Vijayawada: An 855-years-old Telugu inscription has been lying neglected at Enikepadu, on the outskirts of Vijayawada city, since the past 50 years. The Telugu inscriptions on the pillar belong to the period between the 12th-15th century.
The inscriptions were made by Kulothunga Rajendra Choda, Velanati chief who ruled from Chandolu, near Bapatla in Guntur district, and Gajapati King Kumara Hamvira Deva Mahapatrulu, a Gajapati King at Enikepadu village, in the outskirts of Vijayawada city.
The inscription was rediscovered by Dr E. Sivanagi Reddy, CEO, The Cultural Centre of Vijayawada & Amaravati, during his survey as part of the scheme ‘Preserve Heritage for Posterity’.
It was found uncared on a street behind the Ramalayam of a village, at a distance of 5 metres from Eluru-Vijayawada National Highway.
The local people informed that the inscription was shifted to the roadside 50 years ago for construction of a marriage hall for the Rama temple.
After primary examination, Sivanagi Reddy said that the first part of the inscription records gifting of Venekepadu village to God Rajanarayana of Bezawada by Kulothunga Rajendra Choda in the year 1164 AD and below to it, is another inscription of Kumara Hamvira Deva Mahapatrulu, son of Kapileswara Gajapati, the founder of Gajapati dynasty of Odisha, that records gifting of the same village for temple services and Kesarapalli (Kesaripadu) village towards the salaries (‘Jitavarthanas’) of the temple servants such as Sthalakaranams, village Karanam, Natyacharya, musicians and priests.
This Telugu inscription dated to 1470 AD refers to Bezawada, the then name of Vijayawada and Venekepadu, present-day Enikepadu. Dr. Reddy has appealed to protect the inscriptions.
