MyrnaAcuna04: reworked page additionally and added references

2026-03-05T22:50:07Z

reworked page additionally and added references

2405:201:6002:F1DE:1068:CD16:DD43:ECCC: /* See also */

2024-03-30T08:19:35Z

>Sanjoydey33: /* Background */ the date has already been described in the lead, so misleading to specify only one century rather than a range

2021-06-24T04:53:37Z

Background: the date has already been described in the lead, so misleading to specify only one century rather than a range

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox artefact
| name = Hathigumpha inscription
| image = [[File:Hathigumpha inscription (2020).jpg|350px]]
| image_caption = Hathigumpha inscription on Udayagiri Hills, Bhubaneswar
| material = Stone inscription
| size = 400
| writing =
| created = 2nd century BCE-<br>1st century CE<ref name="TPV"/>
| discovered =
| location = [[Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves|Udayagiri Hills]], [[Bhubaneswar]]
| id =
| registration =
| map =
{{Location map|India Odisha#India
|width =
|float = center
|border =
|caption =
|alt =
|relief = yes
|AlternativeMap =
|overlay_image =
|label = Hathigumpha
|label_size =
|position = left
|background =
|mark =
|marksize =
|link =
|lat_deg = 20
|lat_min = 15
|lat_sec = 47
|lat_dir = N
|lon_deg = 85
|lon_min = 47
|lon_sec = 8
|lon_dir = E
}}
}}
{{Coord|20.263040|N|85.785634|E|display=title}}
[[File:Udayagiri_Caves_-_Hathi_Gumpha.jpg|thumb|300px|Entrance of the Hathigumpha cave, in the Udayagiri Hills, Bhubaneswar]]

The '''Hathigumpha Inscription''' ({{Trans|"Elephant Cave" inscription}}), from [[Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves|Udayagiri]], near [[Bhubaneswar]] in [[Odisha]], was inscribed by [[Kharavela]], the then Emperor of [[Kalinga (historical kingdom)|Kalinga]] in [[India]].{{Sfn|Krishan|1996|p=23}} 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<ref name="Alan_2003">{{cite book |author=Alain Daniélou |title=A Brief History of India |url=https://archive.org/details/briefhistoryofin00dani |url-access=registration |date=11 February 2003 |publisher=Inner Traditions / Bear & Co |isbn=978-1-59477-794-3 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/briefhistoryofin00dani/page/139 139]–141}}</ref> to the 1st century CE.<ref name="Sudhakar_1974"/><ref name="Rama_1942">{{cite book |author=Rama Shankar Tripathi |title=History of Ancient India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rOVpOG6MPMcC&pg=PA199 |year=1942 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0018-2 |pages=199–201 }}</ref> Paleographically, the inscription dates from mid-1st century BCE to early 1st century CE.<ref name="TPV">{{cite book |last1=Verma |first1=Thakur Prasad |title=The Palaeography Of Brahmi Script |date=1971 |page=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.130329/page/n95 86] |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.130329}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Shimada |first1=Akira |title=Early Buddhist Architecture in Context: The Great Stūpa at Amarāvatī (ca. 300 BCE-300 CE) |date=2012 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-23326-3 |page=57 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pfUyAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA57 |language=en}}</ref>

==Background==
The Hathigumpha Inscription is the main source of information about [[Kalinga (historical kingdom)|Kalinga]] ruler [[Kharavela]]. This inscription, consisting of seventeen lines has been incised in deep cut [[Brāhmī script|Brahmi]] script 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 (1837), 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.<ref name="asiatic_soc">{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/stream/annualaddressdel00hoeruoft/annualaddressdel00hoeruoft_djvu.txt | title=Full text of "Annual address delivered to the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Calcutta, 2nd February, 1898" | publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bengal]] | date=2 February 1898 | access-date=4 September 2014 | author=A. F. Rudolf Hoernlé | author-link=Rudolf Hoernlé }}</ref> 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]]:

{{quote|[[File:Hathigumpha inscription (2020) Satakani detail.jpg|thumb|left|100px|"[[Satakarni]]" in the inscription.]]"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}}

== Salient features ==
{{main|Kharavela#Reign}}
{{multiple image|perrow=2|total_width=400|caption_align=center
| align = right
| direction =horizontal
| header=Text of the Hathigumpha inscription
| image1 = Kharabela inscription, Hatigumpha, Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar.jpg
| caption1 = Hathigumpha inscription of King Khāravela at Udayagiri Hills as first drawn in ''"Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum'', Volume I: Inscriptions of Asoka by [[Alexander Cunningham]]", 1827
| image2 = Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela (translation).jpg
| caption2 = English translation.<ref>{{cite book |title=Epigraphia Indica Vol.20 |date=1920 |publisher=Achaeological Survey of India |page=[https://archive.org/details/epigrahiaindicav014769mbp/page/n112 86] |url=https://archive.org/details/epigrahiaindicav014769mbp |language=en}}</ref>
| footer=
}}
The Hathigumpha inscription starts with a version of the auspicious [[Jain]] [[Namokar Mantra]] venerating [[Arihant (Jainism)|Arihant]] and Siddhas for in [[Jainism]].<ref>{{cite book |title=EPIGRAHIA INDICA VOL 20 |date=1929 |publisher=MANAGER OF PUBLICATIONS, DELHI |page=[https://archive.org/details/epigrahiaindicav014769mbp/page/n112 86] |url=https://archive.org/details/epigrahiaindicav014769mbp |language=pt}}</ref>

The Hathigumpha Inscription mentions that:<ref>[http://www.sdstate.edu/projectsouthasia/upload/HathigumphaInscription.pdf Full text of the Hathigumpha Inscription in English] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232906/http://www.sdstate.edu/projectsouthasia/upload/HathigumphaInscription.pdf |date=3 March 2016 }}</ref>
[[File:Yavana warrior (proper left side), Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves.jpg|thumb|Possible statue of a [[Yavana]]/ [[Indo-Greek Kingdom|Indo-Greek]] warrior with boots and [[Chiton (costume)|chiton]], from the Rani Gumpha or "Cave of the Queen" in the [[Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves|Udayagiri Caves]] on the east coast of India, where the Hathigumpha inscription was also found. 2nd or 1st century BCE.<ref>"The taut posture and location at the entrance of the cave (Rani Gumpha) suggests that the male figure is a guard or [[dvarapala]]. The aggressive stance of the figure and its western dress (short kilt and boots) indicates that the sculpture may be that of a [[Yavana]], foreigner from the Graeco-Roman world." in Early Sculptural Art in the Indian Coastlands: A Study in Cultural Transmission and Syncretism (300 BCE-CE 500), by Sunil Gupta, D K Printworld (P) Limited, 2008, p.85</ref>]]
*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 dynasty|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 [[Rajgir|Rajagriha]] in [[Magadha]] and forced a [[Yavana]] king to retreat to [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]]:

{{Quote|"Then in the eighth year, ([[Kharavela]]) with a large army having sacked Goradhagiri causes pressure on Rajagaha ([[Rajgir|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."|Hathigumpha inscription, lines 7-8, probably in the 1st century BCE-1st century CE.<ref name="TPV"/> Original text is in Brahmi script.<ref>Translation in Epigraphia Indica 1920 [https://archive.org/details/epigrahiaindicav014769mbp p.87]</ref>}}

[[File:Hathigumpha inscription (2020) Yavana Dimita detail.jpg|thumb|center|upright=1.5|<center>Actual, fairly damaged portion, and the disputed reading 𑀫𑀥𑀼𑀭𑀁𑀅𑀧𑀬𑀢𑁄𑀬𑀯𑀦𑀭𑀸𑀚𑀸𑀤𑀺𑀫𑀺𑀢 "Madhuraṁ apayāto Yavana-rāj[ā] D[i]mi[ta]" ("The Yavana king Demetrius retreated to Mathura"). This reading is considered as "extremely doubtful".<ref name="TPV"/></center>]]

:The name of the Yavana king is not clear, but it contains three letters, and the middle letter can be read as ''ma'' or ''mi''.<ref name="PLGupta_1994"/> [[R. D. Banerji]] and [[K.P. Jayaswal]] read the name of the Yavana king as "Dimita", and identify him with [[Demetrius I of Bactria]]. However, according to [[Ramaprasad Chanda]], this identification results in "chronological impossibilities".<ref name="Sudhakar_1974">{{cite book |author=Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya |title=Some Early Dynasties of South India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=78I5lDHU2jQC&pg=PA20 |year=1974 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-2941-1 |pages=44–50 }}</ref> According to Sailendra Nath Sen, the Yavana ruler was certainly not Demerius; he might have been a later Indo-Greek ruler of eastern Punjab.<ref name="Sailendra_1999">{{cite book |author=Sailendra Nath Sen |title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wk4_ICH_g1EC&pg=PA176 |year=1999 |publisher=New Age International |isbn=978-81-224-1198-0 |pages=176–177 }}</ref> Numismatist P.L. Gupta interprets the name as "Vimaka", and identifies him with [[Vima Kadphises]].<ref name="PLGupta_1994">Kusâna Coins and History, D.K. Printworld, 1994, p.184, note 5; reprint of a 1985 article</ref> However, Vima Kadphises was a [[Kushana]], not Yavana, king. It is otherwise unknown for a Kushan emperor to have been referred to as a ''Yavana'', and for [[Vima Kadphises]] to be referred to as "Vimaka". Also, there are palaeographic problems with dating the Hathigumpha inscription to Vima Kadphises' period.
* In the 12th year of his reign, he attacked the king of [[Uttarapatha]]. Then brought back the holy idols of [[Kalinga (historical kingdom)|Kalinga]]'s Jain [[Tirthankar]]s, which earlier [[Magadha]]n rulers had carried away with them after [[Kalinga War]] in the past. Tirthankar's idol was brought back with its crown and endowment and the jewels plundered by king [[Nanda dynasty|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" (thought to be the Shunga King Brhaspatimitra, or [[Pushyamitra]] himself) bow at his feet.

==See also==
*[[Indian inscriptions]]

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
* Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XX (1929–30). Delhi: Manager of Publications, 1933.
* Sadananda Agrawal: Śrī Khāravela, Published by Sri Digambar Jain Samaj, Cuttack, 2000.
* {{Citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kDyJh--iaL0C|title=The Buddha Image: Its Origin and Development|first=Yuvraj|last=Krishan|date=1996|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|isbn=9788121505659|ref={{SfnRef|Krishan|1996}} }}
* {{citation |last=Singh |first=Upinder |author-link=Upinder Singh |title=A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Pq2iCwAAQBAJ |publisher=[[Pearson PLC]] |year=2016 |isbn=978-81-317-1677-9 |ref={{sfnref|Upinder Singh|2016}} }}

==External links==
*[https://archive.org/details/epigrahiaindicav014769mbp Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XX (1929–30). Delhi: Manager of Publications, Reprinted 1983.]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232906/http://www.sdstate.edu/projectsouthasia/upload/HathigumphaInscription.pdf Full text of the Hathigumpha inscription in English]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120523121146/http://gujaratisbs.webs.com/Abstracts%202010/Mr%20%20Gautam%20More.pdf Comparative study of the Inscriptions of Kharavela and Vasishithiputra Pulumavi]
*[http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Journal/journalvol3/pdf/9-10.pdf Palaeography, language and art of Hatigumpha inscription]

{{Jainism Topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hathigumpha Inscription}}
[[Category:Indian inscriptions]]
[[Category:History of Odisha]]
[[Category:Kalinga (India)]]
[[Category:150 BC]]
[[Category:Jain inscriptions]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:49, 30 March 2024
Line 89:		Line 89:
	==See also==		==See also==
	*[[Indian inscriptions]]		*[[Indian inscriptions]]
			*[[https://historyofodisha.in/the-hathigumpha-inscription-insights-into-the-reign-of-king-kharavela/]]

	==References==		==References==

Hathigumpha inscription - Revision history

MyrnaAcuna04: reworked page additionally and added references

2405:201:6002:F1DE:1068:CD16:DD43:ECCC: /* See also */

>Sanjoydey33: /* Background */ the date has already been described in the lead, so misleading to specify only one century rather than a range