Halley’s Comet & Vijayanagara Inscription

Published on 26 Oct 2025

• The first Indian epigraphic reference to Halley’s Comet has been found in a 1456 CE copper plate inscription from the Vijayanagar period.

• It is preserved at the Srisailam Mallikarjuna Swamy temple in Andhra Pradesh. 

• Written in Sanskrit (Nagari script), it mentions a comet (dhūmakētu mahōtpāta śāntyartham), and the associated meteor shower (Prakāśyāya mahōtpāta śāntyartham)”.

• This coincides with the 1456 appearance of Halley’s Comet. 

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Keywords:

Halley’s Comet Vijayanagara Inscription Epigraphy Srisailam Mallikarjuna Swamy temple Copper plates Decipherment