Rare 14th century inscription found in Jeppu Bappal

Rare 14th century inscription found in Jeppu Bappal

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Feb 9: A rare 14th century rock inscription was discovered near a house belonging to V. Malathi Kurup of Shanthinagar in Jeppu Bappal. Around 4-ft in height, this stone inscription is in Kannada and the script can be found on both sides of the column. In all, there are 53 lines of writing.

The words “nandi” and “shivalinga” has been carefully inscribed on this rectangular-shaped rock. The rear side bears a blurred image. Prof. T. Murugeshi, an archeology lecturer in MSRS College Shirva, and Prashanth Shetty, history lecturer at Milagres College Kallianpur, feel that it could be an image of Lord Ganesha. The inscription begins with the words “Swathi Shree” and is dated 1384 A.D.

The inscription is a record of the charitable deeds of Malagarsa, the son of Chowdarasa of Shree Mathu Vashista Gothra, a minister in the kingdom of Mangalore that existed back in the 14th century, and the donations given to Murari Bhat, the son of Mayi Deekshitha of Kashyapa gothra.

The inscription says that the charity was offered to Murari Bhat during the Ardhodaya Punnyakala, which Dr. Suresh Acharya, the principal of Sanskrit College Udupi says is an auspicious event of Amavasya on Sunday in the month of Pushya or Magha. He further explained that charity given on this day brings one crore times more blessings than charity offered on other days.

Although the inscription dates back to the time of the Vijayanagar Empire, it bears no details of the Vijayanagar dynasty.

Prof. Murugeshi also noted that the inscription is written in the “Ottelthu” script. The last letters of the word “chathusseme” are in “Grantha” script. The inscription also mentions Konaje, which is clearly written in Kannada. It also mentions the deity “Mailari,” which is usually worshipped in North Karnataka, thus suggesting that Mailari might also have been worshipped in DK.

The inscription also mentions Giri Ganga Hegde of Alanthi Mare and Koovalam and ends with the words “Mangala Maha  Shree Shree Shree Shree Shree.”

Prof. T. Murugeshi has expressed his gratitude to B. M. Rohini, who helped him reach the venue; Malathi V. Kurup, who allowed him to take the inscription to the college; Prof. Y. Bhasker and Dr. Y. N. Shetty, who helped him take the inscription to the college; and students who showed interest in the inscription.