Indian Epigraphy c10.s1.16

c10.s1.16

As regards private records on stone, their text was usually prepared by a professional writer and a copy of it was given to the engraver who was generally a mason called a *sūtra-dhāra*, *śilākūṭa*, *rūpakāra*, *śilpin*, etc. The mason at first dressed the stone and drew the letters on it with ink, etc., under the supervision and guidance of the writer and then engraved the letters. Sometimes the professional writer himself copied the text of the document on the stone for the guidance of the engraver. We have some records, the letters of which are painted on stone, the intention of engraving them at a later date remaining unmaterialised.¹ The amount of carelessness noticed in a large number of private epigraphs on stone however indicates that often incompetent masons engraved the records without getting the letters drawn previously on the stone.