South Indian Inscriptions

EPIGRAPHIA INDICA

(V. 6.) From him (viz. Ânandatîrtha), who was very experienced in well protecting men, has obtained the knowledge of duty he (viz. Naraharitîrtha), who protects the people born in the Kâliṅga country both in the next (world) and in this ; who as a (dutiful) son follows the profession of (his) father,^[1] practising high politics in a righteous manner (and) himself facing the frightened garrisons (?) of the fortresses of crowds of hostile kings

(V. 7.) And who, being devoted exclusively to the great service of the lord of Śrîkamaṭha,^[2] holds, in order to prevent the ruins of this (temple), and excellent sword (which is) a thunderbolt to the mountains─ the bands of Śabaras,─ (but) the proper action of which was totally imperceptible because no victim was left, the enemy having lost his life through its (mere) flashing.^[3]

(V. 8.) This best of sages, called the holy Naraharitîrtha, a man-lion incarnate, who is to be worshipped by those who possess the power of Prahlâda^[4] in the Kali age,─

(V. 9.) Hail ! in the prosperous Śaka year joined with the fires (3), the sky (0), the pair (2), and the earth (1),─ (i.e. 1203),─ in (the month of) Mêsha, on the day of the moon-crested (Śiva),^[5] in the bright (fortnight), and on an excellent Wednesday,─ having built a temple in front of the lord of Kamaṭha, consecrated (therein) with pleasure this god Yôgânanda-Nṛisiṁha, the bestower of bliss.

POSTSCRIPT.

Professor Kielhorn very kindly contributes the following remark on the date of the preceding inscription :─

“ In Saka-Saṁvat 1203 expired the 8th tithi of the bright half in the month of Mêsha ended 6 h. 23 m. after mean sunrise of Saturday, the 29th March A.D. 1281 ; and in Śaka-Saṁvat 1203 current the same tithi ended 3 h. 37 m. after mean sunrise of Tuesday, the 9th April A.D. 1280. As all the other inscriptions of Naraharitîrtha (see below) quote expired Śaka years, the day intended by the date would be expected to be Saturday, the 29th March A.D. 1281 ; but if it were so, the word Saumyê of the date would have to be altered to Saurêr= (i.e. ‘ of Saturn ’).”

Besides this inscription, the Vaishṇava temples at Śrîkûrmam and Siṁhâchalam (in the Vizagapatam district) contain five other inscriptions recording gifts by Naraharitîrtha. I subjoin their dates, which Professor Kielhorn has been good enough to calculate as well.

1.- In the Kûrmêsvara temple at Srîkûrmam.^[6]

5 U(û)na-chaturdaśa-varshê dvdaśa-śata-vatsarê [|*]
6 Kanyâ-maâsê=sitê pakshê trayôdaśyâṁ Kavêr=ddinê [||*]
9 Svasti śrî-Śaka-varushaṁbulu 1186 n=êṁṭṭi
10 Kanya-kri(kṛi)shṇa 13 Śukravâramuna …..

“ In the (Saka) year twelve hundred less fourteen years, in the month of Kanyâ, in the dark fortnight, on the thirteenth tithi, on Friday.”

“ On Friday, the 13th (tithi) of the dark (fortnight) of Kanyâ in the Saka year 1186.”

For Saka-Saṁvat 1186 expired the date corresponds to Friday, the 19th September A.D. 1264, when the 13th tithi of the dark half ended 20 h. 23 m. after mean sunrise. The day by the Ârya-siddhânta was the 23rd day of the month of Kanyâ.- F. K.

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^[1] It follows from this statement that both Naraharitîrtha and his father were ministers of the king of Kaliṅga.
^[2] I.e. Śrîkûrmam ; compare above, Vol. V. p. 35, note 1.
^[3] By this the poet means to say that Naraharitîrtha, though he wore a sword, was not put to the necessity of using it and thereby avoided incurring the sin of destroying life.
^[4] Prahlâda was the son of the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu who was killed by Vishṇu in his Nṛisiṁha avatâra.
^[5] I.e. the eight tithi ; see above, Vol. V. p. 168, note 4.
^[6] No. 369 of 1896.