Hathigumpha inscription

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Hathigumpha inscription. From the Archaeological Survey of India Collections, taken by William Henry Cornish in c.1892.
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Hathigumpha inscription. From the Archaeological Survey of India Collections, taken by William Henry Cornish in c.1892.

The Hathigumpha inscription("Elephant Cave" inscription), from Udayagiri, near Bhubaneshwar in Orissa, was written by Kharavela, the king of Kalinga in India, during the 2nd century BCE.

The inscription mainly mentions the various conquests of this king, strating with his fight against the Satavahana king Satakarni:

"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

The inscription then mentions that Kharavela forced the Indo-Greek (Yavana) king Demetrius to retreat from Rajgir, about 70 km (50 miles) southeast of Pataliputra, to the area of Mathura:

"Then in the eighth year, (he) with a large army having sacked Goradhagiri causes pressure on Rajagaha (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 and transport." Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XX

[edit] References

  • Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XX (1929-30). Delhi: Manager of Publications, 1933.

[edit] External links

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