Epigraphia Indica Vol 04 - Book Summary

This document, "Epigraphia Indica Vol. 04" by E. Hultzsch, published by the Archaeological Survey of India, is a collection of ancient Indian inscriptions. While the catalog link indicates a Jain focus, the provided text reveals a broader scope covering various religious and historical inscriptions from different dynasties and periods of Indian history.

Here's a summary of the key aspects and the inscriptions detailed within the provided text:

Overall Content:

Purpose: The publication serves as a record of archaeological findings, specifically inscriptions found on stone and copper plates. It aims to present the text, translation, and historical context of these ancient documents for scholarly study.
Scope: The volume contains a diverse range of inscriptions from different regions of India, covering various time periods and ruling dynasties. These include inscriptions related to:
- Jainism: Although the catalog link suggests a Jain focus, the provided text includes inscriptions related to Jainism (e.g., "Jaina rock inscriptions at Vallimalai" and "Jaina rock inscriptions at Panchapandavamalai"), but also many others.
- Buddhism: "Three Buddhist inscriptions in Swat" by Prof. G. Bühler.
- Hinduism: Numerous inscriptions mention Hindu deities like Vishnu, Siva, and Ganesa, and record grants to temples and Brahmanas.
- Various Dynasties: Inscriptions from the Vijayanagara dynasty (Sadasivaraya), Eastern Chalukyas, Western Chalukyas (Somesvara I., Krishna III., Taila II.), Pallavas, Cholas (Rajaraja, Rajendra-Chola I., Rajadhiraja, Kulottunga-Chola I, Vikrama-Chola, Kulottunga-Chola III.), Rashtrakutas, Paramaras, and the Gupta era (Lunsadi plates of Siladitya II.) are included.
- Historical Figures: The inscriptions shed light on the reigns and activities of significant historical figures like Sadasivaraya, Krishna III., Harsha, Paramardideva, Ravivarman, and various kings of Kanauj, Chola, and Chalukya dynasties.
Methodology: Each inscription is presented with its location, author (contributor), details about the physical nature of the inscription (e.g., number of plates, material, dimensions, condition), the script and language used, and a detailed discussion of its historical and linguistic significance. The text is often accompanied by transliterations and translations.
Corrections and Additions: The document also includes an "Additions and Corrections" section, highlighting errata and refinements made to previously published information, demonstrating an ongoing scholarly process.

Key Inscriptions Mentioned and Discussed:

The "Contents" section on page 6 and subsequent pages lists numerous inscriptions, each identified by a number, a brief title, the author, and the relevant dates. Here are some notable ones based on the provided text, which touch upon various aspects of Indian history and religion:

No. 1: British Museum Plates of Sadasivaraya; Saka-Samvat 1478: Authored by F. Kielhorn, this inscription from the Vijayanagara Empire details a grant of villages. It discusses the genealogy of Sadasivaraya, the role of Ramaraja, and provides extensive lists of village names, contributing to understanding the geography and administration of the period. The inscription also touches upon the religious context by mentioning the grant to Rāmānuja for the worship of Vishnu.
No. 3: Udaypur Inscription of Aparajita; [Vikrama-]Samvat 718: Authored by F. Kielhorn, this inscription is significant for its paleographic analysis, particularly the use of the archaic form of the letter 'y', and its implications for dating North-Western Indian inscriptions. It records a grant made by King Aparajita of the Guhila family, related to the construction of a Vishnu temple.
No. 4: Pithapuram Pillar Inscription of Prithvisvara; Saka-Samvat 1109: Authored by E. Hultzsch, this inscription details a grant of land by Queen Jayambika to the Kunti-Madhava temple. It provides a detailed genealogy of the chiefs of Velanându, their relationship with the Eastern Chalukyas, and discusses various historical events and political alliances.
No. 5: Taxila Plate of Patika: Authored by G. Bühler, this inscription is significant for its use of Kharoshthi script and North-Western Prakrit language. It records the deposition of relics of Sakyamuni and the erection of a monastery by the Great Satrap Patika, son of Liaka Kusuluka, likely a Saka ruler. The inscription is crucial for understanding the political landscape of the Saka period in North India.
No. 15: Jaina Rock Inscriptions at Vallimalai: Authored by E. Hultzsch, this inscription, written in archaic Tamil characters, records the foundation of a Jain shrine by King Rajamalla, possibly of the Ganga dynasty. It also mentions the Jain preceptor Naganandin.
No. 22 & 62: Four Tamil Inscriptions at Kil-Muttugur: Authored by E. Hultzsch, these inscriptions are on stone slabs and discuss events like land grants and the death of warriors. The paleography of these inscriptions provides insights into the Tamil script of the period.
No. 23: Two Tamil Inscriptions at Ambur: Authored by E. Hultzsch, these inscriptions date to the reign of king Nripatunga-Vikramavarman and record the death of warriors during a cattle raid organized by the Nulamba. They also highlight the possible connection of the Nulamba chiefs with the Pallava rulers.
No. 30: Stone Inscriptions at the Jaținga-Râmeśvara hill: Authored by J. F. Fleet, these inscriptions are primarily in Kannada and discuss the reign of the Western Chalukya king Sômêsvara I. and his feudatory Kannapa. The inscriptions mention the grant of land for a school or hall.
No. 32: Sholinghur Rock Inscription of Parantaka I.: Authored by E. Hultzsch, this inscription is in Tamil and Sanskrit, dating to the reign of the Chola king Parantaka I. It records the death of a warrior and provides insights into the territorial divisions of the time.
No. 33: Pithapuram Inscription of Malladeva and Manma-Satya II.; Saka-Samvat 1117: Authored by E. Hultzsch, this inscription records a grant of land to the Kunti-Madhava temple by joint rulers. It also details the genealogy of the Eastern Chalukya dynasty and the chiefs of Konamandala.
No. 34: Khalimpur Plate of Dharmapaladeva: Authored by F. Kielhorn, this inscription is significant for being the earliest extensive record found of the Pala dynasty. It details the genealogy of the Palas and mentions the installation of a king of Kanyakubja by Dharmapala. It also discusses the people and tribes who accepted this installation.
No. 36: Kelawadi Inscription of the time of Sômêśvara I.; A.D. 1053: Authored by J. F. Fleet, this inscription in Kannada and Sanskrit records a grant made by Bhogadêvarasa, a feudatory of the Western Chalukya king Sômêsvara I., for the benefit of a tank.
No. 38: Sankalapura Inscription of Krishnaraya; Saka-Samvat 1435: Authored by E. Hultzsch, this inscription records a grant by the Vijayanagara king Krishnaraya to a temple of Ganapati. It provides significant historical information about the genealogy of the Vijayanagara dynasty and the author Appayadikshita.
No. 39: Vilapaka Grant of Venkata I.; Saka-Samvat 1523: Authored by E. Hultzsch, this grant details the genealogy of the third Vijayanagara dynasty and discusses the reign and titles of Venkata I. It also connects the historical context with the author Appayadikshita.
No. 40: Karhad Plates of Krishna III.; Saka-Samvat 880: Authored by R. G. Bhandarkar, this inscription provides a detailed account of the reign of Krishna III. of the Rashtrakuta family, including his military conquests and administrative actions. It also discusses the genealogy of the Rashtrakutas and their connection to the Tunga family.
No. 41: Kottayam Plate of Vira-Raghava: Authored by V. Venkata, this inscription provides a detailed paleographic analysis of the Tamil and Malayalam scripts. It records a grant by the merchant Iravikkorran, appointed with special rights by Vira-Raghava, highlighting the importance of trading institutions.
No. 43: Nandagim Plates of Vajrahasta; Saka-Samvat 979: Authored by G. V. Ramamurti, this inscription provides a significant amount of information about the Eastern Ganga dynasty, their genealogy, administrative divisions, and religious practices. It also discusses the historical context and paleography of the period.
No. 46: Tottaramadi Plates of Kåtaya-Vema: Authored by J. Ramayya, this inscription mentions the deeds of Kåtaya-Vema, a subordinate of the Vijayanagara king Sadasiva, and discusses the political divisions of the time.
No. 50: Hebbal Inscription of A.D. 975: Authored by J. F. Fleet, this inscription is significant for its historical details about the reign of a Western Chalukya king and the administration of the period.
No. 61: Donepalli Grant of Namaya-Nayaka; Saka-Samvat 1259: Authored by J. F. Fleet, this inscription provides information about the reign of Namaya-Nayaka and the administrative divisions of the time.

Specific Mention of Jainism:

While the catalog link suggests a Jain focus, the actual content of the provided text reveals a broader range of inscriptions. However, the following inscriptions are explicitly identified as related to Jainism:

No. 15: Jaina Rock Inscriptions at Vallimalai: This inscription, authored by E. Hultzsch, is written in archaic Tamil characters and records the foundation of a Jain shrine by King Rajamalla. It also mentions the Jain preceptor Naganandin.
No. 14: Jaina Rock Inscriptions at Panchapandavamalai: Authored by V. Venkata, this text describes the presence of Jain images and inscriptions on a hill ascribed to the Pandavas. It notes that the sculptures and inscriptions indicate the original Jaina affiliation of the place, which has since been taken over by Muslims. The inscription A. records the engraving of an image of Poggiyakkiyar attended by the preceptor Naganandin, and is dated in the 50th year of Nandipottarasar, likely a Pallava king.

Key Themes and Significance:

Genealogies and Dynastic History: Many inscriptions provide detailed genealogies of ruling families, helping to reconstruct dynastic histories and chronological frameworks for ancient India.
Religious and Cultural Practices: The inscriptions offer insights into the religious landscape of ancient India, detailing grants to various deities (Vishnu, Siva, Buddha, Jina), the construction of temples and monasteries, and the mention of religious figures and practices.
Administrative and Geographical Information: The inscriptions often list village names, district divisions (vishaya, mandala, pattala), and administrative titles, providing valuable information for historical geography and understanding ancient Indian administration.
Paleography and Linguistics: The detailed analysis of scripts (Grantha, Nagari, Kanarese, Tamil, Kharoshthi) and languages (Sanskrit, Prakrit, Tamil, Kannada) contributes to the study of historical linguistics and the evolution of Indian scripts.
Historical Events and Social Context: By dating events and mentioning battles, conquests, and social practices (like the dotation of ascetics, religious ceremonies), the inscriptions offer glimpses into the socio-political and historical context of ancient India.

In essence, "Epigraphia Indica Vol. IV" is a fundamental resource for scholars of ancient Indian history, epigraphy, religion, and linguistics, providing primary source material for understanding the multifaceted civilization of ancient India.