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204
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
[VOL. IV.
were there, they are quite effaced. The inscription records that, in the Kolamba year 655, in the middle of the month of Vpisha, on Brahman's (i.6.& second) tithi, a Thursday, when the nakshatra was Mrigasirsha, during the Sinha lagna, the king Mårtenda had the god Hari (Vishņu), who resides at the glorious Vayka, bathed by Brahmanas.
The date, being of the month of Vrisba or Vpishabha, would be expected to fall,' and does fall, in Saka-Samvat 655 +747=1402 expired. In that year the month of Vrishabha lasted from the 27th April to the 27th May A.D. 1480, and during this period the day which exactly answers the requirements of the case is Thursday, the 11th May; for on this day, which was the 15th of the month of Vrishabha, the second tithi of the bright half ended 22 h. 26 m., and the moon was in the nakshatra Mrigasirsha for 18 h. 24 m., after mean sunrise. Moreover, since the longitude of the sun at mean sunrise was 43° 37', the Simha lagna lasted from about 5 h. 6 m. to about 7 h. 6 m. after mean sunrise. Accordingly, the ceremony recorded in the inscription was performed about midday of Thursday, the lth May A.D. 1480.-Vayka perhaps is Varkkalai itself; bat, if the inscription did not happen to be at that place, one would rather feel inclined to identify Vayka with Vaikom, a place of some importance about 25 miles south of Cochin.
TEXT.
Svasti srih [11] 1 Kolambos mamat-oti vatsara itê mêsê Vrish-Ard dhe Gurðrævvårê bhê
Mrigasirshake Vidhi-tithau Simbê cha lagnê fubhê [1] 2 snanam samyag=a kårayad=dvija-varais-fri-Vayka-dhâmnô Harês=sri-lauryy-&di-gan.
ânvitas=sa matimân Mârttaņda-dhâtripatiḥ [11]
TRANSLATION.
Hail! Fortune! In the Kolamba year denoted by the chronogram) mamata (i.e. 855), when the month had advanced to the middle of the sign) Vrisha.. on & Thursday, when the nakshatra was Mrigasirgha, on Brahman's tithi, and during the auspicious Simha lagna, the prudent king Mårtånds, ondowed with fortune, bravery and other excellent qualities, made the best of the twice-born in due manner bathe (the god) Hari who resides at the glorious Vayka.
No. 28.-NILGUND INSCRIPTION OF TAILA II.;
SAKA-SAMVAT 904. BY F. KIELHORN, PH.D., LL.D., C.I.E.; GÖTTINGEN. This inscription is on the east of the north gate of the village of Nilgund in the Gadag tâluka of the Dharwår district of the Bombay Presidency. I edit it from an impression, sent to me about two years ago by Dr. Fleet.
The stone, on which the inscription is engraved, contains some sculptures. Within the space allotted to the writing, before the commencement of lines 2-6, there is a cow with a sucking calf. Immediately above the top line, in the middle, is a linga, with the sun and moon above,
* See Ind. Ant. Vol. XXV. p. 58.
• From impressions supplied by Dr. Hultzach. + Metre : Sardalavikridita.
Compare Inscriptions Santeritos du Cambodge, P. 68, verse 26. Kisah-drddhagar chandrands. In our inscription, what bad advanced to the middle of the sign Vrisha, was really the sun.
