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(SECTION II) SOURCES FOR THE HISTORICITY OF KHĀRAVELA
Glimpses of the Mahāmeghavāhan dynasty are afforded by a few inscriptions? engraved in the caves on the Udayagiri-Khandagiri hills? near Bhuvaneśvara in Orissa. The immediate object of these inscriptions was to preserve the memory of pious benefactors--two kings, a queen, a prince and other persons, who had provided caves for the use of Jaina ascetics on the Udayagiri-Khaņdagiri hills.
One of these inscriptions in the Hāthigumphā or the Elephant cave contains a record of events in the first 13 years (or possibly 14 years) of the reign of the most important and notable king Khāravela of Kalinga. This is one of the most celebrated and also one of the most perplexing of all historical records of ancient India.
The Hāthigumphā is a large opening of irregular shape, more or less, a natural cavern, which was later on converted into a cave or a place of rest for Jaina monks. The rock itself is of white-sandstone and instead of standing perpendicularly, it bends in and is protruding in the middle. The roof consists of a huge boulder. The inscrip
1. Luder's List Nos. 1345-50.
2. In the Khāravela's inscription these are called Kumāri ParvatLine 14.
3. (a) Terasame cha vase su pavat a-vijaya chake kumāri-pavato arahatehi...kayanisidiyaya..pūjunurata-uvāsaga khāravela sirina jivade. hasayika-parikhāta"
(Line 14 of the Häthigumpha Inscription as in Dr. D. C. Sircar's Select Inss, Vol. I.)
(b) "Arahanta pasůdaya kalingāniin samanūnāṁ lenam kâritari"
(Chief, Queen's Edict, Ludors' List No. 1346). 4. Luder's List No.'1345.
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