Karnataka: Vijayanagar era inscription found

Udupi: Renovation of a temple in Haravari , Kundapur taluk, Udupi district threw up a surprise recently. The clearing of dust and grime from its walls brought to light an inscription, which historians now believe dates back to the Vijayanagara era.

While to their dismay about 20 lines of the inscription that give details like the period it belongs to are worn out, historian, Prof T Murugeshi and his team have used its other features to conclude that it dates back to  the Vijayanagara period.

"The top of the inscription is designed in the style of an apsidal with the sun, moon, a shivalinga, a 'prabhavali' ,a lamp-post and a dagger. The inscription in Kannada is very beautiful. As the upper portion of the inscription is completely worn out you can only read 12 lines, which talk about a land in Haravari donated to the Mahajanas of Devarayapura for the health of one Timmanna Gururaya," says prof. Murugeshi, admitting that with no other details, it was difficult to date the inscription.

"Also the names mentioned were vague, but the shivalinga with 'prabhavali,' and the calligraphy are typical of  the Vijayanagara style. And Timmanna Gururaya mentioned in the inscription may have been the Prime Minister who was instrumental in Vijaynagara king, Krishnadevaraya's coronation. The place, Devarayapura which is mentioned in the inscription is a part of present  day Sringeri. We have reference to it in other inscriptions too,"  he explains

In the historian's view, the land grant referred to in the inscription may have been made by Krishnadevaraya for the heath of his Prime Minister, making it of  historical importance.