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The Hindu
9 hours ago
- Science
- The Hindu
First Indian epigraphical reference to Halley's comet found in 15th century copper plate inscription
The first Indian epigraphical reference to Halley's comet has been discovered in a copper plate inscription dated 1456 CE belonging to the Vijayanagara period and preserved at the Srisailam Mallikarjunaswamy temple in Andhra Pradesh. Dr. K. Munirathnam Reddy, Director, Epigraphy Branch of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), who announced the discovery, told The Hindu that the inscription is written in Sanskrit, using Nagari script, and refers to the appearance of a comet and a subsequent meteor shower — events that historically coincide with the 1456 appearance of Halley's comet. The inscription records a grant made by the Vijayanagara ruler Mallikarjuna to a Vedic scholar on Śaka 1378, Dhātru Āshāḍha ba. 11, corresponding to Monday, June 28, 1456 CE. The grant was issued 'in order to mitigate the great calamity believed to arise due to the appearance of a comet (dhūmakētu mahōtpāta śāntyartham), and the associated meteor shower (Prakāśyāya mahōtpāta śāntyartham)', said Mr. Munirathnam. The king donated a village named Simgapura, located in Kelajhasima of Hastinavati Vemṭhe, as an agrahāra to a Brahmana named Limgaṇarya, a Vedic scholar from Kaḍiyalapura. Dr. Reddy said this place is probably present-day Kaḍiyapulanka in Galividu mandalam, Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh, and noted that the scholar was probably well-versed in astronomy. Dr. Munirathnam noted that while references to dhumaketus (comets) are found in ancient and medieval Indian texts, this is the first inscriptional record that has been discovered. 'What makes this particularly significant,' he said, 'is that the year mentioned in the inscription and the reference to the comet's appearance matches the year in which Halley's comet was later established to have appeared,' said He explained that in traditional belief systems and from the available historical records, the appearance of a comet and meteor shower was considered inauspicious, and associated with misfortune and calamities in many parts of the world. Mr. Reddy said the appearance of the comet and the beliefs surrounding it are vividly expressed in the inscription in the phrase: Prakāśyāya mahōtpāta śāntyartham dattavān vibhuḥ — meaning: this grant was made in order to pacify the calamities that may arise due to the illuminating comets and meteor shower upon the king and his kingdom. The discovery of reference to comets in the inscription was made during the critical 'line by line' editing of a set of 21 unpublished copper plate charters held by the Srisailam temple authorities. The collection, comprising 78 copper leaves, will soon be published in book form, he added.
The Hindu
01-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Gundaram inscriptions in Peddapalli district shed light on Satavahana era
In a significant breakthrough for the study of Telangana's ancient history, particularly concerning the Satavahana period, the Epigraphy Branch of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has documented eleven inscriptions during an extensive epigraphical survey in the Gundaram Reserve Forest, located about 10 km away from Peddapalli district headquarters. The team, with the help of local Forest department staff, surveyed on April 28 and 29, according to Director (Epigraphy), ASI, K. Munirathnam Reddy. Spanning a period from the 1st century BCE to the 6th century CE, the inscriptions provide critical insights into the early cultural and political landscape of the Deccan, with particular reference to the Satavahana period. Engraved on a prominent rock surface locally known as Sitammalodi near Gattusingaram village, these inscriptions were discovered as part of an ongoing survey. 'Two inscriptions from the Gundaram rock shelter stand out for their historical value. One inscription, written in early Brahmi script, records that a person of the Hāritiputra lineage — possibly of the Chuṭu dynasty — excavated a cave for Buddhist monks and describes himself as a friend of Kumāra Hakusiri, a Satavahana prince,' said Mr. Reddy. 'This inscription suggests a political or social connection between the Satavahanas and the Chuṭus, two influential dynasties of the early Deccan,' he added. Another inscription begins with a trident and damaru — auspicious religious symbols — and states that the land east of the hill belonged to Siri Devarāna. This is the first known occurrence of such religious iconography accompanying early inscriptions in South India, indicating an early association of political authority with symbolic religious elements. Additional Satavahana-period inscriptions copied at the site refer to other royal figures, including Kumāra Sakasiri and Akusiri, further reinforcing the region's prominence during the early historic period. These findings also support earlier epigraphic evidence discovered at Mukkutraopet village of Velgatur mandal near Kotilingala in the erstwhile combined Karimnagar district, where an inscription established that Telangana was part of Asmaka, one of the sixteen Mahājanapadas mentioned in ancient Indian texts and known to have flourished in the 6th century BCE. Dr. Reddy noted that the Gundaram inscriptions 'strengthen the historical identification of Telangana as a core region of Asmaka and provide a tangible link to the Satavahana and associated dynasties that shaped early Deccan polity.' He also acknowledged the cooperation of the Telangana Forest Department and the government of Telangana, stating that without their assistance in navigating the protected forest area, this discovery would not have been possible. Mr. Reddy further noted that the area near the inscription site probably housed a significant burial ground for Buddhist monks.
