Minor Inscriptions of Kharavela

Khandagiri caves

Besides the celebrated Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela, there are several minor Brahmi inscriptions in the twin hills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, which were deciphered earlier by Prof. R. D. Banerji during the years 1915–16 (Epigraphic Indica – XIII) and B. M Barua (Indian Historical Quarterly-XIV). These minor inscriptions throw light on the reign and kingdom of Kharavela. Sadananda Agrawal, historian, has given further clarifications about them, which are produced as under:

Inscriptions

I- Mancapuri cave inscription (Upper storey)

This inscription is engraved on the raised space between the second and third doorways of the cave at Mancapuri. The text in Devanagari script is as under:

L.1- अरहंत पसादाय कलिंगानं समनानं लेनं कारितं राजिनो ललाकस

L.2- हथिसिहस पपोतस धुतुना कलिंग चकवतिनो सिरिखारवेलस

L.3- अगमहिसिना कारितं

Translation: By the blessings of Arihants (Tirthankar), the chief queen of Kharavela, the Chakravarti monarch of Kalinga, the great granddaughter of Hathisiha (Hasti Simha) and the daughter of Lalāka or Lalārka, caused to be constructed the caves for the sramanas of Kalinga.

II- Mancapuri cave inscription (Upper storey)-A

This inscription is incised on a raised bend between the 3rd and 4th doorways from the left and contains single line. The text in Devanagari script is as under:

ऐरस महाराजस कलिंगाधिपतिना महामेघवाहनस कुदेपसिरिनो लेणं

Translation: This is the cave of Aira Mahameghavahana Maharaja Kudepasiri, the overlord of Kalinga, where, Kudepasiri is considered to be the immediate successor of Kharavela.

III-Manchapuri cave inscription 'B' (Lower storey)

This inscription has been engraved on the right wall of veranda, to the right of the entrance to the right-hand side chamber of the main wing, consisting of one line.
The text in Devanagari script is as under:

कुमारो वडुखस लेणं (IAST: kumāro vadukhas lenam)

Translation: (This is) the cave of Prince Vaḍukha.

Note: On paleographic grounds, Prof. R. D. Banerjee considered this inscription to pre-date the inscription of King Kudepasiri. According to Sadananda Agrawal, Prince Badukha stands an obscure figure in history, but Badukha seems to be the son or brother of Kudepasiri.

IV- Inscriptions in the Sarpagumpha

This inscription consisting of one line, is incised over the doorway of the Sarpagumpha. The text in Devanagari script is as under:

चूलकमस कोठाजेया च (IAST: cūlakamas koţhājeyā ca)

Translation: The chamber and veranda/or side chamber of cūlakama. However, Dr. Sahu has interpreted Ajeya being united by a Sandhi qualifying Koṭha there by denoting invincible.

V- Inscription in the Sarpagumpha

The text of the engravings at the left of the doorway in Devanagari script is as under:

L.1- कंमस हलखि

L.2- णय च पसादो

Translation: [The pavilion is the] gift of Kamma and Halakhina.

It has been claimed that Halakhina was the wife of Kamma. Chūlakamma – found in the inscription No. IV and Kamma of this record indicate official designations rather than the proper names. Kamma may be taken as minister of works (Karma sachiva) and Cūlakamma appears to be a junior cadre of minister in the Department of works.

VI- Haridas Cave inscription

This inscription contains one line has been incised over one of the three entrances to the main chamber of the cave from the veranda. The text in Devanagari script is as under:
चूलकमस पसातो कोठाजेया च (IAST: cūlakamas pasāto koţhājeyā ca)
Translation: The chamber and veranda (or side chamber) are the gift of cūlakama.

VII- Vyāghragumphā Inscription

The record is incised on the outer wall of the inner chamber. The text in Devanagari script is as under:

L.1- नगर अखंदस

L.2- स भूतिनो लेणं

Translation: This is the cave of Bhūti, the city judge.

VIII- Jambesavara cave inscription

This inscription has been engraved over the entrances to the inner chamber of the cave. The text in Devanagari script is as under:

महादस बरयाय नकियस लेनं

Translation: The cave of Mahamāda Nākiya and Bāriyā.

X- Tatowāgumphā inscription (Cave No −1)

The record of this inscription is incised over one of the entrances to the inner chamber. The text in Sanskrit reads as:

पादमुलिकस कुसुमस लेणं x [।।] (IAST: pādamulikas kusumas lenam x)

Translation: The cave of Kusuma, the padamulika.

There is a syllable after the word lenam, which may be read as ni or phi,. padamulika literally means, one who serves at the feet [of king].

XI- Ananta Gumpha inscription (A)

The record is incised on the architrave between the left ante and the fifth pillar. The text in Devanagari script is as under:

दोहद समणनं लेणं

Translation: The cave of the Dohada Śramanas.

References

Agrawal, Sadananda: Śrī Khāravela, (2000) Sri Digambar Jain Samaj, Cuttack.
Shashi Kant (2000): The Hathigumpha Inscription of Kharavela and the Bhabru Edict of Ashoka, D K Printworld Pvt. Ltd.
Mahajan, Dr. Malati (2003): Orissa : From Place Names in Inscriptions C. 260 BC – 1200 AD (Cultural and Historical Geography), Sundeep Prakashan.

Middle kingdoms of India
Timeline and cultural period	Northwestern India (Punjab-Sapta Sindhu)	Indo-Gangetic Plain			Central India	Southern India
Timeline and cultural period	Northwestern India (Punjab-Sapta Sindhu)	Western Gangetic Plain (Kuru-Panchala)	Northern India (Central Gangetic Plain)	Northeastern India (Northeast India)	Central India	Southern India
IRON AGE
Culture	Late Vedic Period	Late Vedic Period (Brahmin ideology)^{[lower-alpha 1]} Painted Grey Ware culture	Late Vedic Period (Kshatriya/Shramanic culture)^{[lower-alpha 2]} Northern Black Polished Ware		Pre-history
6th century BC	Gandhara	Kuru-Panchala	Magadha		Adivasi (tribes)
Culture	Persian-Greek influences	"Second Urbanisation" Rise of Shramana movements Jainism - Buddhism - Ājīvika - Yoga			Pre-history
5th century BC	(Persian rule)		Shishunaga dynasty		Adivasi (tribes)
4th century BC	(Greek conquests)		Nanda empire Kalinga		Adivasi (tribes)
HISTORICAL AGE
Culture	Spread of Buddhism				Pre-history	Sangam period (300 BC – 200 AD)
3rd century BC	Maurya Empire					Early Cholas Early Pandyan Kingdom Satavahana dynasty Cheras 46 other small kingdoms in Ancient Thamizhagam
Culture	Preclassical Hinduism^{[lower-alpha 3]} - "Hindu Synthesis"^{[lower-alpha 4]} (ca. 200 BC - 300 AD)^{[lower-alpha 5]}^{[lower-alpha 6]} Epics - Puranas - Ramayana - Mahabharata - Bhagavad Gita - Brahma Sutras - Smarta Tradition Mahayana Buddhism					Sangam period (continued) (300 BC – 200 AD)
2nd century BC	Indo-Greek Kingdom		Shunga Empire		Adivasi (tribes)	Early Cholas Early Pandyan Kingdom Satavahana dynasty Cheras 46 other small kingdoms in Ancient Thamizhagam
1st century BC		Yona	Maha-Meghavahana Dynasty
1st century AD		Indo-Scythians Indo-Parthians	Kuninda Kingdom
2nd century		Pahlava		Varman dynasty
3rd century		Kushan Empire	Western Satraps	Kamarupa kingdom		Kalabhras dynasty Pandyan Kingdom(Under Kalabhras)
Culture	"Golden Age of Hinduism"(ca. AD 320-650)^{[lower-alpha 7]} Puranas Co-existence of Hinduism and Buddhism
4th century	Gupta Empire					Kalabhras dynasty Pandyan Kingdom(Under Kalabhras) Kadamba Dynasty Western Ganga Dynasty
5th century			Maitraka		Adivasi (tribes)	Kalabhras dynasty Pandyan Kingdom(Under Kalabhras) Vishnukundina
6th century					Adivasi (tribes)	Kalabhras dynasty Pandyan Kingdom(Under Kalabhras)
Culture	Late-Classical Hinduism (ca. AD 650-1100)^{[lower-alpha 8]} Advaita Vedanta - Tantra Decline of Buddhism in India
7th century	Indo-Sassanids		Vakataka dynasty Empire of Harsha	Mlechchha dynasty	Adivasi (tribes)	Pandyan Kingdom(Under Kalabhras) Pandyan Kingdom(Revival) Pallava
8th century		Kidarite Kingdom				Pandyan Kingdom Kalachuri
9th century	Indo-Hephthalites (Huna)		Gurjara-Pratihara			Pandyan Kingdom Medieval Cholas Pandyan Kingdom(Under Cholas) Chalukya Chera Perumals of Makkotai
10th century				Pala dynasty Kamboja-Pala dynasty		Medieval Cholas Pandyan Kingdom(Under Cholas) Chera Perumals of Makkotai Rashtrakuta
References and sources for table References ↑ Samuel ↑ Samuel ↑ Michaels (2004) p.39 ↑ Hiltebeitel (2002) ↑ Michaels (2004) p.39 ↑ Hiltebeitel (2002) ↑ Micheals (2004) p.40 ↑ Michaels (2004) p.41 Sources Flood, Gavin D. (1996), An Introduction to Hinduism, Cambridge University Press Hiltebeitel, Alf (2002), Hinduism. In: Joseph Kitagawa, "The Religious Traditions of Asia: Religion, History, and Culture", Routledge Michaels, Axel (2004), Hinduism. Past and present, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press Samuel, Geoffrey (2010), The Origins of Yoga and Tantra. Indic Religions to the Thirteenth Century, Cambridge University Press

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