Lost Heritage unearthed a 15th-century stone inscription from the reign of the great Gajapati King Kapilendra Deva. The inscription attributed to Prince Hamvira Deva Mahapatra, son of the Gajapati Kapilendra and a distinguished warrior of his time, was found in Jakkampudi village, on the outskirts of Vijayawada city. The inscription, lying in a neglected state near an agricultural field, was identified during a heritage exploration led by history researcher Deepak Kumar Nayak, along with team members of RLH Group, Rabindra Kumar Rana, and Bikram Kumar Nayak.
According to Rabindra Kumar Rana, the inscription was found on land owned by resident Gandam Shivaji. Nearby, an ancient idol of Lord Ganesh and a herostone also came to Rana’s notice. The inscribed stone bears carvings of the sun, moon, and bull—symbols traditionally associated with Gajapati-era inscriptions. “'This find sheds light on the southern extent of the Suryavamsi Gajapati empire, which once stretched from the River Ganges in the north to the Kaveri river in the south,' said researcher Rana. History researcher Deepak Kumar Nayak stated that the mention of this inscription had been referenced in the book 'Annual Report on South Indian Epigraphy' (Year 1913).
Comprising 17 lines in Telugu script and language, the inscription also mentioned the village’s historical name—Jakiredipalli. This village name is also found in another stone inscription from Gajapati Kapilendra Deva’s reign. The text records a charitable land grant by Kumara Hamvira Deva for religious services, including the provision of incense, lamps, and offerings to God Papavinasana and Rudradeva of Bejwada (Vijayawada), as well as the maintenance of feeding houses (satras) for Jangamas and Brahmanas, said Nayak.
Highlighting the importance of preservation, Bikash Prasad Das, a founding member of the Rediscover Lost Heritage Group, stated that this rediscovery was of immense value for the shared heritage of two states, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. “We have informed local villagers about its significance and will urge both state archaeological departments to take immediate steps for its protection. Our organisation will formally request that the inscription be relocated to a museum for conservation,’’ Das said.