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The inscriptions are on a vertical rock face which appears to have been the back wall of an artificial cave that has been eroded away by water. Dimensions are not reported. Local tradition says that the place was the cave of Virūpākṣa ṛṣi and the inscriptions were engraved by devas in three different kinds of devākṣaras and contain sacred teachings. There is a large engraved wheel with flames around its circumference and at its hub, which may be a representation of Viṣṇu's cakra. The primary inscription (IN00126) is below the wheel and aligned to its centre, while the secondary inscription (IN00127) is to the right of the wheel, slightly above its centreline. There are (probably) three further inscriptions, not mentioned at all in the reports and editions of the primary inscription, in stylised, highly calligraphic characters (śaṅkhalipi?). These seem to be engraved less deeply than the readable inscriptions. One, consisting apparently of two words (5 and 7-8 characters) separated by a space, is below and to the left of the wheel (above and to the left of the primary inscription); another, a single word (5-6 characters) is on the far right, below and to the right of the secondary inscription. The inked impression in Shastri 1915-16 shows the latter, but not the former. A third sequence, further to the left of and above the first undeciphered inscription, also seems to be text, possibly in yet another calligraphic script. |