Pics by Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RD/CN)
 
Mangalore, Feb 8: A rare tablet dating back to the 14th century was found in Jeppu – Bappal, here.  The tablet, positioned vertically, was found in the plot of an old house that belonged to V Malathi Kurup, a resident of Shantinagar, Jeppu – Ballal. 

“The tablet was inscribed in Kannada script.  The tablet has Nandi and Shiv ‘lingas’ carved on the top and on the back side is an unclear picture that was presumed to be of Ganapathi,” says Professor T Murugeshi, archaeology lecturer, MSRS College, Shirva, and Prakash Shetty, history lecturer of Milagres College, Kallianpur, Udupi.
 
The inscriptions shed light on Mangalore during the rule of the Chowdarasa dynasty and speak of a plot of land decreed to a certain Murari Bhat, son of Dixit, in 1384. 

The tablet is significant in exploring Tulunadu history of that era.  Although it was a tablet inscribed during Vijayanagar rule, it has no mention of this anywhere.  It’s also of much importance in studying the evolution of Kannada over the centuries.