Hathigumpha inscription
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The Hathigumpha inscription("Elephant Cave" inscription), from Udayagiri, near Bhubaneshwar in Orissa, was written by Kharavela, the king of Kalinga in India, during the 2nd century BCE. Hathigumpha inscription consists of seventeen lines incised in deep cut Brahmi letters on the overhanging brow of a natural cavern called Hathigumpha in the southern side of the Udayagiri hill near Bhubaneswar in Orissa. It faces straight towards the rock Edicts of Asoka at Dhauli situated at a distance of about six miles.
The inscription is written in a type which is considered as one of the most archaic forms of the Kalinga brahmi alphabet, also suggesting a date around 150 BCE.[1]
The inscription is dated to 165th year of the era of the Maurya kings, and the 13th year of Kharavela's reign, which, considering the coronation of Chandragupta in 321 BCE as the probable start of the era, makes a date of 157 BCE for the inscription, a date of 170 BCE for Kharavela's accession, and a date of 162 BCE for the conflict against the Yavana king Demetrius.[2]
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[edit] Background
Hathigumpha inscription at Udayagiri caves is the main source of information about Kalinga ruler Kharavela. This inscription, consisting of seventeen lines has been incised in deep cut Brahmi letters of the 1st Century BC on the overhanging brow of a natural cavern called Hathigumpha in the southern side of the Udayagiri hill. It faces straight towards the rock Edicts of Asoka at Dhauli situated at a distance of about six miles. The inscription was first noticed by A. Stirling in 1820 who published an eye copy of it in Asiatic Researches, XV, as well as in his book An Account, Geographical, Statistical and Historical of Orissa or Cuttack. Credit goes to James Prinsep who succeeded for the first time in deciphering the inscription and his reading along with the facsimile prepared by Kittoe was Published in the Journal of the Asiatic Society Bengal, VI (1837). But according to Prinsep the author of this inscription was the king named Aira. Towards the end of 1871 a plaster cast of the inscription was prepared by H. Locke which is now preserved in the Indian Museum, Calcutta. Alexander Cunningham published this inscription in 1877 in the Corpus Inscriptionum indicarrum Vol. I and in 1880 R.L. Mitra published a slightly modified version in his Antiquities of Orissa, Vol. II.
Bhagwan Lal indraji is credited with the first authentic reading which he presented before the Sixth International Congress of Orientalists, 1885 it is to be noted here that Pandit Indraji was the first scholar to declare that the king eulogised in the Hathigumpha inscription was named Kharavela. It is a fact that there is a large number of lacuna in the inscription, which obstruct its correct reading and because of its mutilated condition has given rise to unnecessary controversies. The inscription mainly mentions the various conquests of this king, starting with his fight against the Satavahana king Satakarni:
- "And in the second year (he), disregarding Satakamini, dispatches to the western regions an army strong in cavalry, elephants, infantry (nara) and chariots (ratha) and by that army having reached the Kanha-bemna, he throws the city of the Musikas into consternation." Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XX
The inscription then mentions that Kharavela forced the Indo-Greek (Yavana) king Demetrius to retreat from Rajgir, about 70 km (50 miles) southeast of Pataliputra, to the area of Mathura:
- "Then in the eighth year, (he) with a large army having sacked Goradhagiri causes pressure on Rajagaha (Rajagriha). On account of the loud report of this act of valour, the Yavana (Greek) King Dimi[ta] retreated to Mathura having extricated his demoralized army and transport." Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XX
[edit] Salient features
The Hathigumpha inscription mentions that:[3]
- In the very first year of his coronation ( His Majesty) caused to be repaired the gate, rampart and structures of the fort of Kalinga Nagari, which had been damaged by storm, and caused to be built flight of steps for the cool tanks and laid all gardens at the cost of thirty five hundred thousand (coins) and thus pleased all his subjects.
- In the second year, without caring for Satakarni [His Majesty] sent to the west a large army consisting of horse, elephant, infantry and chariot, and struck terror to Asikanagara with that troop that marched up to the river Kanhavemna.
- Then in the fourth year, (His Majesty] .... the Vidhadhara tract, that had been established by the former kings of Kalinga and had never been crossed before. The Rathika and Bhojaka chiefs with their crown cast off, their umbrella and royal insignia thrown aside, and their Jewelry and wealth confiscated, were, made to pay obeisance at the feet [of His Majesty).
- And in the fifth year, [His Majesty] caused the aqueducts that had been excavated by king Nanda three hundred years before , to flow into [Kalinga] Nagri through Tanasuli.
- And in the seventh year of his reign [ the Queen] of Vajiraghara, blessed with a son attained motherhood.
- In the 8th year of his reign, he attacked Rajagriha in Magadha and forced the Indo-Greek king Demetrius (described as the Yavana king ("Yavana-raja") named Dimi{ta}) to retreat to Mathura.
- In the 12th year of his reign, he attacked the king of Uttarapatha. Then brought back the image of Kalinga Jina with its thrown and endowment that had been taken away by king Nanda and the jewels plundered by him (King Nanda) from the Kalinga royal palace, along with the treasures of Anga and Magadha.
- He then attacks the kingdom of Magadha, and in Pataliputra, the capital of the Sunga, makes king "Bahasatimita" (thought to be a Sunga king Brhaspatimitra, or Pusyamitra himself) bow at his feet.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Source
- ^ Rapson, "Catalogue of the Indian coins of the British Museum. Andhras etc...", p XVII.
- ^ Full text of the Hathigumpha inscription in English
[edit] References
- Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XX (1929-30). Delhi: Manager of Publications, 1933.
- Sadananda Agrawal: Śrī Khāravela, Published by Sri Digambar Jain Samaj, Cuttack, 2000.
- Kishori Lal Faujdar: Jat Samaj Monthly Magazine, Agra, January/February (2001) page-6.
