16th Century Kannada inscriptions found
Writings record the donations to the Mallikarjuna Swamy temple
Archaeologists along with epigraphists, on Tuesday discovered two new Kannada inscriptions at Srisilam temple town in Kurnool district.
The two inscriptions are engraved on the outcrop rocks located towards the north-eastern corner of Mallikarjuna temple next to Karivena Annadana Satram.
The inscriptions date back to the 14th and 16th Centuries and are pertaining to records of certain donations made to the Mallikarjuna Swamy temple.
According to archaeologist and historian Mr E. Sivanagi Reddy, the epigraphist Chandrashekara Reddy confirmed it as a fresh discovery.
Dr Chandrasekhara Reddy, the author of the book ‘Srisilam temple Inscriptions Volume- I’ said that these two inscriptions were new and that they had not been reported or published so far.
Mr Sivanagi Reddy who is also a consultant archaeological sthapati for the restoration and conservation of panchamathas at Srisilam, while supervising the works chanced upon the two Kannada inscriptions engraved on the rocks.
When contacted, Dr K. Muniratnam Reddy, director, epigraphy Archaeological Survey of India, Mysore, said, “I have received photographs of the Kannada inscriptions and preliminary examinations reveal that the characters are of the 16th century. They need a detailed study to understand their contents and their historical significance.”
One of the inscriptions reads, ‘Sankara Vasiyanu, Samastha Rachidara, Ganacharanam Tavadeyaru Bita bidaru’ in the Kannada language.
The inscriptions were found on the rocks of the ancient stone quarries of the 16th century AD, from where the stones for the huge Prakara wall of the Mallikarjuna Temple were extracted.
Historians have appealed to the AP state department of archaeology and museums to take estampages of inscriptions and decipher the script to know the details of the donors and gifts made to the temple.
He also asked experts from the department of History, epigraphy and archaeology of Telugu University Srisailam campus to investigate further.
NEW FINDINGS: The inscriptions were found on the rocks of the ancient stone quarries of the 16th Century AD, from where the stones for the huge Prakara wall of the Mallikarjuna temple were extracted.