15th-Century Inscription Traces Sangama dynasty Lineage To Devaraya II

Hyderabad: A 15th-century copperplate inscription provides details about the genealogy of the Sangama dynasty, tracing its lineage from its founder Sangama to Devaraya II.

The plates, consisting of three leaves and a ring, are preserved in a temple in Gowripura village of Davanagere district of Karnataka. The inscription is written in Sanskrit using Nagari script and Grantha and Telugu scripts appear on the end plate.

The inscription, dated Saka 1358 (AD 1435, 2 November), records the donation of Aladahalli village in the Arasikere district of Pandya-nadu. According to K. Muniratnam Reddy, Director (Epigraphy), Archaeological Survey of India, this donation was made on behalf of Devaraya II to Nrsimharadhya Sharma, also known as Nrsimha Desika, a priest associated with the Khyatesvara temple and a devotee of Vithaladeva.

He said the inscription helped identify the Sangama lineage and gave insight into the priestly movements and religious practices of the period. The existence of Telugu along with other scripts indicates that it was geared towards broader regional understanding.

Dr Reddy said ASI is continuing its efforts to decipher the inscriptions to increase public awareness. “It is our responsibility to protect its history and culture,” he said.