By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: A significant historical rediscovery has been made by the Rediscover Lost Heritage (RLH) Group, with the unearthing of a 15th-century stone inscription from the reign of great Gajapati King Kapilendra Deva. The inscription, attributed to Ganadeba Rautaraya Mahapatra—a relative of the Gajapati Kapilendra and the Governor of Kondavidu—was found in the Chintapallipadu village situated in Vatticherukuru Mandala in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. This significant archaeological exploration was carried out by a survey team of the RLH group that included history researchers Deepak Kumar Nayak, Rabindra Kumar Rana & Bikram Kumar Nayak.
Sharing more details on this rediscovery, Rabindra Kumar Rana, a member of the Survey team has stated that the information of this inscription was first published in the Annual report on South Indian Epigraphy, Year 1917. The inscription is from the time period of Gajapati Kapilendra Deva & was inscribed in Sanskrit language & telugu script over a Hanuman pillar in the Saka year 1376 that equals year 1454 CE. We found this inscribed hanuman pillar set up in front of the Rama temple of Chintapallipadu village. The annual report of 1917 reveals the name of Ganadeba Rautaraya, a relative of Gajapati Kapilendra Deva’s family. Major portion of the inscription is burried under the soil while setting it up in front of recently built temple while only few eroded lines are visible now. The stone pillar contains the images of Hanuman, Garuda & the symbols of Sun & Moon- the symbols found in numerous other Gajapati era inscriptions, Rana said.
According to history researcher Deepak Kumar Nayak who lead this Survey team, Ganadeba Rautaraya is known from another copper plate inscription from Kondavidu of year 1455 CE. After August 1453 CE, the Odia army of Kapilendra Deva crossed the Krishna river and occupied the fort of Kondavidu. After this victory, Ganadeba was appointed as the Pariksha (Governor) of Kondavidu, Addanki & Vinukonda. It is learnt from the Annual report of 1917 that Ganadeba made some donation to the Raghavesvara temple of Chadaluvada from Chintapallipadu. It is mentioned in the Kondavidu copper plate grant that Ganadeba belong to the race of Suryavamsa & he was the sun of Guhideba Patra. Ganadeba had defeated two Turaksha princes in the war which he fought in the services of Gajapati Kapilendra Deva, added Deepak.
Highlighting the importance of this finding, Bikash Prasad Das, a founder member of Rediscover Lost Heritage (RLH) Group, stated that this rediscovery is of immense value for the shared history of two states Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Our survey team is working relentlessly to document the forgotten and lost heritage sites of ancient Kalinga in South India & we will soon publish a book on this invaluable documentation.
