Mangaluru
A death inscription of Alupa emperor Kulasekhara Alupendra I has been found at the Someshwara temple at Someshwara in the city, T. Murugesi said through his press release.
There are two attractive drawings on a rectangular stone and the first line of the inscription is written on the strip between them. Then an 11-line inscription is written at the bottom of the drawing. In the first line of the inscription, Someshwara Somaprabhu of the Someshwara temple is praised as residing here. Later Kulasekhara I is described as Somakulatilaka, Pandya Maharajadhi Raja, Parameshwara, Paramabhattaraka. Subsequently, in line 5 and 6 of the inscription, it is mentioned that Srimatkulasekaralvara was a lupida i.e. dead. After his death, Siridevayya removed the white umbrella symbolizing the Dalya Chhattara, the royal emblem. It is explained that Kesavana probably made the hand of this inscription by Keshavanna. The meaning of the last two lines of the inscription is not clear.
Illustrated strips of inscription: At the top of the inscription there are two attractive stripes and the bottom strip depicts Kulasekara Alupendra standing in a triposture with a sword in his right hand and his left hand resting on a shield. To his left is the pillar of fame. The king is depicted sitting in a meditative posture in Padmasana next to the Kirti Stambha. The hairstyles and ornaments of both the sculptures are similar.
Someshwara is depicted in human form as sitting in a comfortable posture in the centre of the upper strip. On the right side is depicted Ume standing in a tripose holding a seed fruit. On the left side of Someshwara, Kulasekhara Alupendra is depicted standing with anjalibhada.
