11th Century Telugu-Kannada Inscription Found at Dundigal
Several marturu of land had been donated by the Mandalesvara for the purpose.
Hyderabad:An 11th century stone inscription was found in the premises of the Lakshmi Narayana Swamy temple in Dundigal village of Medchal district. The inscription is engraved on three sides of the pillar in 41 lines in ‘Telugannada’ script — a hybrid mix of Telugu and Kannada —and Kannada. In addition, the Moon, Sun, a Jain Tirthankara, and a cow with its calf are carved at the beginning of inscription.
The inscription found by one Narsagari Jagan has been sent to Sriramoju Haragopal, president of Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam, for study. According to the temple priest, the inscription pillar roughly broken in the middle was brought to the temple from a small tank in Dundigal.
Haragopal said the inscription records a donation made during the reign of Kalyani Chalukya emperor Tribhuvanamalla Deva (Vikramaditya VI, AD 1076–1126). The inscription stated that the king was camping at Kalyana-pura Nelavidu, when the donation was made, he said.
The inscription had been commissioned by a Mahamandalesvara, belonging to the Soma lineage, whose name is partly lost as the stone is broken. He is described with several titles of praise. The inscription also mentions the construction of a Jain basadi dedicated to the Jain Sasanadevata by a person named Nalama, described as resembling Sri Lalana (Sri Lakshmi), out of devotion to the feet of Jina.
Several marturu of land had been donated by the Mandalesvara for the purpose. One marturu is understood to be about one-and-a-half acres.
