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The Indian Analyst
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South Indian Inscriptions |
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA “This sacred image of the Supreme Goddess was caused to be made according to the standard form through (the artist who was) a descendant of Kāśyapa by the illustrious Yuvarāja (i.e. crown-prince) Śrīvallabha, a piercing javelin to all the evil spirits.” As we have noted earlier, Śrīvallabha was specially a Western Chālukya appellation. Hence, although the name of the crown-prince who was responsible for the setting up of the image[1] in question, is not specified, it goes without saying that he belonged to the Chālukya house of Bādāmi. It is difficult to surmise who this Chālukya prince could be, as he might be any one from Pulakēśin I to Vikramāditya I. But it is possible to think that this prince might have set up the image of the goddess while he was governing the area of Gooty as the viceroy of the ruling king. The name of the artist or sculptor who actually shaped the image according to the standards prescribed in the texts on the subject (pramā-rūpēṇa) is not mentioned. Instead, it is merely said that he belonged to the lineage of Kāśyapa. This is interesting, for Kāśyapa was a renowned artist (śilpakāra)[2] and the present sculptor seemed to take more pride in mentioning the former as his ancestor than disclosing his own name.
TEXT[3] First Plate
1 Svasti [|*] ….[4]yati sat-pūjya[ṁ] pradīpta-kana[ka-pra*]bhaṁ(bham |) trailō-
Second Plate, First Side
5 [rī]ra-Śrīpṛithivīvallabha-mahārājasya(sy=ā)gra-sū-
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[1] The image may be that of Durgā, near which the record is incised.
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