Why in news?
The Bhadrakali Inscription, recently highlighted in news, is a significant 12th-century artifact linked to the Somnath Temple's history in Prabhas Patan, Gujarat. Carved in 1169 CE during the Solanki dynasty, it details the temple's reconstructions across mythological yugas and the patronage of rulers like Kumarapala.​
About
The Bhadrakali Inscription is a 12th‑century epigraph located at the Bhadrakali Temple in Prabhas Patan, Gujarat. It records the patronage of the Solanki dynasty, especially King Kumarapala, and provides crucial details about the revival of the Somnath Temple and the prominence of Shakta traditions.
Historical Context
- Date & Location: Carved in 1169 CE (Valabhi Samvat 850 / Vikram Samvat 1255), embedded in the wall of the Bhadrakali Temple at Prabhas Patan, near Somnath.
- Dynastic Patronage: Issued during the reign of Maharajadhiraj Kumarapala of the Solanki dynasty, under the spiritual guidance of Param Pashupata Acharya Shriman Bhavabrihaspati.
- Purpose: It is a eulogistic inscription highlighting donations, temple construction, and royal endowments to Goddess Bhadrakali and Somnath.
Religious & Cultural Significance
- Shakta Tradition: Demonstrates the growing influence of Shakta customs alongside Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions in medieval Gujarat.
- Somnath Temple Revival: Chronicles Kumarapala’s role in restoring the Somnath Temple after repeated invasions, showing how inscriptions preserved sacred memory.
- Royal Legitimacy: Patronage of temples was a way for rulers to legitimize power and uphold social order.
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