11th-Century Kalyani Chalukya Inscription Identified at Nandivanaparti in Ranga Reddy

Dr C.V. Pavan Kumar, a research member of the Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam and a professor at Government Degree College, Ibrahimpatnam, has identified an 11th-century Kalyani Chalukya inscription on the premises of the Siddheshwara Temple at Nandivanaparti in Ranga Reddy district. The inscription records a historical donation and references Kalyani Chalukya emperor Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI and his capital, Kalyana.

Dr Pavan Kumar was assisted in the discovery by Sri Sriramoju Haragopal, president of the History Group, who aided in taking an estampage of the stone slab and deciphering the historical script.

According to the researchers, the inscription slab was initially visible from only one side. When the inscription pillar was turned over, the team uncovered the beginning portion of the inscription on the other side. The lower portion of the inscription pillar is broken on one side.

The inscription is composed in the Kannada language using the 11th-century Telugu-Kannada script. The top portion of the stone features half-sculptures depicting the Moon, the Sun, Nandi, a Shiva Linga, a sword beneath a cow, and elephants.

The first side of the pillar contains the prasasti, or eulogy, of emperor Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI and mentions the imperial capital of Kalyana.

The second side of the stone comprises 20 lines of inscription. This section details a donation made in Shaka year 998, on Chaitra Shuddha 12, a Friday, which corresponds to April 7, 1077 CE. The historical donation was made by Tribhuvanamalla’s Mahamandaleshvara, named Mogata Rasara, to Iinjakeshvara.

The excavation and documentation work involved local support. G. Shivakumar and K. Shivarani, students of Government Degree College, Ibrahimpatnam, along with Nandivanaparti residents Shiva and Jagan, extended their cooperation to the researchers in excavating the inscription pillar and preparing the estampage.