Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Feb 14: Stone edict dating back to the era of King Deva Raya II of Vijayanagara was found at Kalavar in the taluk.  It was found during the visit to Lord Mahalingeshwara and Kalinga temple at Kalavar by the head of the department of history and archeology of Sundar Ram Shetty College, prof T Murugeshi and students of BA archeology course of his college.

There are two edicts placed  in the space between the  perambulatory path  around the sanctum sanctorum. Two  edicts are found on the left and right hand side of the entry to this space. The edict now referred is on the right side. It is 1.37 metres tall and 0.61 metres wide. In a band carved atop the edict that is shaped like a horse shoe, pictures of sun and moon are carved with the Shiva Lingam in the middle. Around this Lingam, an aureole has been crafted which is also shaped like the Lingam. On the right of the Lingam, the picture of the cow's face mounted over the pedestal with a cow seated in front can be seen. On the left of the Lingam, a lamppost is located and dagger is carved by the side to show that it was issued by the king.

The edict is in Kannada and claims itself to be issued during the rule of King Deva Raya II of Vijayanagara. The edict begins with eulogies hailing Lord Ganapati and Saraswati apart from hymns praising Lord Shiva. It says that it was written by a person named Anappa Senabova. It provides names like Tirumale, Saladi (current day Salvady), Kandaura (present Kandavara), Edahady etc.

The edict is dated in terms of Hindu calendar which is equivalent to 23.10.1438. The edict which introduces the king with various titles, says that Chadarasa Odeya was governing Barkur state on behalf of the king. Two officers of the king, Tirumale Bhandary Nayaka, and Duggana Nayak from Kalavar have been named therein.

Temple priest, Satyanarayana Puranik K, managing committee president, Raviraj N Shetty, and others cooperated with the visiting professor and students in studying the edict.