Hathigumpha inscription. From the Archaeological Survey of India Collections, taken by William Henry Cornish in c.1892.

The Hathigumpha inscription("Elephant Cave" inscription), from Udayagiri, near Bhubaneshwar in Orissa, was written by Kharavela, the king of Kalinga in India, during the 2nd century BCE. Orissa (2001 provisional pop. ... Kharavela was a powerful king of Kalinga in India during the 2nd century BCE. He is said to have been born in 209 BCE, and to have been a Jain. ... Kalinga in 265 B.C.E. Kalinga was an ancient kingdom of central-eastern India, in the province of Orissa. ... (3rd century BC - 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - other centuries) (2nd millennium BC - 1st millennium BC - 1st millennium AD) Events BC 168 Battle of Pydna -- Macedonian phalanx defeated by Romans BC 148 Rome conquers Macedonia BC 146 Rome destroys Carthage in the Third Punic War BC 146 Rome conquers...

The inscription mainly mentions the various conquests of this king, strating with his fight against the Satavahana king Satakarni: Approximate extent of the Satavahana Empire, circa 150 CE. The Sātavāhanas, also known as the Andhras, were a dynasty which ruled in Southern and Central India starting from around 230 BCE. Although there is some controversy about when the dynasty came to an end, the most liberal estimates...

"And in the second year (he), disregarding Satakamini, dispatches to the western regions an army strong in cavalry, elephants, infantry (nara) and chariots (ratha) and by that army having reached the Kanha-bemna, he throws the city of the Musikas into consternation." Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XX

The inscription then mentions that Kharavela forced the Indo-Greek (Yavana) king Demetrius to retreat from Rajgir, about 70 km (50 miles) southeast of Pataliputra, to the area of Mathura: Maximum extent of Indo-Greek territory circa 175 BCE. The Indo-Greeks (or sometimes Greco-Indians) designate a series of Greek kings, who invaded and controlled parts of northwest and northern India from 180 BCE to around 10 BCE. They are the continuation of the Greco-Bactrian dynasty of Greek... Yona, Yonaka or Yavana is a Pali word used in ancient India to designate Greeks. ... Rajgir is an ancient town, and has reference in Mahabharata, Buddhist and Jain texts. ... ... Mathura (मथुरा) is a city in India, located approximately 50 km north of Agra, and south of Delhi. ...

"Then in the eighth year, (he) with a large army having sacked Goradhagiri causes pressure on Rajagaha (Rajagriha). On account of the loud report of this act of valour, the Yavana (Greek) King Dimi[ta] retreated to Mathura having extricated his demoralized army and transport." Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XX

Rajgir is an ancient town, and has reference in Mahabharata, Buddhist and Jain texts. ...

References

• Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XX (1929-30). Delhi: Manager of Publications, 1933.

External links

• Full text of the Hathigumpha inscription