Koppal
Locals on Sunday discovered a Jain inscription on a rock in the Tungabhadra River near Anegondi in Gangavati taluk, historically recognized as the original capital of the Vijayanagara kings.
The inscription was found along the road leading from the village to Nava Vrindavan Gadde, near the 64-pillared pavilion known as the Samadhi of Sri Krishnadevaraya.
The rock-carved inscription features Old Kannada or Prakrit script. At the top is an image of a Jain Tirthankara, while the center depicts a Jain follower in meditation. On the right side, another figure is shown meditating, and on the left, a figure is depicted in a confessional pose. Symbols appear on the central figure’s head and arms, though they are unclear.
Submerged in the Tungabhadra River, the inscription has become visible due to reduced water flow, though part of the rock has already cracked. The discovery indicates that Jainism existed in Anegondi even before the Vijayanagara empire, enjoying royal patronage.
Local youth Gopi urged historians and researchers to study the inscription for accurate information and appealed to the government to ensure its protection.