Udupi, Mar 31, 2016: A media release by T Murugeshi, associate professor, Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, MSRS College, Shirva, stated that a tablet with Kannada inscription, said to be of the 13th century has been discovered at Untunahole Erannanamakki in Kaltodu village of Kundapur taluk. The inscription started with an invocation to lord Shiva and written in the Saka year 1219, which corresponds to 1293 A.D.
"Devarasa is mentioned as the emperor but other details are not clear to identify the ruler. An Alupa ruler Nagadevarasa’s name has been mentioned as the ruler of Tulunadu in other records, and he might have been the same as the ruler mentioned in the inscription. During his reign, a site of land was donated to ’Hebbariyara Mutt’ of Herali. At present, it is known as Heranjalu Mutt," says the release.
On the top of the tablet, there is a Shivalinga with two bulls on the side, a trident, a lamp, a Nidhikumbha and a Yupa or sacrificial post is found. The first line of the inscription is carved in medieval Nagari script and rest of the record is in Kannada script and language.
"The presiding deity of the present day Heranjalu Mutt is goddess Mahalakshmi. Heranjalu is the only Mutt in Karnataka which had Adilakshmi as its presiding deity. Adilakshmi was salivating in antiquity. The Nidhikumbha (treasure pot) represented in the record also clearly indicates that the donation was given to goddess Mahalakshmi. A bronze statue of Mahalakshmi, dated 13th century, has also been found in the Mutt," the release stated.