The Hathigumpha Inscription at Udayagiri

Khandagiri and Udayagiri are situated about 5 miles from Bhuvaneshwar. 44 caves have, so far, been found in Udayagiri and 21 in Khandagiri. Many of them appear to have been excavated in the 4th or 5th century B.C. The peculiarity of almost all the caves is that a bench of stone runs round the three sides of the front veranda. The two walls of the veranda are so hollowed out at the top as to present the appearance of cupboards. These are meant to hold the scanty necessaries of a monk's life. Except in the temple caves, the cell-floor is raised and curved at the inner ends, evidently to serve as pillows for monks. On the walls of the cells are sculptured figures of Jain legends.

The well known Hathigumpha inscription (elephant cave inscription) from Udayagiri cave shows the great sanctity of the locality which was inhabited by Jain hermits.

This record is incised on a coarse sand stone rock on the roof of the Hathigumpha, a natural cavern on the southern face of the Udayagiri hill. The cave is 57 ft. by 28 ft. It is divided into 17 lines, each line containing some 90 to 100 letters. It covers an area of about 84 sq. ft. It was discovered for the first time by Mr. A. Stirling in 1820. The characters are Northern Brahmi and belong to about 160 B.C. The language of the inscription is Apabhramsa Prakrit with traces of Ardha-Magadhi and Jaina Prakrit.

The late Mr. K.P. Jayaswal deciphered this inscription. The inscription was incised according to the orders of Kharavela, a king of Kalinga, who belonged to the Jaina faith and was descended from the Chedi family and who records a short history of his reign up to the 13th year. It furnishes valuable material for Indian History for several centuries preceding the Christian era. From the point of view of the Chronology of pre-Mauryan times and the history of Jainism it is the most important inscription yet discovered in India. It affords the earliest historical proof of the unity of Bihar and Orissa (450 B.C.). It confirms the historical datum regarding the invasion and retreat of the Indo-Greek king Demitrios. It also furnishes a few economic data of importance: The king remitted taxes in the year of the Rajasuya sacrifice. The tax was paid in money. The land grants to Brahmanas were collective gifts made to their caste association. The Rubis, the wonderful horses, indicate a sea-borne trade between the Madras coast and Burma or Persia or both at that period.

It describes the course of education prescribed for princes in ancient times, which was very comprehensive. The whole course appears then to have comprised a knowledge of mathematics, composition, particularly of the state documents and the study of coinage. A king was required to undergo a full course of physical training up to the age of fifteen. After the sixteenth year he should discuss every day with professors, go in for military training and learn law and history and was expected to specialize in such subjects the knowledge of which would enable him to control effectively the working of the various departments which were centralised at the headquarters of the monarch.

Hathigumpha inscription. Photo from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections, taken by William Henry Cornish in c.1892.

The inscription begins with an invocation of the Arhats and the Siddhas. Then it gives the family title “Aira”, a term denoting the descent of the Chedi Kings. The name of the King is mentioned as Khara-Vela which means the “Ocean”, literally “One whose waves are brackish”.

Then it proceeds to say that Kharavela was appointed heir-apparent (Yuvaraja) when he was fifteen years of age and continued to rule as such for nine years. He was anointed king of Kalinga when he had completed his twenty-fourth year.

1. In the first year of his reign Kharavela repaired the capital of Kalinga, whose gates or towers, ramparts, reservoirs and buildings had been damaged by storm.
2. In the second year he sent a complete army consisting of infantry, cavalry, chariots and elephants, to the west in defiance of Satakarni the third king of the Satavahana dynasty and occupied the city of Mushikas.
3. In the third year of his reign he amused the citizens of Kalinga with theatrical performances, dances, songs, music, processions and festivals.
4. In his fourth year he probably repaired some sacred building called “the Abode of the Vidyadharas” and conquered the Rastrikas of the Maratha country and Bhojakas of Berar.
5. In the fifth year of his reign he extended the old canal into the capital from Tanasuliya Road.
6. In his sixth year he bestowed great blessings on the citizens by granting privileges to the capital and country corporations.
7. The events of the seventh year of his reign refer to the birth of the crown prince. From the west he turned his attention to the North.
8. In his eighth year he invaded Magadha and besieged Rajagriha.
9. In the ninth year of his reign he gave away horses, elephants, chariots, houses and rest houses to Brahmanas and others; also built a great palace called the “Palace of Victory” at a cost of thirty-four lacs (silver coins). The palace contained a group of royal residences.
10. In the tenth year, Northern India was invaded.
11. The record of the eleventh year is not very clear. What seems to be intended is that Kharavela abolished something which was not consistent with Jainism.
12. In the twelfth year of his reign, he invaded Magadha and made king Brihaspatimitra do homage at his feet. He returned home with trophies of Anga and Magadha, recovered the Kalinga heirlooms and the image of the Kalinga-Jina which had been taken away by king Nanda of Magadha. At home he built towers.
13. In the thirteenth year of his reign, he devoted his energies to religious acts. He himself observed the layman's vows and was engaged in the study of higher Jaina philosophy. He built a residence for his queen on the Kumari hill at the cost of 7,5 million rupees.

The record ends with a list of Kharavela's titles. He is called the King of Peace and Prosperity, the Bhikshu King and the King of Dharma.

Hathigumpha inscription of King Kharavela at Udayagiri Hills

There is no trace of despotism in Kharavela's biography. He was a king “who pleased his people”. He was a great builder. Every year of conquest was followed by a year of generous acts of peace at home.

The record stops with the thirteenth year of the king's reign. That the king lived at least three or four decades longer is evident from the Svargapuri inscription of his chief queen, who is described as the wife of the reigning Emperor Kharavela. The terms Chakravartin in this inscription, and Adhipatin in the Hathigumpha inscription show that Kharavela had become the over-lord of the three Kalingas.

In the Manchapuri cave is the inscription of his successor named Kudepasiri who also styles himself like Kharavela as Aira, Maharaja Mahameghavahan, and the overlord of Kalingas.

The right wing of the Manchapuri cave contains an inscription which mentions a prince named Veduka who may have been related to the dynasty of Kharavela. The immediate object of these inscriptions was to preserve the memory of pious benefactors who had provided caves for the use of the Jaina ascetics at Udayagiri.