VISAKHAPATNAM: A recent breakthrough in deciphering ancient inscriptions at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple in Simhachalam has shed new light on the temple's historical connections with the Eastern Ganga dynasty. Bishnu Mohan Adhikari, a 28-year-old epigraphist from Paralakhemundi in Odisha, uncovered the inscriptions on a pillar in the temple's 'Asthana Mandapam,' which had remained undeciphered until now.
The inscriptions consist of two rows and three columns, reads: "Aatreya Gotravathi Sri Sri Sri Nilamani Pattamahadei Sada Seva Raghunathapur," written in Odia, reveals a donation made by Queen Gajapati Nilamani Patta Mahadei of the Eastern Ganga dynasty for the "Sada Seva," or daily offerings to the presiding deity, Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. The inscription also mentions the queen's gotram, referring to her as "Aatreya Gotravati" and her royal estate, Raghunathapur, which was part of the Ganjam district during the Madras Presidency.
"Raghunathapur was an estate of importance, managed by the Khemundi-Gangas of Paralakhemundi after the decline of the Eastern Kadamba rule. The estate extended from Bendi to Kotabommali, with its capital at Tekkali, now located in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh," explained Bishnu.
He noted that Simhachalam temple has been a major place of worship and a key site for the Vaishnavite faith for nearly a thousand years, longside Sri Jagannath in Puri and Srikurmam in Srikakulam.
"The main temple, a masterpiece of Kalingan Peedha architecture, was constructed in the 13th century under the reign of Gajapati Langula Narasingha Dev-I. Although the construction was supervised by Akthayi Senapati, the temple was consecrated by Langula Narasingha Dev's son, Bhanudeva I, in 1268 CE. This temple, with its rich architectural heritage, stands as a testament to the artistic and spiritual contributions of the Eastern Ganga dynasty," Bishnu stated. Further cementing the historical ties between the temple and the Eastern Ganga dynasty, Bishnu also noted that the present temple was constructed by an emperor from the same dynasty. "This ruler, identified as Chandra Kula sambhuta Aatreya Gotri Gajapati, belonged to a lineage that ruled Kalinga from the 6th century to the mid-20th century, across three phases," he said.
His recent discovery at the Simhachalam temple is part of his ongoing efforts to unravel the temples epigraphic heritage. Bishnu, who began deciphering inscriptions in his adolescence, has developed an skills in reading and interpreting these ancient texts. His linguistic expertise spans across several languages, including Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, Bengali, English, and his native Odia. "Before deciphering the ancient inscription, we obtained permission from the temple administration. I was assisted by K. Saikumar, a member of the temple administration, who helped facilitate the process," he addded.
In addition to his work at Simhachalam, Bishnu has also successfully deciphered a 237-year-old copper plate, retrieved from a metal scrap trader in Odisha.