South Indian Inscriptions

EPIGRAPHIA INDICA

the title Mahâraṭhi, which occurs in the cave-inscriptions (Kârlê) Nos. 2 and 14 ; A.S.W.I. Vol. IV. p. 83, No. 7 (Bhâjâ), and p. 90, No. 3 (Bêḍsâ). At my request Mr. R. Sewell kindly sent me for comparison the two lead coins (Plate iii. A. and C.) which he had received from Mr. Mervyn Smith in 1888. These supply the first word of the legend, Sadakana (see Plate iii. A.), and contain portions of the second word, Kaḷalâya, while the third word, Mahâraṭhisa, is preserved in B. and C. The three coins may be briefly described as follows :-

Plate iii. A. (Sewell).

Obverse.─ A humped bull, standing towards the proper right. Round it, the words Sadakana-Ka[ḷalâ] . . . . . . . . .
Reverse.- A bôdhi-tree between two symbols.

Plate iii. B. (Hultzsch).

Obverse.- Similar to A. There is a deep and distinct punch-mark below the bull. Round the latter, [Sa] . [ka]na-Kaḷalâya-Mahâraṭh[i]sa.
Reverse.─ A bôdhi-tree, a chaitya, and a symbol between them.

Plate iii. C. (Sewell).

Obverse.- Similar to A. Round the bull, Sa . . . [Kaḷa]lâya-Mahâraṭhisa.
Reverse.─ A bôdhi-tree and a chaitya.

“Taking the three coins together, it appears that the complete legend, of which each bears a portion, is Sadakana-Kaḷalâya-Mahâraṭhisa.

“ The curious word Kaḷalâya reminds us of the equally peculiar Andhra name Puḷumâyi. Sadakana is the same as Sâtakaṇi in the Andhra inscriptions. Perhaps Kaḷalâya, with the surname or family name Sadakana and the title Mahâraṭhi, held Chitaldroog as a vassal of the Andhra kings. From the emblems pictured on his coins we learn that he was a Buddhist, and that his crest was a bull.

“Since writing the above, I found that the Mysore Government Museum at Bangalore possesses two lead coins of the same type, presented by Mr. Mervyn Smith, who found them near Chitaldroog in 1888.”

No. 3, Plate ii. (K. 3).

Chaitya cave. Below the feet of the three elephants at the right end of the verandah.

TEXT.

Therânaṁ bhaṁyaṁta-(1). I[ṁ]dadevasa hathi cha puvâdo hathinaṁ cha uparimâ hethimâ cha veyikâ dânaṁ.

REMARK.

(1) AS. and CTI. read bhayaṁº. I do not feel inclined to believe that the anusvâra of bhaṁ is intentional ; but it certainly seems to exist on the stone.

TRANSLATION.

“ The elephants and, before the elephants, the rail-mouldings above and below (are) the gift of the Sthavira, the venerable Indradêva.”

In separating do and in considering it to represent the numeral dvau, previous editors have created difficulties which they found it hard to overcome. It is sufficient to look at a photograph to recognise that the elephants are actually separated from the spectator by the balustrade