PANAJI
An ancient idol of Shree Kalbhairava found submerged in the lake at Shree Chamundeshwari temple in Pilgaon Bicholim has a stone inscription on the backside, claimed to be written in 16th century Nagari Konkani script. Dr Rohit Phalgaonkar, historian and researcher, who studied the inscription, claims that it is the first such inscription on stone found with letters in Devanagari script which look and sound similar to Konkani words. The words such as Goye Sinhasami, Goi and Goyant Chandika are nearest to the Konkani language. The word pronounced as ‘Falgunn’ (in Konkani) found in the inscription also resembles with the word ‘Falgun’ which is a month in the Hindu calendar.
The stone tablets found so far had words Gove, Gopak which mean Goa, but the words Goyant and Goye are found for the first time. That makes it the first such stone tablet found which is written in Konkani, claims Dr Phalgaonkar who is principal at Sant Sohirobanath Ambiye College in Pernem. He further stated that Tushar Tople, the chairman of the temple committee helped him in this find.
The idol was probably replaced by a new one, and the older was submerged in the lake waters. The writing is not very clear, but some words are readable. There are also two dates etched - Shree Shalivahan 1501 and Shree Shalivahan 1505 “ which according to Gregorian calendar is 1583 year.
Bharatiya Piurabhilekhg Sarvekshan dept Epigraphist also confirmed that the inscription is in Konkani. The words Gove, Gopak were found in the earlier inscriptions but Goyant and Goye are found for the first time, so they must be in Konkani. The idol was created in 1579 and established in 1583. Dr Phalgaonkar is eager to research and find more details about the inscription, the origin of this idol and it’s time.
