Tumakuru: Inscription recording king Krishnadevaraya’s demise discovered

In an iconic incident at Honnenahalli in the Tumakuru district, the first-ever epigraphical reference to the date of death of Vijayanagar king Krishnadevaraya has been discovered.

The inscription states that Krishnadevaraya was one of the greatest emperors of India who died on October 17, 1529. This day was marked by a lunar eclipse.

K Munirathnam, Director, Epigraphy Branch of the Archaeological Survey of India informed that their office received a photograph of the inscription from K R Narasimhan, a retired professor who is a resident of Yelahanka in Bengaluru.

After deciphering the inscription, it was revealed that the recording was the date of death of Krishandevaraya.

The inscription, engraved on a slab kept on the north side of the Gopalakrishna temple at Honnenahalli in the Tumakuru district is written in Kannada.

The inscription cites the demise of Krishnadevaraya (Vīrakṛishṇarāya mahārāyalu yī tathā tithiyalu astamayarāgalu)_ in Śaka 1451, Virōdhi, śu. 15, lunar eclipse, corresponding to 1529 AD, October 17.

The inscription also mentions, a gift of village Honnenahalli in Tumakuru for conducting worship to lord Veeraprasanna Hanumantha of Tumakuru.

According to Dr. Munirathnam and Prof. Narasimhan., the Kalahasti inscription refers to the date of Achyutaraya’s coronation as October 21, 1529 AD.

Prof. Narasimhan mentioned that one of his friends M. Dhanpal, a BMTC driver and an archaeology buff, brought his attention to the inscription by sending him the photographs.

Further informing that the death of kings was not recorded in the inscriptions, Prof. Narasimhan said “This was one of those rare records.”