Media Release
Udupi, Mar 27: On March 20 at Hiriadka-Pelatturu Srimahalingeshvara temple premises, here, two rare Tulu script inscriptions were deciphered. History researcher, Dr Pundikayi Ganapayya Bhat who explored the news and directed Prachya Sanchaya (Oriental Archives) Samshodhan Kendra (a unit of NTC-AOM-Udupi) to study it.
Prof S A Krishnaiah (director of studies in history; ICH fellow of Ministry of Culture) and archeology researcher, Subhas Nayak Bantakal both unearthed the stone inscriptions.
According to the inscriptional text readings, Prof S A Krishnaiah, Subhas Nayak and Tulu script expert Dr Radhakrishna Bellur – Kasargod cross-checked the readings. Their observations were: Pelatturu inscription seems Old Tulu letters which emerged between the 8th and 9th centuries. But Subhas Nayak’s said that the language part of the inscription dated back to the 12th or 13th century.
The inscription reveals certain guidelines by the village ruler which were relevant orders and inform that somebody was killed in a fight, in the end, a cursing motif is given.
The inscription revealed that the regional ruler (administrator) named Urapana on the other hand 'Urupana' administrative associate ruler's name has been inscribed in the first copper plate Kannada inscription of Belmannu which dates back to circa 850 AD during the reign of Alupa II dynasty.
The earliest copper plate inscription in Kannada is known as 'Belmannu' records, dated circa in the middle of the 8th century. (Dr Paduru Gururaja Bhat, an eminent historian discovered it in 1973). ‘Urupana' also appeared in the Pelattur inscription, the name issue is debatable among the scholars, which is worth to conclude a historical dating confined only after the academic decision.
Prof S A Krishnaiah says that Pelattur two inscriptions are marked: Series number OI-46th and OI-47th are in Old Tulu script. Still, few people argue that Tulu does not have a script. Prachya Sanchaya proved having an in-depth study of available inscriptions and till now more than 50 epigraphically records are available in coastal Karnataka and the Kerala belt.
The twenty-seven lined text inscribed on one side in Tulu script and Tulu language and the back portion of the stone highlights carvings used as 'Paani-Piitha Thirtha Naala' (a foundation seat to place the God Mahalingeshvara).
The second inscription was inscribed in the Tulu script and used old Kannada. It has been broken into three pieces. It was unearthed, re-assembled and estampaged perfectly.
A team led by Prof S A Krishnaiah and Subhas Nayak worked to safeguard the historical stone records. On the spot, Ramesh Nayak (president of the Srimahalingeshvar temple) and local coordinator Shivananda Prabhu extended their support and promised to preserve these inscriptions in the temple yard.
Oriental archives (Prachya Sanchaya) center team explored, re-studied and documented all the Tulu and Kannada documents (stone, palm-leaf manuscripts, copper plate inscriptions, paper records) which are said to be intangible. Scientifically, the study has been done without the help of the government or the universities or academy forums as they are waiting and seeing how best the Karnataka government will support the 'Prachya Sanchaya Research Center'.
Chronologically the database of Tulu script records lists as follows:
Tulu Lipi (script) Tulu inscriptions - 20 (AD 10th century to 16th century)
Tulu Lipi (script) Kannada inscriptions - 18 (AD 12th century to 16th century)
Tulu Lipi (script) Sanskrit inscriptions - 3 (AD 14th century to 19th century)
Tulu Lipi (script) very much damaged inscriptions - 6
Overall Tulu Lipi (script) inscriptions - 47
The script oriented paleographic sources have abundantly lost many palm-leaf manuscripts. Paper manuscripts that have been lost or have disappeared suggest they lack conservatory knowledge and infrastructure. Some archives or universities, religious institutes, individual collectors have abundant collections, but yet fail to provide quality maintenance, conditioned temperature to shelves or archives section. Already, many manuscripts have slipped over and are repairable losses. It is a man-made disaster and ignorance of the management too.
Prof S A Krishnaiah who started the work on conservation of historical documents uses folklore genre as applied science to reconstruct the total history. He began 'Prachya Sanchaya' (Oriental Achieves) in the name of 'National Trust for Computation and Archival of Oriental Media' (NTC-AOM). Now, this institute is guided by Indrali Jayakar Shetty (Tulu Culture Activist) and the working team consists of Archeology researcher Subhas Nayak Shirva, and Dr Radhakrishna Bellur-Kasargod, (Tulu script expert) Musica Supriya (MAHE Computer Science Assistant Professor), Prof U C Niranjan (vice-president) and Sridhabhat Kalliyanpur (retired History teacher), Shobha Karnanik, Bengaluru, (engineer and Kaavi artist), Rukmini Hande (Hon director for Kanaka Kanaja) and Prof Meti Mudiyappa (writer), many historians of the state guiding the activities. The work carried out is very laudable as it is for the noble cause of conservation and preserving the intangible historical records before they fade away.