On Bhoram Deo Temple Inscription of V. 1608
Summary
In this brief note, the author critiques an earlier edition by Dr. S. L. Katare of the Bhoram Deo temple inscription dated Vikrama year 1608. The inscription, preserved at the Bhoram Deo temple in present‑day Chhattisgarh, records repairs to the temple and alludes to its destruction at the hands of a “Patisaba.” Some readings of the inscription are unclear, and the author proposes alternative interpretations. Whereas Katare read a phrase as “patisafa kalasha varā vilātā,” the author suggests reading “patisabā vilāṭu,” which would indicate that the kalasha (spire) of the temple was destroyed by a Patisaba (Muslim ruler). The note discusses the possible identity of this ruler. Given that the Bhoram Deo temple was famous across the region, its desecration is attributed to a powerful figure. The author posits that “Patisaba” could refer to Qadir Shah of Malwa (r. 1535–1543), a Muslim ruler known to have campaigned from Bhilsa to the Narmada and might have sent expeditions into the Kawardha region where the inscription was found. By offering philological corrections and historical conjectures, the article underscores the need for careful reading of damaged or ambiguous inscriptions and encourages scholars to consider wider historical contexts when identifying figures mentioned in epigraphic texts.
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Conclusion
Through minor emendations, this note clarifies a key phrase in the Bhoram Deo temple inscription and argues that a Muslim ruler—possibly Qadir Shah—was responsible for an attack on the temple. The proposed reading offers a more coherent explanation of the inscription’s narrative and illustrates how re‑examining epigraphic texts can illuminate episodes of temple desecration and regional politics in the sixteenth century.