Indian Epigraphy: A Guide to the Study of Inscriptions in Sanskrit, Prakrit, and the Other Indo-Aryan Languages c9.s2.t2: 4.2.2 Metals
Indian Epigraphy: A Guide to the Study of Inscriptions in Sanskrit, Prakrit, and the Other Indo-Aryan Languages c9.s2.t2
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4.2.2 Metals
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4.2.2.1 Copper
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Copper, by far the most common metal used for inscriptions in India, is second only to stone in overall frequency. The great majority of inscriptions on copper are copper plate land grant charters, which number in the thousands (4.1.2). Though far less common, other types of inscriptions on copper are also known, especially Buddhist records on such copper objects as dedicatory tablets,⁴⁴ relic caskets,⁴⁵ ladles,⁴⁶ seals,⁴⁷ and bells.⁴⁸
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⁴⁴ E.g., Sui Vihār, CII 2.1, 138–41, and Kara, EI 22, 37–9.
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⁴⁵ E.g., Kurram, CII 2.1, 152–5.
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⁴⁶ E.g., Taxila and Bedadi, CII 2.1, 87–9.
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⁴⁷ Taxila, CII 2.1, 100–1, nos. 4–9 and 11; see also Thaplyal, *Studies in Ancient Indian Seals*, 3 and n. 3.
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⁴⁸ Cambā; B. Ch. Chhabra, *Antiquities of Chamba State* II.175–6.
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4.2.2.2 Bronze
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Inscriptions on bronze are also fairly common, though much less so than on copper. The most common types of bronze inscriptions are those on religious images, recording dedicatory and/or devotional messages on the pedestals (e.g., the Ākoṭa Jaina bronzes, ARIE 1952–53, nos. B.16–48), and on seals. The latter are most commonly found attached to copper plate charters (see 4.1.2), although separate bronze seals are also known.⁴⁹ The Sohgaurā plaque, though often referred to as "copper," is actually of bronze (SIE 79) and is hence the earliest specimen of an inscription in that metal. Other inscribed objects, notably Buddhist relic caskets, are also sometimes of bronze (e.g., Wardak, CII 2.1, 165–70).
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⁴⁹ See Thaplyal, *Studies in Ancient Indian Seals*, 3 and n. 4.
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4.2.2.3 Brass
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Inscriptions on brass and similar alloys are found most commonly on sculptured images (especially Jaina ones, according to Diskalkar).⁵⁰ A few inscribed Brahmanical brass images of about the eighth century have been published.⁵¹ Occasionally inscriptions are found on other brass objects, such as a seal (Kosambi, ASIR 10, 4) or trident (Uttarkāśī, *New Indian Antiquary* 3, 34–6). Inscribed masks of royal or divine figures made of brass or similar alloys are sometimes found in the Himalayan regions, for instance, the *aṣṭadhātu* mask from Nirmaṇḍ (*Acta Orientalia* 1, 230–4) and the "Court Mask" (JA 279, 137–74).
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⁵⁰ *Materials*, 33; cf. Ojhā, BPLM 154.
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⁵¹ See J. Ph. Vogel, ASIAR 1902–3 ("Inscriptions of Chamba State"), 240–4.
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4.2.2.4 Iron
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Inscriptions on iron are rare, the only important specimen being the inscription of King Candra (= Candragupta II?) on the iron pillar at Meharauli (CII 3, 139–42). An iron object, believed to be a branding iron, with the Brāhmī letters *jaya* in reverse was found at Nālandā (JBORS 23, 128–9). In later times, iron weapons such as cannons were sometimes inscribed, most commonly in NIA or Islamic languages but sometimes also in Sanskrit (e.g., Ajaygaṛh, ARIE 1969–70, no. B.203).
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4.2.2.5 Gold
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Inscriptions, usually Buddhist dedicatory, votive, or ritual records, are sometimes found on gold. Among these are Kharoṣṭhī inscriptions on a gold plate and on two rings from Taxila (CII 2.1, 83–6, 100, nos. 1 and 2), as well as the recently discovered Senavarma gold plaque inscription (IIJ 29, 261–93). Another newly found Kharoṣṭhī reliquary has letters inset with gold on a schist reliquary box (Utarā ins., IIJ 31, 169–77). Buddhist canonical texts were written on gold leaves in several Buddhist countries, including Burma (4.3.7.5), Sri Lanka (4.1.7), and Indonesia (4.1.7; 4.3.7.11). Gold bars with Kharoṣṭhī inscriptions have been found in Uzbekistan (4.3.7.4).
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4.2.2.6 Silver
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As with gold, most inscriptions on silver are Buddhist Kharoṣṭhī records. Inscriptions of this class published in CII 2.1 include a scroll (70–7), vase (81–2), cups (97–8), plates (98–9), and a sieve (99), all from Taxila, and a disk (151) from Māṇikiāla. An inscribed silver scroll was also found at Bhaṭṭiproḷu (Lüders, *Philologica Indica*, 223). According to Ojhā (BPLM 152 and n. 4), inscribed silver plates and other objects can also be found in Jaina temples.
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4.2.2.7
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4.2.3.2 Bricks
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Bricks with passages from canonical texts or *dhāraṇīs* have been found at several Buddhist sites (e.g., Nālandā; 4.1.7). Brahmanical inscriptions recording Vedic sacrifices such as the *aśvamedha* are sometimes found on bricks which were presumed to
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4.2.5.3 Carnelian
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A few inscribed carnelian seals are known, for example, the Paris carnelian (CII 2.1, 7) and the Perak (Malaysia) seal of Viṣṇuvarman (Chhabra, *Expansion of Indo-Aryan Culture*, 35–6).⁶¹
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4.2.5.4 Ivory and bone
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Ivory and bone seals with Brāhmī inscriptions have been found at several sites, such as Bhīṭā (ASIAR 1911–12, 48), Rupar (IAAR 1953, 123), Kauśāmbī (IAAR 1958, 76), Besnagar ( "Survey of the Inscriptions" in the *Encyclopaedia Britannica*, 11th ed. (1910–11), vol. 14, 623–5 (through the sixth century A.D. only).