Early inscription discovered at Mangodu temple in Udupi

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi: July 21, 2015: An early Kannada inscription of great historical importance has been discovered at Mongodu Subrahmanya temple, near Kutpadi in Udupi. The epigraph is inscribed on an igneous rock found on St Mary’s Island. The early Alupa rulers widely used this stone for their inscriptions.

 

Explaining about the inscription, Professor T Murugeshi, associate professor, Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, Mulky Sunder Ram Shetty College, Shirva (Udupi district), said the inscription begins with a simple word ’Swasthisri’.
The inscription is said to describe how the servant of Navra, Pala Achiya, stabbed Svetavahana while forcibly entering Udayapura, and burnt his body and fell while fighting to attain heaven.

The inscription is written in old Kannada script and language. It is said to belong to early 9th century AD. The inscription is written in eight lines, but, the seventh line is completely worn out.

The epigraph introduces two personalities hitherto unknown to history, such as Navra, a ruler and Pala Achiya, his servant. The inscription not only records the valiant fighting and death of Pala Achiya but records the end of Svetavahana’s rule which was unknown before.

"The record is also very useful for understanding the antiquity of Mongodu Subrahmanya temple. With the help of this record, we can safely say the temple dates back to early 9th century AD. We visited the temple on July 5, on the request of AM Hegde, Kutpadi, one of the temple trustees. Archaeology students Sangeetha, Lohith and Anil have also assisted in the project.

"Dr Rajashekharappa of Chitradurga has provided useful suggestions in the study of this epigraph," said Murugeshi.