Prachin Lipimala

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Prachin Lipimala" by Gaurishankar Harishchandra Ojha, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Prachin Lipimala (The Ancient Script-Album) Author: Pandit Gaurishankar Harishchandra Ojha Publisher: Gaurishankar Harishchandra Ojha Publication Year: Vikram Samvat 1951 (1894 CE)

Core Purpose and Significance:

"Prachin Lipimala" is a foundational work in the field of Indian paleography, particularly significant for presenting this complex subject in a vernacular language (Hindi) for the first time. Its primary aim is to bridge the knowledge gap among native Indians regarding their own ancient scripts and history, which were largely inaccessible due to being published in English and other European languages. The book serves as a crucial tool for understanding the evolution of Indian scripts, deciphering ancient inscriptions, and ultimately reconstructing India's rich history.

Key Themes and Content:

The book is divided into two main parts:

Part 1: Dissertations on Paleography and Historical Context

• The Importance of Paleography: Ojha emphasizes that a correct understanding of ancient scripts (paleography) is paramount for recovering India's early history. He highlights that despite the lack of systematic historical records, archaeological findings like coins, inscriptions, and copper plate grants are invaluable for shedding light on the past.
• Evolution of Indian Scripts: The book details how Indian alphabets underwent significant changes over time, leading to the loss of knowledge of older forms. This transformation made ancient inscriptions appear mysterious and less accessible.
• History of Scholarly Endeavor: Ojha traces the revival of interest in Indian paleography, starting with the establishment of the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1784. He acknowledges the contributions of European and Indian scholars who worked on deciphering inscriptions, coins, and grants, bringing to light the histories of various dynasties.
• The Deficiency in Vernacular Literature: A major critique is the lack of any comprehensive book on paleography published in India's vernacular languages. This deficiency made the subject inaccessible to the vast majority of the Indian population.
• Ojha's Contribution: To address this gap, Ojha authored "Prachin Lipimala" in Hindi, aiming to provide a self-study guide for his countrymen.
• Content of Part 1: This section includes several key articles:
  • A dissertation on the existence of writing among the Indo-Aryans in ancient times.
  • The indigenous origin of the Pali alphabet.
  • The origin and existence of Gandhara alphabets in India.
  • The history of deciphering ancient inscriptions.
  • Epochs of various Indian eras as found in inscriptions, including Saptarshi, Kaliyuga, Nirvana of Buddha, Maurya, Vikrama, Shaka, Chedi, Gupta-Vallabhi, Harsha, Gangeya, Nevara, Lakshmana Sena, Chalukya Vikrama, Simha, and Kolama.
  • Ancient numerals.
• Argument for Ancient Indian Literacy: Ojha strongly refutes the claims of some Western scholars (like Max Müller and Burnell) who suggested that Aryans learned writing later or from foreigners. He presents evidence from ancient texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, the grammar of Panini (mentioning words like "lipi" and "likh"), the Mahabharata, and archaeological findings like Ashoka's edicts to prove that writing was well-established in India much earlier than these scholars suggested. He cites the longevity of inscriptions on stone and metal as proof of enduring writing practices.
• Evidence from Ashoka's Edicts: The book extensively discusses Ashoka's inscriptions, highlighting their age (dating back to around 269 BCE), their script (mostly Pali, with some in Gandhari), and their linguistic diversity (written in local Prakrit languages for accessibility). He argues that the completeness of the Brahmi alphabet in Ashoka's time further supports the antiquity of Indian writing.
• Debunking Foreign Origin Theories: Ojha meticulously analyzes and refutes theories proposing Phoenician, Aramaic, or Egyptian origins for Indian scripts. He demonstrates that the similarities between scripts are superficial and that the structural differences (like vowel signs, alphabetical order, and completeness) point to an independent development of Indian scripts, particularly the Pali (Brahmi) script.
• Gandhari Script: He explains the Gandhari script, its distinctiveness from Pali, its right-to-left orientation, and its likely origin from Iranian scripts introduced during the Achaemenid Empire's expansion.
• Chronological Discussions of Eras: A significant portion of Part 1 is dedicated to analyzing various Indian dating systems (Saptarshi, Kaliyuga, Shaka, Vikrama, etc.), explaining their origins, cycles, and how they are identified in ancient inscriptions. He points out discrepancies and debates surrounding these eras.

Part 2: Illustrative Plates (Facsimiles of Scripts)

• 52 Plates of Scripts: This part comprises 52 plates showcasing alphabets derived from various inscriptions and copper plate grants from different regions of India.
• Categorization of Plates:
  • Plates 1-24: Alphabets of Northern and Western India.
  • Plates 25-26: Gandhari alphabets.
  • Plates 27-37: Alphabets of Southern India, with each plate including sections of the original inscriptions.
  • Plates 38-39: Ancient Tamil alphabets.
  • Plate 40: Numerals from inscriptions given in words and figures.
  • Plates 41-43: Various ancient numerical symbols.
  • Plates 44-50: Alphabets of different vernacular languages of India (Kashmiri, Punjabi, Takri, Mahajani, Caithli, Maithili, Bengali, Odia, Gujarati, Modi, Dravidian, Kannada, Tulu, Tamil).
  • Plate 51: Demonstrates the evolution of the modern Devanagari characters from Ashoka's time.
  • Plate 52: Contains letters not found in the first 39 plates.
• Detailed Descriptions: Each plate is accompanied by short descriptions, explaining the source of the inscription, the period it represents, and any notable features of the script. The text also provides transliterations of original inscription segments, highlighting corrections and additions.
• Focus on Evolution: The plates are arranged to show the development and variations of scripts over time and across different regions.

Author's Motivation and Acknowledgments:

• Personal Motivation: Ojha was inspired to undertake this work by his secretaryship under Mahamahopadhyay Kaviraj Shyamaldasji for the "Vir Vinod" history project. His prior study of ancient scripts with Pandit Bhagwanlal Indraj i further fueled his desire to make this knowledge accessible.
• Acknowledgement of Assistance: Ojha expresses gratitude to Lala Sohanlalji for preparing the plates, Munshi Deviprasadji and Ganeshdanji for providing rubbings of inscriptions, and Ashiya Chalakdanji of the Sajjan Press for the printing. He also thanks individuals and sources that provided advice and assistance.

Overall Contribution:

"Prachin Lipimala" is a monumental scholarly achievement that democratized the study of Indian paleography. By presenting a systematic and visually rich compilation of ancient Indian scripts in Hindi, Gaurishankar Harishchandra Ojha empowered a generation of scholars and enthusiasts to engage with India's past through its primary sources. The book laid a crucial groundwork for subsequent research in epigraphy and the history of writing systems in India.