Ancient Telugu inscription found at Tadipatri temple

Metro India News | anantapur

A rare and historically significant Telugu inscription has been discovered on the north wall of the Sri Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple in Anantapur district. Historian MyNaa Swamy announced the finding on Tuesday, shedding new light on the region’s cultural and devotional past.

After carefully deciphering the clear Telugu script, the historian revealed that the inscription records the obeisance offered by Basavappa, son of Satram Cheruvupalli Kalayya from Mahimaluru in Udayagiri Seema, at the feet of Sri Tatiparti Rameshwara Deva. The event is noted to have taken place on Chaitra Bahula Dwadashi during the Telugu cyclic year of Bhava. As the inscription does not specify an exact calendar year, it is estimated to date back to either 1574 or 1634 CE. MyNaa Swamy further suggested that Basavappa may have served as a regional representative of the Mahimaluru area.

The inscription is accompanied by intricate carvings depicting Basavappa and his wife in a posture of devotion beside a Sivalingam. An adjacent engraving identifies his wife as Basavappa Pendlamu Naga Easwaramma, with the term ‘Pendlamu’ reflecting the local Rayalaseema dialect.

The historian noted that Tadipatri was part of the Pennabadi Seema under the Gutti Kingdom during the Vijayanagara Empire. The participation of a devotee from distant Udayagiri Seema highlights the widespread spiritual connections of that era.