The Hathigumpha Inscription, from Udayagiri, near Bhubaneswar in Odisha, was inscribed by Kharavela, the then Emperor of Kalinga in India. The Hathigumpha Inscription consists of seventeen lines in a Central-Western form of Prakrit incised in a deep-cut Brahmi script on the overhanging brow of a natural cavern called Hathigumpha in the southern side of the Udayagiri hill, near Bhubaneswar in Odisha. It faces straight towards the Rock Edicts of Ashoka at Dhauli, situated at a distance of about six miles. It is said to be one of the earliest biographical sketches of a king in India. The inscription is dated 13th year of Kharavela's reign, which has been dated variously by scholars from the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century CE. Paleographically, the inscription dates from mid-1st century BCE to early 1st century CE.
Background
The Hathigumpha Inscription is the main source of information about Kalinga ruler Kharavela. This inscription, consisting of seventeen lines has been incised in deep cut Brahmi script of the 1st century CE, 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 Ashoka at Dhauli situated at a distance of about six miles. It was introduced to the Western world 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 and by James Prinsep, who deciphered the inscription. Prinsep's reading along with the facsimile prepared by Kittoe was Published in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, VI, where he erroneously attributed this inscription to a 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 Indicarum 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. 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:
Salient features
The Hathigumpha inscription starts with a version of the auspicious JainNamokar Mantra venerating Arihant and Siddhas for in Jainism. The Hathigumpha Inscription mentions that: / Indo-Greek warrior with boots and chiton, from the Rani Gumpha or "Cave of the Queen" in the Udayagiri Caves on the east coast of India, where the Hathigumpha inscription was also found. 2nd or 1st century BCE.
In the very first year of his coronation 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 and thus pleased all his subjects.
In the second year, without caring for Satakarni 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, .... 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.
And in the fifth year, caused the aqueducts that had been excavated by king Nandathree hundred years before, to flow into Nagri through Tanasuli.
And in the seventh year of his reign of Vajiraghara, blessed with a son attained motherhood.
In the 8th year of his reign, he attacked Rajagriha in Magadha and forced a Yavana king to retreat to Mathura:
Actual, fairly damaged portion, and the disputed reading ?????????????????????? "Madhuraṁ apayāto Yavana-rāj Dmi". This reading is considered as "extremely doubtful".
In the 12th year of his reign, he attacked the king ofUttarapatha. Then brought back the holy idols of Kalinga's Jain Gods which earlier Magadha rulers had carried away with them after Kalinga War in Past. Tirthankar's idol was brought back with its crown and endowment and the jewels plundered by king Nanda from the Kalinga royal palace, along with the treasures of Anga and Magadha were regained.
He then attacks the kingdom of Magadha, and in Pataliputra, the capital of the Shunga Empire, makes king "Bahasatimita" bow at his feet.
