Prataparudra Deva Violated 1519 CE Treaty With Krishnadevaraya
Medieval epigraph throws new light on Kalinga-Vijayanagara relations: Reports
VISAKHAPATNAM: Researchers of the Rediscover Lost Heritage Trust (RLHT), an organisation that is documenting Kalingan historical relics across south India, have found an inscription related to the medieval history of south eastern India at Undavalli village in Guntur district.
Led by Project Coordinator Deepak Kumar Nayak, the researchers, along with surveyors Rabindra Kumar Rana and Bikram Kumar Nayak, have found that the stone inscription is dated to 1526 CE (Saka Year 1448), coinciding with the reign of Suryavamsi Gajapati emperor Prataparudra Deva.
Deepak Kumar Nayak stated that the team located the stone panel within the premises of the Bhaskareswara Shiva Temple on the foothills of Undavalli.
Inscribed in Telugu script and using both Telugu and Sanskrit language, the epigraph records the construction of the temple dedicated to Bhaskareswara by four individuals – Pappisetti, Malisetti, Tippisetti, and Krishnamasetti of the Murukula Gotra during the reign of Gajapati Prataparudra Deva.
The inscription mentions the grant of a flower garden containing mango, vilva, amalaka and other trees, along with land grants for maintenance of daily worship at the Bhaskareswara Temple.
Although related primarily to a temple donation, the inscription bears immense importance with regard to the shared political history of the region, particularly because of its date February 26, 1526 CE.
According to several historical accounts, a treaty had earlier been concluded between the two powerful Hindu kingdoms of Vijayanagara and Kalinga following a fierce conflict that continued for nearly seven years.
The forces of the Vijayanagara Emperor Krishnadevaraya defeated the Kalingan army of the Gajapatis by around 1519 CE, after which a treaty had been established.
As per the agreement, territories south of River Krishna remained under the Vijayanagara Kingdom, while the regions north of the river would continue under the Kalinga rule.
However, the newly discovered inscription reveals that Gajapati Prataparudra Deva may not have continued to abide by the conditions of the treaty over time.
His presence in the Undavalli region, situated south of the River Krishna, along with the construction activity associated with the Bhaskareswara Temple, strongly indicated continued Kalingan influence in the area despite the treaty.
The inscription additionally confirms that King Prataparudra Deva had been undertaking an expedition into the Andhra Desha during the time.
Historical references indicate that during this expedition, Prataparudra Deva encountered the Muslim forces of Golkonda under Quli Qutb Shah.
According to Deepak Kumar Nayak, the presence of Prataparudra Deva south of the Krishna River during an active military expedition clearly demonstrates that he no longer adhered to the treaty concluded with Krishnadevaraya in 1519 CE.
The researcher further stated that the inscription provides important epigraphic evidence against the long-standing historical perception that Prataparudra Deva neglected state responsibilities under the influence of Sri Chaitanya’s Bhakti Movement, a claim that some historians link to the eventual decline of the Gajapati Empire.