Epigraphia Indica Vol 05 - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text, based on the provided content of Epigraphia Indica, Vol. V (1898-99):

Overall Purpose:

Epigraphia Indica, Vol. V, is a collection of inscriptions, primarily edited by E. Hultzsch and other scholars like R. G. Bhandarkar, J. F. Fleet, and F. Kielhorn. This volume meticulously records and analyzes various inscriptions found across India, providing critical insights into the political, social, religious, and cultural history of ancient and medieval India. The inscriptions cover a wide range of dynasties and periods, from the time of Asoka to later medieval kingdoms. While the request specifically mentions "Jain text," the provided content is a general epigraphical journal. Therefore, the summary will focus on the entire volume's content, highlighting any Jain-related elements if present, though the index and titles suggest a broader scope.

Key Content and Themes:

The volume is structured into a series of numbered inscriptions, each accompanied by detailed textual analysis, translation, and commentary. The contributions are organized alphabetically by the authors' names.

Major Inscriptions and Their Significance:

The volume features numerous significant inscriptions, each offering a window into specific historical aspects:

No. 1. The Asoka Edicts of Padaria and Nigliva (by G. Bühler): This is a crucial piece detailing two Asokan edicts found in the Nepal Terai. It helps to fix the location of Lumbini garden, the birthplace of Buddha, and sheds light on Asoka's pilgrimage route and his administrative policies concerning tax remissions. The discussion also delves into the historical context of the Sakyas, their geographical location, and their customs.
No. 2. Yekkéri Rock Inscription of the time of Pulikesin II (by J. F. Fleet): This inscription pertains to the Western Chalukya king Pulikesin II. and records land grants made to the god Mahadeva. It provides information on the language and orthography of the period.
No. 3. Inscriptions at Managoli (by J. F. Fleet): This extensive section details inscriptions from Managoli, which was known by various ancient names like Manigavalli. It discusses the political landscape of the time, mentioning the Kalachurya king Bijjala and the Western Chalukya king Perma-Jagadékamalla II. Notably, it contains significant epigraphic mentions that suggest a connection to the historical Basava, the founder of the Vira-Saiva (Lingayat) sect. The record also provides detailed explanations of the Kanarese names for full moons and new moons, offering valuable cultural and linguistic data.
No. 4. Four Pillar Inscriptions of Eastern Chalukya Chiefs at Srikurmam (by E. Hultzsch): These inscriptions provide epigraphical confirmation of the tradition regarding Nannayabhatta, the first Telugu translator of the Mahabharata, and detail genealogical information and grants by Eastern Chalukya chiefs like Vijayaditya II and Purushottama. The alphabet is identified as Telugu.
No. 5. Two Grants of Dadda IV. Praśāntarāga (by G. Bühler): These grants of the Gurjara chief Dadda IV., dated in the Chedi-Samvat 392, offer insights into the western variety of southern alphabets and provide small verbal differences instructive of ancient Indian clerical practices. They also contribute to understanding the territorial extent of the Gurjaras.
No. 6. Eight Vatteluttu Inscriptions of Chola Kings (by E. Hultzsch): These inscriptions, found in the southernmost parts of the peninsula, belong to the reigns of Chola kings Parakesarivarman, Parantaka I., Rajaraja I., and Rajendra-Chola I. They are important for tracing the development of the Vatteluttu alphabet and its prevalence in the Pandya country. The inscriptions record various donations, such as lamps, to temples.
No. 7. Dates of Chola Kings (by F. Kielhorn): This section focuses on the chronological aspects of Chola kings, analyzing inscriptions to establish precise dates for the reigns of Rajaraja and Kulottunga-Chola I. It demonstrates meticulous astronomical and calendrical calculations to verify these dates.
No. 8. Rayakota Plates of Skandasishya (by E. Hultzsch): This inscription provides a genealogy that connects to the Pallava dynasty but also introduces Skandasishya, who claimed connection with both Pallavas and Western Gangas, possibly indicating a significant political entity of that era. The Tamil portion details a land grant to a Brahmana.
No. 9. Konkuduru Plates of Allaya-Dôdda (by G. V. Ramamurti): These plates offer a detailed genealogy of the Reddi chiefs of Rajamahendra, confirming and expanding upon information from Telugu poems. They shed light on the political landscape and the patronage of Telugu literature during that period.
No. 10. Pithapuram Plates of Vira-Choda, dated in his twenty-third year (by H. Krishna Sastri): These extensive copper-plate inscriptions provide a mythical genealogy of the Chalukya family and a historical account of the Eastern Chalukya kings. They offer important details about Vira-Choda's reign, his military campaigns, and the grants made for temple maintenance, also listing numerous donees and their gotras.
No. 11. Maunggun Gold Plates (by Maung Tun Nyein): These gold plates, found in Burma, contain quotations from Buddhist scriptures in Pali language and characters believed to be from the first century A.D. They highlight the cultural connections between India and Burma.
No. 12. Ahmadabad Inscription of Visaladêva (Vikrama-Samvat 1308) (by J. E. Abbott): This inscription records a grant by a servant of Sodhaladevi in the temple of Uttarkvara at Mahinsaka during the reign of Visaladeva. It raises questions about the identification of Mahinsaka and the reuse of temple materials by conquerors.
No. 13. Four Inscriptions of Kulottunga-Chola (by E. Hultzsch): This section presents inscriptions from Chidambaram and Tiruvengkadu, providing evidence for the conquests of Kulottunga-Chola I. and his family members, and detailing the grants made to temples.
No. 14. Dibbida Plates of Arjuna of the Matsya Family; Saka-Samvat 1191 (by F. Kielhorn): This inscription provides a detailed genealogy of the Matsya family, tracing its mythical origins and listing ruling chiefs. It also records land grants to Brahmanas and specifies the boundaries of the granted village.
No. 15. Three Copper-plate Inscriptions of Govindachandra of Kanauj (by F. Kielhorn): These inscriptions are critical for establishing the reign of Govindachandra of Kanauj and clarifying his genealogy. They detail land grants, including specific tax exemptions and local administrative divisions. The volume attempts to reconcile conflicting historical accounts and correct earlier interpretations.
No. 16. Six Eastern Chalukya Copper-plate Inscriptions (by E. Hultzsch): This section presents a series of grants from various Eastern Chalukya kings, including Vijayaditya II, Purushottama, Visvanatha, Amma I, Chalukya-Bhima I, and Amma II. These inscriptions offer insights into their reigns, religious affiliations (Saivism and donations to temples), administrative structures, and the evolution of the Telugu script.
No. 17. Chebrolu Inscription of Jaya; after Saka-Samvat 1135 (by E. Hultzsch): This inscription details the lineage and achievements of the Kakatiya king Ganapati and his feudatory Jaya. It recounts Jaya's military exploits, his building activities, and the compilation of temple records. The Telugu portion lists villages and land grants, while the Sanskrit verses praise the king and the patron.
No. 18. Sravana-Belgola Epitaph of Marasimha II. (by J. F. Fleet): This inscription is a detailed eulogy of the Western Ganga king Marasimha II. It provides a comprehensive genealogy of the Western Gangas, tracing their origins and the complexities of their chronology. The text also describes Marasimha II.'s military successes, his religious devotion (especially to Jainism), and his eventual abdication and death through religious fasting. The discussion highlights the challenges of reconstructing early South Indian history due to the nature of available records.
No. 19. Assam Plates of Vallabhadeva; Saka-Samvat 1107 (by G. Bühler): These copper plates, found in Assam, contain Sanskrit verses and prose. They provide a genealogy of the Assam rulers, including Vallabhadeva, and record the founding of an alms-house. The inscriptions are noted for their transitional Telugu alphabet and the use of specific regional characters.
No. 20. Dosli Plates of Krishna III.; Saka-Samvat 862 (by R. G. Bhandarkar): This inscription is crucial for understanding the Rashtrakuta dynasty. It clarifies the genealogy, detailing the reigns of kings like Dantidurga, Krishna I., Govinda II., Govinda III., Jagattunga, Amoghavarsha I. (Nripatunga), and Krishna II. It also provides historical context for the construction of the Kailasa temple at Ellora and sheds light on the political circumstances surrounding the succession of these kings.
No. 22. Vakkaleri Plates of Kirtivarman II.; Saka-Samvat 679 (by F. Kielhorn): This inscription belongs to the Western Chalukya king Kirtivarman II. and provides his genealogy. It records land grants and offers insights into the evolution of the Kanarese script.
No. 23. Mindigal Inscription of Rajadhiraja; Saka-Samvat 970 (by H. Krishna Sastri): This inscription pertains to the Chola king Rajadhiraja and offers a detailed account of his military campaigns, including his victories over the Pandyas and the Cholas. It also provides information about the administrative divisions and the charitable activities undertaken during his reign.
No. 24. Daulatpur Plate of Bhojadeva I. of Mahodaya; (Harsha-]Samvat 100 (by F. Kielhorn): This inscription belongs to the Gurjara Pratihara king Bhojadeva I. and sheds light on the political geography of northern India, suggesting the extent of his kingdom. It also discusses the dating conventions of the period and the unique use of the Harsha era.
No. 26. A Note on the Alphabet of the Donepundi Grant (by F. Kielhorn): This is a linguistic analysis of the script used in the Donepundi Grant, highlighting its transitional Telugu characters and discussing the forms of specific letters.

Jain Relevance:

While the title of the original request mentioned "Jain text," the provided content of Epigraphia Indica, Vol. V, is not exclusively Jain. However, there are potential points of relevance:

No. 3. Inscriptions at Managoli: The discussion about Basava and the revival of Saivism might indirectly touch upon the religious landscape of the time, which would have included Jainism. If Basava's movement interacted with or influenced Jainism, this could be a point of interest.
No. 18. Sravana-Belgola Epitaph of Marasimha II.: Sravana-Belgola is a major Jain pilgrimage site, and the inscription is an epitaph. This strongly suggests Jain relevance. The text mentions Marasimha II. abdicating and dying in the practice of religion at the feet of a Jain teacher named Ajitasena. It also refers to the "Jina" and "Jain temples" in relation to Ekantada-Ramayya's actions in the Ablur inscriptions (No. 25), although that specific context is about a conflict between Saivism and Jainism. The epitaph itself, being at a Jain center and describing a king's devotion to Jainism, is highly relevant.
No. 25. Inscriptions at Ablur: This inscription explicitly mentions "Jains" and "Jain temples." It describes a conflict where Ekantada-Ramayya is challenged by Jains, and the wager involves destroying their Jina and replacing it with a Siva linga. This directly addresses interactions between Saivism and Jainism.

Methodology and Importance:

Epigraphia Indica volumes like this are foundational for Indian historical and linguistic studies. They provide primary source material that is meticulously transcribed, translated, and analyzed. The editors and contributors demonstrate rigorous scholarship in deciphering scripts, emending texts, identifying historical figures and places, and correlating inscriptions with known historical events and dynasties. The volume's importance lies in its contribution to establishing reliable chronologies, understanding dynastic histories, tracing the evolution of scripts and languages, and illuminating religious and cultural practices of ancient India.

In essence, Epigraphia Indica, Vol. V, is a scholarly compilation of significant inscriptions, offering invaluable data for reconstructing the history of India, with particular mentions of Jainism in specific contexts, especially in the Sravana-Belgola epitaph and the interactions described in the Ablur inscriptions.