for students of BHU

1. Aihole inscription

3. Aihole: The temple city
• Aihole temples and monuments: collection of over 100 temples built predominantly
between 6th and 8th century near Malaprabha river in Karnataka.
• At this point, the river turns northwards which likely had significance as a location.
• One of the earliest surviving temples and window to ancient Indian arts, religious beliefs,
society and architecture.
• Almost all temples are related to Hinduism, but these co-exist with a few Jain temples of
this period and one Buddhist monument.
• Both north Indian & south Indian styles fuse here suggesting experimentation of ideas &
building styles under the sponsorship of Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas.

5. Aihole Legend
• Naturally cut axe like rock & a footprint rock.
• A legend regarding Aihole according to which Rishi Parshuram killed the
killer of his father and came to the river to wash his hands and the weapon.
• Due to this the water of the river turned red.
• A lady saw this and screamed Ayyo Hole which meant Oh no! Blood!
• So the place came to be known as Aihole.

11. Aihole
• Cradle of Indian architecture
• First capital of Chalukyas where they built numerous temples dating
back to the 6th century CE.
• Many inscriptions found at Aihole.
• Inscription at Meguti Temple popularly known as Aihole inscription is
most significant

12. Aihole Inscription
• This inscription is engraved on a stone slab fixed into the eastern wall of
Meguti Jaina temple at Aihole, Bagalkot district, Karnataka.
• This inscription contains 19 lines of writing, of which nearly the whole of
line 18 and the short line 19 apparently are a later addition of little
importance.
• The writing covers a space of about 4’ 9 ½” broad by 2’ ½” high.
• It is well engraved, and generally in an excellent state of preservation.

18. Palaeographic considerations
• Written in Sanskrit language and uses old Kannada script.
• The characters belong to the Southern class of alphabets.
• Are of the regular type of the characters of the Western Chalukya records
of the period to which the inscription belongs.
• Text is all in verse.
• The meters employed are Sloka, Aupachchhandasika, Arya, Aryagiti,
Upajati, Indravajra, Rathodhata, Vasantatilaka, Malini, Harini,
Mandakranta, Srdulvikridita, Mattebhavikridita and Sragdhara.

19. Decipherment
• First edited with a photo lithography by Dr. Fleet in Indian Antiquary
Vol V P. 67
• A revised version of the text and translation with an improved photo
lithograph, given by the same scholar.
• Subsequently edited by F Kielhorn in Ep. Ind. Vol VI.

22. Date of the Inscription
• The date of the inscription is given in verses 33 and 34.
• It corresponds for the expired year 3735 of the Kaliyuga.
• Described as the year 3735, since the Bharata war and which is the
same for Saka Samvat 556 expired (634-35 CE).

23. Purpose of the Inscription
• Construction of temple of Jinendra.
• Granting of six villages viz., Mulavalli, Vedmaltakavada, Machchanur,
Gangavar, Puligere and Gandagrama for the maintenance of the
temple.
• Furnishes a eulogistic account (Prasasti) of the history of the Chalukya
family and especially of the exploits of Pulkesin II.

24. Geneaology
• Describes the Chalukya family as a immeasurable wide ocean, which has given
birth to men who are like jewels and ornaments adoring the crown of the earth.
• The narration of the genealogy of the family with the king Jayasimhavallabha,
succeeded by Ranaraga, then followed by his son Pulikesi I who made Vatapi
(Badami) as his capital, His son Kirtivarman, powerful ruler who subjugated the
Nalas, Mauryas and Kadambas. Then succeeded by his younger brother
Mangalesha and subsequently by his elder brothers’ son Pulikesi II the mighty ruler
of the western Chalukyas dynasty during whose reign this Prasasti was engraved
eulogizing his political exploits.

25. Aihole inscription and Mahabharata
• Only a few inscriptions in India that suggests the time period of
Mahabharata war.
• The 33rd verse describes that at the time of inscription, 3375 years
have passed since the Mahabharata war.
• The exact verse goes like this:
“ (Now) when thirty and three thousand and five years besides, joined
with seven hundred years, have passed since the Bharata war”

26. Composer
• Occupies a unique place among other inscriptions.
• Endowed with great literary value: As important as a historical document,
as much as a great composition from the literary point of view.
• Kielhorn: Ravikirti was thoroughly conversant with rules of the Alamkara
Sastra and like a true dakshinatya he is unsurpassed in some of his
utprekshas.
• The composition clearly reveals that the composer of the Prasasti was
greatly influenced by the work of Kalidasa’s Raghuvamsa.
• Compares himself with Kalidas and Bharavi.
• Great testimony to the fact that the composer can be easily placed as a first
rank among court poets and writers of Prasastis