Hathigumpha Inscription - Salient Features

Salient Features

The Hathigumpha inscription starts with a version of the auspicious Jain Namokar Mantra: नमो अरहंतानं णमो सवसिधानं for in Jainism.

The Hathigumpha Inscription mentions that:

• In the very first year of his coronation (His Majesty) caused to be repaired the gate, rampart and structures of the fort of Kalinga Nagari, which had been damaged by storm, and caused to be built flight of steps for the cool tanks and laid all gardens at the cost of thirty five hundred thousand (coins) and thus pleased all his subjects.

• In the second year, without caring for Satakarni (His Majesty) sent to the west a large army consisting of horse, elephant, infantry and chariot, and struck terror to Asikanagara with that troop that marched up to the river Kanhavemna.
• Then in the fourth year, (His Majesty) .... the Vidhadhara tract, that had been established by the former kings of Kalinga and had never been crossed before. The Rathika and Bhojaka chiefs with their crown cast off, their umbrella and royal insignia thrown aside, and their Jewelry and wealth confiscated, were, made to pay obeisance at the feet (of His Majesty).
• And in the fifth year, (His Majesty) caused the aqueducts that had been excavated by king Nanda three hundred years before, to flow into Nagri through Tanasuli.
• And in the seventh year of his reign (the Queen) of Vajiraghara, blessed with a son attained motherhood.
• In the 8th year of his reign, he attacked Rajagriha in Magadha and forced the Indo-Greek king Demetrius (described as the Yavana king ("Yavana-raja") named Dimi{ta}) to retreat to Mathura.
• In the 12th year of his reign, he attacked the king of Uttarapatha. Then brought back the holy idols of Kalinga's Jain Gods (The Blessed Tirthankars) which earlier Magadha rulers had carried away with them after Kalinga War in Past. Tirthankar’s idol was brought back with its crown and endowment and the jewels plundered by king Nanda from the Kalinga royal palace, along with the treasures of Anga and Magadha were regained.
• He then attacks the kingdom of Magadha, and in Pataliputra, the capital of the Sunga, makes king "Bahasatimita" (thought to be the Sunga King Brhaspatimitra, or Pusyamitra himself) bow at his feet.

• It is important to note that as far back as 1951, the Yavana-raja was thought to actually be the Kushana Vima Kadphises, rather than the Indo Greek Demetrius, as it was only interpreted to be Dimita (since the inscription is not in very good condition). P.L. Gupta has been a longstanding proponent of this theory.