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Dear scholars,
The following is the list of inscriptions that mention about Uttarayana – samkaranthi or Vishu. I have given here those inscriptions where some additional information is available to arrive at the exact date. The relevant parts are highlighted. The years in Gregorian calendar that appear along with the inscription are given by the archaeologists / experts who deciphered the inscriptions. They need not be taken as correct. Inscription No 9 in the list says that there was a solar eclipse on the day of Uttaraya samkaranthi, but the archaeologist says there was no eclipse on that year. Some gap in our dating techniques. These are temple inscriptions and Eclipse records could not have been wrong.
-jayasree
Inscription No 1
No. 226.
(A.R. No. 502 of 1915.)
ON A SLAB SET UP NEAR THE KALKANTHARAYA TEMPLE AT KARAKANTHAPURA, A HAMLET OF PEDDATUMBALAM, ADONI TALUK, SAME DISTRICT. (Bellary District)
This is dated Chalukya-Vikrama year 57, Paridhavi, Chaitra, su. 5, Brihaspativara, Rohini, Sobhana-yoga, Vishu-sankramana, corresponding to A.D. 1132 March 23, Wednesday (not Thursday); Vishnu-sankramana occurred on the next day (i.e., March 24 Thursday). It refers itself to the reign of the Chalukya king Bhulokamalladeva ruling from Pinjarasangamada-Kuppa, Tailapadeva being the Yuvaraja.
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Inscription No 2
No. 127.
(A.R. No. 442 of 1914.)
ON A SLAB SET UP IN THE VERANDAH OF THE UDDIBASAVANNA TEMPLE AT MORIGERE, HADAGALLI TALUK, SAME DISTRICT. (Bellary district)
This is dated Saka 98[6], Krodhi, Pushya, punnami, Adityavara, Uttarayana-sankranti, corresponding to A.D. 1064 December 26, Sunday, in the reign of Vishnu vardhana-Maharajadhiraja Vijayadityadeva "lord of Vengi-mandala".
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Inscription No 3
No. 128.
(A.R. No. 278 of 1918.)
ON A SLAB SET UP IN THE ISVARA TEMPLE AT GUDIHALLI, HARAPANAHALLI TALUK, SAME DISTRICT. (Bellary district)
This is dated Saka 987, Visvavasu, Pushya, su. 7, Adityavara, Uttarayana-sankranti, Vyatipata.
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Inscription No 4
No.96
(B.K. No. 201 of 1928-29)
ANNIGERI, NAVALGUND TALUK, DHARWAR DISTRICT
On a slab set up in the Hanumantadeva temple
Bijjala, 1157 A.D.
This record is dated the 2nd regnal year of the king, Isvara, Pushya ba. 8, Wednesday, Uttarayana-sankramana, corresponding to 1157 A.D., December 25, Wednesday f.d.t. 11.
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Inscription No 5
No.108
(B.K. No. 40 of 1928-29)
ARASIBIDI, HUNGUND TALUK, BIJAPUR DISTRICT
On a mutilated slab lying in the Suleragudi
Bhujabalamalla (Bijjala), 1167 A.D.
This is dated the 12th regnal year of the king Sarvajit, Pushya su. 14, Monday, Uttarayana-sankramana, corresponding to 1167 A.D., December 26. The weekday, however, was Tuesday.
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Inscription No 6
No.106
(B.K. No. 135 of 1926-27)
HUYILGOL, GADAG TALUK, DHARWAR DISTRICT
On a slab set up in the house of a village menial named Durga
Bijjala, 1166 A.D.
This is dated Saka 1087, Tarana, Pushya-amavasye, Monday, Uttarayana-samkranti. The Saka year 1087 (expired) corresponds to Parthiva during which year the given details correspond to 1165 A.D., December 25. But, if the Saka year is current agreeing with Tarana, the said tithi corresponds to 1165 A.D., January 14. The weekday, however, would be Thursday and the Samkranti occurred on 1164 A.D., December 25.
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Inscription No 7
No. 177 (Page No. 222)
( B. K. No. 23 of 1937-38)
CHURGII, INDI TALUK, BIJPUR DISTRICT
On a Nandi-pillar in front of the Hanuman temple Bhillama-A. D. 1190
This damaged record is dated in the king's regnal year..., Sadharana Pushya Su. [1]1, Monday, Uttaryana-Samkranti. During the reign of Bhillama the cyclic Year Sadharana corresponded with Saka 1112. In that year, the details correspond To 1190 A. D., December 24, Monday. The samkranti occurred on the following Wednesday.
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Inscription No 8
No.180 (Page No. 228)
( B. K. No.43 of 1936-37)
KADLEVAD. SINDGI TALUK, BIJAPUR DISTRICT
Slab lying in the temple of Sivalinga Jaitugi—A. D. 1192
This record is dated Saka 1114, Paridhavi, Pushya, ba. 10, Sunday, Uttarayana- Samkranti. The date is irregular. The tithi given corresponds to A. D. 1192, December 21, when the week day was Thursday and the samkranti did not occur.
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Inscription No 9
No.182 (Page No. 231)
(B. K. No.24 of 1036-37)
DEVUR, SINDGI TALUK, BIJAPUR DISTRICT
Slab built into the left wall (outer) of the Ramesvara temple Jaitugi—A. D. 1196-97
This badly damaged and mutilated record is dated Saka1118. Nala, Monday, Solar eclipse (total), Uttarayana-samkranti. The month and the tithi are not given. The date is irregular. There was no solar eclipse in the given year. The Saka and the cyclic year correspond to A. D. 1196-97
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Inscription No 10
No. 185 (Page No. 234)
( B. K. No.41 of 1937-38)
KUDIGI, INDI TALUK, BIJAPUR DISTRICT
Nandi pillar in front of the temple of Basavanna Jaitugi—A. D. 1201
This damaged record is dated in the king's regnal year 11, Durmati, Pushya Su. 11, Monday, Uttarayana-samkranti, corresponding to A. D. 1201, December 23. The weekday was, however, Sunday.
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Inscription No 11
(A. R. No. 60 of 1907)
Kanippakkam, Chittoor Taluk, Chittoor District
On the north wall of the same shrine
This is an incomplete inscription dated in the 12th regnal year of Kulottunga-chola III and in Saka 1102 corresponding to A.D. 1180. Since Kulottunga is known to have ascended the throne in Saka 1100 the regnal year 12 must correspond to Saka 1112 and not to Saka 1102. The details of date given in the record viz. Uttarayana-Sankrama, Monday, Pushya would then give the equivalent A.D. 1189, December 25. The inscription stops with the mention of Vellalan Tengurudai[yan*] an officer under Suranayakan Siyagangan 'the lord of Kuvalalapura born in the family of the Ganga'. The reference is very probably to Sagararajan of No. 57 above.
