The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c16.s2.27

v2.c16.s2.27

Prinsep takes the name of the person to whose honour and glory the inscription was recorded to be Aira, and the manner in which the name is introduced fully justifies the assumption. It is possible, however, that the word Mahāmeghavāhana, which follows the title Mahārājā, was the proper personal name, and the first word was an epithet—probably the race-name. In the present state of the record this doubt, however, cannot be satisfactorily solved, and for the sake of convenience it is well that the first word, which does not readily afford a good meaning as an epithet, should be accepted as the proper name. Neither the name Aira nor Meghavāhana occurs in the temple records of Orissa, nor in any of the genealogical tables; and this fact can be best accounted for on the supposition of the person who bore it having been a usurper.