South Indian Inscriptions

Contents
Index
Introduction
Contents
List of Plates
Additions and Corrections
Images
Contents
Bhandarkar
T. Bloch
J. F. Fleet
Gopinatha Rao
T. A. Gopinatha Rao and G. Venkoba Rao
Hira Lal
E. Hultzsch
F. Kielhorn
H. Krishna Sastri
H. Luders
Narayanasvami Ayyar
R. Pischel
J. Ramayya
E. Senart
V. Venkayya
G. Venkoba Rao
J. PH. Vogel
Index
Other South-Indian Inscriptions
Volume 1	Volume 2
Volume 3	Vol. 4 - 8
Volume 9	Volume 10
Volume 11	Volume 12
Volume 13	Volume 14
Volume 15	Volume 16
Volume 17	Volume 18
Volume 19	Volume 20
Volume 22 Part 1	Volume 22 Part 2
Volume 23	Volume 24
Volume 26	Volume 27
Tiruvarur	Darasuram
Konerirajapuram	Tanjavur
Annual Reports 1935-1944	Annual Reports 1945- 1947
Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Volume 2, Part 2	Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Volume 7, Part 3
Kalachuri-Chedi Era Part 1	Kalachuri-Chedi Era Part 2
Epigraphica Indica	Epigraphia Indica Volume 3
Epigraphia Indica Volume 4	Epigraphia Indica Volume 6
Epigraphia Indica Volume 7	Epigraphia Indica Volume 8
Epigraphia Indica Volume 27	Epigraphia Indica Volume 29
Epigraphia Indica Volume 30	Epigraphia Indica Volume 31
Epigraphia Indica Volume 32	Paramaras Volume 7, Part 2
Śilāhāras Volume 6, Part 2	Vākāṭakas Volume 5
Early Gupta Inscriptions
Archaeological Links
Archaeological-Survey of India
Pudukkottai

EPIGRAPHIA INDICA

in my opinion, would well agree with the evidence of the coins which, starting from purely Hellenistic types, manifest a constant deterioration ending in the barbarous issues of the Kushaṇas. And in like manner the sculptures which owed their origin to the same Hellenistic influence must have had a parallel history of gradual Indianisation.

The Sârnâth image has two inscriptions : one, as in Gupta sculptures, carved on the front of the plain pedestal, the other on the back of the image between the feet. The former (iii. b, c) is divided into two halves by a vertical, semi-circular groove. It consists of two lines, each half being nearly 24 cm. in length. The size of the letters varies between 1 and 5 cm. In the second half of the first line the sixth akshara is slightly damaged, and at the end one or two aksharas are lost. 1 read it :

1 Bhikshusya Balasya trepiṭakasya Bodhisatvo prat[i]shṭhâpito . . .
2 mahâkshatrapena Kharapallânena sahâ kshatrapena Vanashparena.

“ (This gift) of Friar Bala, a master of the Tripiṭaka (namely an image of) the Bôdhisattva, has been erected by the great satrap Kharapallâna together with the satrap Vanashpara.”

The inscription on the back of the image (iii. d) consists of three lines. The proper left side of the inscribed surface, which measures 40 by 17 cm., is defaced, and at the bottom a piece is broken, causing the loss of the concluding word. On an impression taken immediately after the discovery of the image, the upper parts of the aksharas of this word were plainly visible. But it seems that in removing it a piece of the stone has chipped off. The missing portion of the inscription can thus be restored with certainly. The size of the letters is 1 to 4·5 cm. The following is my reading :─

1 Mahârajasya Kaṇi[shkasya] saṁ 3 he 3 di 2[2]
2 etaye purvaye bhikshusya Balasya trepiṭa[kasya]
3 Bodhisatvo chhatrayashṭi cha [pratishṭhâpito].

“ In the 3rd year of Mahârâja Kanishka, the 3rd (month) of winter, the 22nd day, on this (date specified as) above has (this gift) of Friar Bala, a master of the Tripiṭaka, (namely an image of) the Bôdhisattva and an umbrella with a post, been erected.”

___________________________

<< - 13 Page

Home Page