Writings On 300-Year-Old Stone Inscription From Odisha’s Khurda Deciphered

Berhampur: Epigraphists have deciphered the writings on a stone inscription of over 300 years old found in Odisha’s Kurda district.

The inscription was found engraved on a stone panel over southern entrance to Mukhasala of Kedareswara Mahadev temple at Uparabasta village near Jatni town.

Epigraphists and members of Kalinga Epigraphical Research Society (KERS) have deciphered the 304-year-old stone inscription. They include Bishnu Mohan Adhikari, Bikram Kumar Nayak, Mihir Bahinipati and Deepak Kumar Nayak.

According to researcher Deepak Kumar Nayak, the writing in the inscription, which has significant historical importance, is in Odia language. Total four lines of writings have been engraved on the stone in Odia script. Of those, a few characters in the fourth line remain under colour plastering and are unreadable.

Adhikari said the kings mentioned in the inscription belonged to Bhoi dynasty of Khurda. “According to historian Kedarnath Mahapatra, who has given details on the ‘Anka’ year used by these kings, Kedareswara temple is 306 years old while its Mukhasala was built 2 years later. From this inscription, the structure and usage of Odia language can be traced to 300 years back,” he added.

As per the inscription, the temple was constructed by Madhusudana Samantarai in the 5th regnal year of Harekrushna Deva. Its Mukhasala was constructed by Madhu Harichandana in the 3rd regnal year of Gopinath Deva, said Nayak.

“The first line of the inscription reads ‘Shree Kedaraswara Debanka deula Harekrushna Deba”, second line “Anka pancha anke Bipra Madhusodana santara gadhaile”, third line “Sree Gopinatha Debanka teeni anke madhuharichine” and fourth line “Deula mukhasalini gadhi ka,” said Adhikari.