Tamil inscription of Kakatiya Pratapa Rudra found at Motupalli

The inscription, according to Dr. Sivanagireddy, was written in Tamil and Grantha script, and dates back to Saka 1230 (1st August, 1308 C.E), Kilaka, Vaisaka, Su. 10, Wednesday, pertaining to the reign of Kakatiya Rudra deva II (1289-1323).

Hyderabad: The Kakatiya rulers had inscriptions in Tamil language too along with Telugu in coastal Andhra and Telangana during their reign.

This was discovered by Dr. E. Sivanagireddy, archaeologist, on Sunday while documenting the dilapidated Kodandaramaswamy temple located on the outskirts of Motupalli in Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh, as part of the ‘Preserve Heritage for Posterity’, along with R. Dasarathareddy Reddy, President, Motupalli Heritage Society. Motupalli was an international port town during the medieval period.

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The inscription, according to Dr. Sivanagireddy, was written in Tamil and Grantha script, and dates back to Saka 1230 (1st August, 1308 C.E), Kilaka, Vaisaka, Su. 10, Wednesday, pertaining to the reign of Kakatiya Rudra deva II (1289-1323).

It is a record of a gift of land as Tiruvidaiyattam for providing offerings to God Rajanarayanapperumal in Desi-Uyyakondan-Pattinam, now Mottuppalli, by Cattanthai-Cemmanadiyal-Valumpothalakiyan alias Patinenbhumi-Vanikaratittan. This was confirmed by Dr. K. Muniratnam Reddy, Director, Epigraphy branch, Archaeological Survey of India, Mysuru, who deciphered the 813-year-old Tamil Grantha script and revealed the content of historical importance.

What is interesting is that Motupalli was mentioned as Desi-Uyyakondan-Pattinam’ and the inscription slab was fitted into the west side wall of the temple during the 16th century as part of renovation works.

Sivanagireddy said the gift of land was given to conduct Tiruvidaiyattam festival in the temple of Rajanarayanapperumal for the last Kakatiya Emperor Prataparudra Deva.

Dr Reddy said the inscription bears significance as it is the second and next to one more Tamil inscription found at Motupalli issued by Kakatiya Ganapatideva dated 1244 AD known as the Abhaya Sasana, a charter that insures the life and goods of the sea-borne trade.

He sensitised the local people on the historical significance of the inscription and appealed to the AP government to save the inscription for posterity.

 

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