1st Indian reference to Halley’s Comet found in Sanskrit inscription

In an exciting discovery in India, a copper plate inscription from the year 1456 CE has been found from the Srisailam Mallikarjunaswamy temple in Andhra Pradesh. This inscription is the first epigraphical reference to Halley’s Comet in the history of India. It has been announced by Dr. K. Munirathnam Reddy, Director Epigraphy Branch, Archaeological Survey of India. The mythology of the site tells the story of common cultural and astronomical experience of comets in the Vijayanagar Period.

Details of the inscription

The inscription is in Sanskrit and it describes a grant by Vijayanagara ruler Mallikarjuna during which the grant was made on 28 June 1456 CE coincidently on the same day Halley’s Comet appeared in 1456. The inscription mentions that it was during the time of Halley’s Comet, and additionally, a meteor shower, both of which would have been regarded as omens.

Cultural significance of comets

In many global and ancient cultures, Halley’s Comet and other comets have been regarded as symbols of misfortune in society. The inscription claims that there was a belief that the appearance of a comet would bring calamity and to prevent this calamity the ruler made a grant of land to a scholar of Vedic script. This action represents the common impulse in society to overcome fear associated with celestial bodies.

Astronomical context

Halley’s comet is known to appear regularly over time; the inscription gives the specific day of Halley’s Comet appearing in 1456 that has been identified in other historical sources. In addition to other ancient texts that mention comets, Dr. Reddy pointed out that this is the first mention of a comet represented in an inscription; this note provides an understanding of the scholarly conceits and the astronomical knowledge of the time.

The Scholar and the Grant

The grant was given to a Brahmin named Limgaṇarya, who was likely knowledgeable in astronomy. He received a village named Simgapura as an agrahāra. He received a village called Simgapura as an agrahāra. These grants show the patterns of patronage by a ruler toward scholars, which indicates scholarly learning and knowledge were valued in the period of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Future Research and Publication

The hodiernal discovery resulted from an overall careful analysis of a set of unpublished copper plate charters. The collection consists of 78 copper leaves, which are set to be published in book form. The publication will include further significant data about the historical and cultural context from the period of Vijayanagar.