Dec 17, 2011. The entire morning was dedicated to seeing a natural wonder called Sidlapadi. I'd waited almost a year to see the naturally formed sandstone arch on Hiregudda, and the wait ended that morning. Thanks to my hosts' Ranganath Juttannavar and Dhariappa Dharegonnanavar's hospitality. Due to a prior engagement, Ranganath couldn't join us, Dhariappa and I had done the 4 km + 4 km trek on the deserted hill. We spent about an hour at Sidlapadi and also explored the immediate surroundings checking out caverns and smaller rock shelters, all the while on our toes expecting some wild creature to leap out from them. No such thing happened, we returned safely. Back at Badami, Dhariappa went straight to his college where he worked as a lecturer. That afternoon I caught up with Ranganath, and we did a small tour of the northern hill checking out inscriptions, all dating back to Chalukyan times. After the visit I did not follow up on the inscriptions and memories about them faded. After more than a decade I yearned to see Kappe Arabhatta inscription again.
Aug 29, 2023. My friend Srinu from Hyderabad had come to Dharwad to spend a few days with us. I suggested a two-day tour of the Chalukyan realm. We reached Badami around 9 am, first we saw the rock-cut cave shrines and then drove to the northern fort side. We parked Srinu's car near Bhootanath complex and checked out the complex in detail. From the parking lot, Kappe Arabhatta inscription was just a couple of minutes walk. The inscription is situated on a rock face to the left of Badami-Mahakoota trail - a trail which has been used since the Chalukyan times or even earlier. Below is a picture of the place. The staircase, I guess is a recent creation. The inscription is on the left hand side under the overhang. In ancient times, caretakers were appointed for important inscriptions. The caretaker duty included reading out the message to people.
Kappe Arabhatta inscription which consist of text and a drawing. There are ten lines of text and a drawing of a wheel with ten petals. The wheel is ochre colored, looks like a natural paint made using certain minerals, blood and juice from crushed leaves. I believe this paint is ancient, probably applied soon after the text were inscribed.
A closer look at the text. Since I cannot red ancient text, I had to refer a few sources- booklet on Badami my the Dept of Archaeology. Museums & Heritage; and Wikipedia -to learn its meaning. As per historians, Kappe Arabhatta was a heroic figure from Chalukyan times, probably a great warrior. This inscription is dedicated to him, outlining his personality briefly. The inscription's transliteration and translation are given below.
Transliteration:
Kappe-arabhattan sishtajana-priyan
kashtajana-varjitan Kaliyuga-viparitan ||
Varan-tējasvinō mṛittyur-na-tu mānāvakhandanam
mrittyus-tatkshanikō duḥkham-manabhangan-dinē dine ||
Sadhuge sadhu mädhuryyange madhuryyan badhippa
kalige Kaliyuga-viparitan-Madhavanitan-peranallan ||
Ollitta keyvōrār-ppolladum-adarante ballittu kalige
viparita purakritamilli sandhikkum-adu bandum ||
kattida simghaman-kettoden-emagendu bittavol-kalige vi-
paritamg-ahitarkkal-kettar-men-sattar-avichāram ||
Literal translation:
Kappe Arabhata, beloved of the good people
avoided by evil people, an exceptional man in Kaliyuga
To the good people, good, to the sweet, sweetness; | causing distress
to the kali age, an exceptional man in Kaliyuga, | Madhava (or Vishnu), this man another is not ||
What is good those who do who the evil like that | strong
exception to (or opposite) the ancient karma | here samdhikkum it having come ||
Bound the lion harmful thing what | in the same way as releasing
exception to or opposite the enemies | were ruined and died without foresight (or without doubt) ||
I think the literal translation is good enough and I'll not attempt adding anything more.
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