The
Umachal rock inscription is the earliest epigraphic source discovered in
Assam. Dated to the 5th century, the rock description was discovered in the north-eastern slopes of the Nilachal Hills (called Umachal), near
Guwahati city. The artifact is dated primarily on the basis of the identification of the named Surendra Varman with
Mahendra Varman (fl. c470-494) of the
Varman dynasty. The script is in the eastern variety of the
Gupta script and the language is
Sanskrit prose. Though the Nilachal Hills is known for the
Kamakhya Temple, a
shakta/tantra site, this temple was for
Balabhadra, a god of the Vaishnavite pantheon.