Epigraphical Profile & Archaeological Context
Location & Site:Meguti Jinendra Temple, Aihole, Bagalkot, Karnataka
Historical Period:Badami Chalukya Era (7th Century CE)
Patron Sovereign:Emperor Pulakeshin II (Poet: Ravikirti)
🖋️Primary Inscriptional Text
Kannada-Brahmi Script • SanskritOriginal Text Transliterated in Devanagari / Regional Script:
जयति भगवान् जिनेन्द्रो... येनाकारि परोन्मुखा रविकविः कीर्तिः सतां संसदि...
Romanized Transliteration (IAST):
Jayati bhagavān jinendro... yenākāri paronmukhā ravi-kaviḥ kīrtiḥ satāṃ saṃsadi...
Scholarly English Translation:
“Victorious is Bhagwan Jinendra, who delivers beings from the ocean of rebirth! Ravikirti, who by his poetic skill equaled Kalidasa and Bharavi, built this stone abode of Jinendra under the sovereign protection of Satyashraya Pulakeshin II in the Saka Year 556.”
🔬Historical & Epigraphical Significance
One of the most celebrated poetic epigraphs in Asian archaeology, providing an anchor date synchronizing the Saka era, the Mahabharata war, and classical Sanskrit literary luminaries.
Primary Epigraphical Citations:
- Kielhorn, F., Epigraphia Indica, Vol. VI, pp. 1–12, 1900
- Fleet, J.F., Indian Antiquary, Vol. VIII, 1879
Associated Archaeological Monument:
Explore MonumentsBadami Cave 4 & Aihole Meguti Temple Complex
Cave 4 at Badami is a 6th-century rock-cut Digambara cavern featuring colossal reliefs of Bahubali and Parshvanatha. At Aihole stands the Meguti Jinendra temple (634 CE), famous for Ravikirti’s foundation inscription.