# Mahābalipuram, Shore Temple, Varāha’s birudas

Emmanuel Francis

Author of digital edition: Emmanuel Francis

Identifier: DHARMA_INSPallava00381

Repository: Pallava (tfa-pallava-epigraphy)

File path: DHARMA_INSPallava00381.xml

Language: Sanskrit [Grantha]

Commit: 2026-10-08 12:16 (1b1b17c), last modified 2026-09-29 11:09
(6edbbfa)

## Summary

A series of birudas inscribed on the pedestal of a sculpture of Varāha.

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## Edition

⟨1⟩ ⟨Face a⟩ śrī-rāja-siṁhaḥ śrī-raṇa-jayaḥ śrī-(bh)araḥ ⟨Face b⟩
śrī-citra-kārmmukaḥ

## Apparatus

⟨1⟩ śrī-(bh)araḥ ⬦ śrī-dharaḥ ARIE.

## Translation

The glorious lion among kings, the glorious victorious one in fight, the
Fortune-bearer; the glorious one with a wonderful quiver.

## Translation into French

Le glorieux lion d’entre les rois, le glorieux vainqueur au combat, le
soutien de la prospérité, le glorieux au carquois formidable.

## Commentary

According to Willis 2004 (p. 223), these birudas are descriptive labels.

## Bibliography

Reported in ARIE 1990–91.

This revised edition by Emmanuel Francis, from autopsy and photos
(20**).

### Primary

[ARIE] ARIE 1990–91. Annual report on Indian epigraphy for 1990-91.
Edited by Madhav N. Katti. New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India,
2006. Pages 6, 87, appendixes B/1990-1991, items 159-162.

### Secondary

Lockwood, Michael. 1993. Māmallapuram: A guide to the monuments. Madras:
Tambaram Research Associates, Madras Christian College. Page 108.

Lockwood, Michael, Vishnu Bhat A, Gift Siromoney & Dayanandan P. 2001.
Pallava art. Madras, Tambaram: Tambaram Research Associates. Page 223.

Willis, Michael. 2004. “The archaeology and politics of time.” In: The
Vākāṭaka heritage: Indian culture at the crossroads. Edited by Hans T.
Bakker. Gonda Indological Studies 13. Groningen: Egbert Forsten, pp.
33–58. Page 223.

Francis, Emmanuel. 2013. Le discours royal dans l’Inde du Sud ancienne :
inscriptions et monuments Pallava, IV^(ème)-IX^(ème) siècles. Tome I :
Introduction et sources. Publications de l’Institut orientaliste de
Louvain 64. Louvain-la-Neuve; Paris: Université catholique de Louvain,
Institut orientaliste; Peeters. Page 280, item IR 41.