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The Hathigumpha cave inscription at Udayagiri (Odisha) is an inscription of:
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Answer: Option C — Kharavela
Detailed Solution
The Hathigumpha ("elephant cave") inscription, in the Udayagiri hills near Bhubaneswar, Odisha, is an inscription of King Kharavela of Kalinga.
About Kharavela:
- He was the third ruler of the Mahameghavahana dynasty (also called the Chedi dynasty) of Kalinga.
- He ruled in the 1st century BCE (some scholars place him in the 2nd century BCE).
- He was a follower of Jainism, but respected all religions.
- His capital was Kalinganagari.
About the Hathigumpha inscription:
- It is inscribed on the overhanging rock of a natural cave.
- It has 17 lines, written in Prakrit, in the Brahmi script.
- It begins with a salutation to the Jain Arhats and Siddhas.
- It describes Kharavela's life and achievements, year by year, during the first 13 years of his reign.
What the inscription says:
- He was educated in writing, arithmetic, law and other subjects, and became crown prince at 15 and king at 24.
- He repaired the capital after a storm, built water reservoirs and gardens.
- He led military campaigns to the west (against the Satavahanas), north (to Magadha, where he is said to have humbled the king) and south (against the Tamil kingdoms).
- He brought back a Jain image ("Kalinga Jina") that had been taken away from Kalinga to Magadha by a Nanda king.
- He extended an aqueduct (canal) first dug by a Nanda king 300 years earlier.
- He organised festivals, music and dance for his people, and spent money on public welfare.
- He had caves built for Jain monks in the Udayagiri and Khandagiri hills.
Importance:
- It is the main source of information about Kharavela and the history of Kalinga after the Mauryas.
- It is one of the earliest inscriptions to mention "Bharatavarsha" (as "Bharadhavasa").
About the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves:
- They are a group of rock-cut caves, mostly made for Jain monks, in two hills near Bhubaneswar.
- The Rani Gumpha is the largest and most decorated cave.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Ashoka's inscriptions in Odisha are at Dhauli and Jaugada.
- ✗Samudragupta's inscription is at Allahabad.
- ✗Rudradaman's inscription is in western India.
Quick tip
Remember: Hathigumpha inscription = Kharavela (Mahameghavahana/Chedi dynasty of Kalinga; Jain; Udayagiri, Odisha); mentions "Bharadhavasa" and the Nanda canal.
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This topic covers the period after the Mauryas: the Shungas, Satavahanas, Indo-Greeks, Shakas and Kushanas, followed by the Gupta Empire, often called the classical age of India, and the reign of Harshavardhana. It includes art, literature, science and administration in these periods. Exams test the rulers and their achievements (Kanishka and the fourth Buddhist council, Samudragupta's Allahabad Pillar inscription, Chandragupta II and Fa-Hien), the Gandhara and Mathura schools of art, and Gupta scholars such as Kalidasa, Aryabhata and Varahamihira. Harsha's reign is usually tested with Hiuen Tsang and Nalanda University. Practise the post-Mauryan and Gupta age questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.