https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Umachal_rock_inscriptionUmachal rock inscription - Revision history2026-11-05T07:39:31ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Umachal_rock_inscription&diff=542491&oldid=prevPalaekarikula kshatriyan: Started a stub and citations - done2025-09-16T13:50:37Z<p>Started a stub and citations - done</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|5th-century rock inscription in Assam}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2017}}<br />
The '''Umachal rock inscription''' is one of the earliest epigraphic sources discovered in [[Assam]]. Dated to the 5th century, the rock description was discovered in the north-eastern slopes of the Nilachal Hills (called Umachal), near [[Guwahati]] city.<ref>The rock inscription came into view when an old banyan tree was uprooted. {{harv|Sircar|1971|p=79}} The first report on the artifact was published by R. M. Nath {{harv|Sharma|1978|p=1}}</ref> The artifact is dated primarily on the basis of the identification of the named Surendravarman with [[Mahendravarman (Varman dynasty)|Mahendravarman]] (fl. c. 470–494) of the [[Varman dynasty]].<ref>"...in ancient India, kings were sometimes mentioned by the synonyms of their names, Surendravarman may tentatively be identified with Mahendravarman...Surendra and Mahendra both indicate Indra." {{harv|Sircar|1971|p=81}}</ref> The script is in the Nagari variety of the [[Gupta script]] and the language is [[Sanskrit]] prose.<ref>{{harv|Sharma|1978|p=3}}</ref> Though the Nilachal Hills is known for the [[Kamakhya Temple]], a ''shakta/tantra'' site, this temple was for [[Balabhadra]], a god of the Vaishnavite pantheon.<ref>"...It is, however, more likely that ''Bhagavata'' Balabhadrasvamin of the present inscription is no other than the Vaishnavite deity variously called Balabhadra, Baladeva, Balarama, Sankarsana etc." {{harv|Sircar|1971|p=81}}</ref><br />
[[File:Umachal_Rock_Inscription.png|thumb|right|The Umachal rock inscription]]<br />
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Another inscription, the [[Nagajari-Khanikargaon rock inscription]], though undated, is sometimes claimed, on stylistic grounds, as the earliest.<br />
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==Text==<br />
<poem><br />
''mahārājādhirāja-śrī''<br />
''surendravarmmaṇā-kr̥tma''<br />
''bhagavataḥ-valabhadra''<br />
''svmināya-idaṁ-guhaṁ'' <br />
</poem><br />
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===Translation===<br />
"This cave (-temple) of the illustrious Lord Balabhadra has been constructed by Maharajadhiraja Sri Surendra Varman."<ref>{{harv|Sharma|1978|p=2}}</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
*[[Umachal rock cave]]<br />
*[[Kamarupa inscriptions]]<br />
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==Notes==<br />
{{reflist|2}}<br />
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==References==<br />
{{refbegin}}<br />
* {{cite book |last= Sharma<br />
|first=Mukunda Madhava<br />
|title=Inscriptions of Ancient Assam<br />
|publisher=[[Gauhati University]]<br />
|year=1978<br />
|location=Guwahati, Assam}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Sircar |first=D. C. |title=Studies In The Religious Life Of Ancient And Medieval India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mh1y1eMgGBMC |access-date=17 February 2013 |year=1971 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |location=Delhi |isbn=9788120827905 }}<br />
{{refend}}<br />
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[[Category:Kamarupa inscriptions]]<br />
[[Category:Sanskrit inscriptions in India]]<br />
[[Category:History of Guwahati]]<br />
[[Category:5th-century inscriptions]]</div>Palaekarikula kshatriyan