inscription of Mangalesha at Badami

The four important Chalukyan period inscriptions found at Badami are:
1. Pulakeshi Shasana,
2. Pallava Shasana,
3. Kappe Arabhatta Shasana and
4. Mangalesha Shasana.
While the first three are situated at different locations in the North fort, the fourth inscription i.e. Mangalesha Shasana is on the rock face besides rock-cut cave temple number 3. Just above the four-line inscription is a separate inscription which seems to be the name of an individual. It could be one of the scribes or sculptors who worked here.

Mangalesha was one of the well known kings of Chalukyan empire, he was a son of  Pulakeshi I. This relationship is mentioned in the pillar inscription at Mahakoota. This four-line inscription at Badami is about the grant from the income of a village named Lannjigesara. Below is the transcription as given in the booklet on Badami published by The Department of Archaeology, Museums & Heritage:

svasti srimat prithivivallabha mamgalēsanā
kalmanege ittōdu lamjigēsaram dēvarkke puniruva
malakarargge ardha-visadi ittōdān-alivõn
pancha-mahāpātakan-akum ēlaneyā narakadā pulu akkum

The grant was given to to the garland makers supplying flowers to MahaVishnu shrine i.e. the rock-cut shrine known as Badami Cave III. The inscription also issues a warning to those attempting to scuttle this grant.

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