Minor Inscriptions of Kharavela

These minor inscriptions mention the construction of caves for Jain monks during or during the decades following the reign of Kharavela (in or around 1st-century BCE).

It has been made by the chief queen of the illustrious Kharavela, the overlord of Kalinga, who was the daughter of King Lalaka – the grandson of Hastisahasa (or Hastisaha).

(..ऐरस) महाराजस कलिंगाधिपतिना महामेघवाहनस कुदेपसिरिनो लेणं (this is a transliteration in Devanagari of the original Brahmi) Translation: (This is) the cave of the clever, the King, Master of Kalinga, whose vehicle is the great cloud, Kudepasiri.

[1]: 161 कुमारो वडुखस लेणं (IAST: kumāro vadukhas lenam) (this is a transliteration in Devanagari of the original Brahmi) Translation: (This is) the cave of Prince Vaḍukha.

[1]: 162 The use of word Pasado (Sanskrit: Prasad) for temple is notable, as it is also found at the Mathura archaeological site.

[1]: 164 There is a syllable after the word lenam marked "x" above, may be read as ni or phi and appears superfluous.

[1]: 165 The caves have a painted inscription in Tatwagumpha from between 100 BCE to 100 CE, which is largely lost other than some characters such as "na", "ta", "tha" "da", "dha", "na" ..... "pa pha ba..." that appear to recite the traditional Indian alphabet over and over again.