Indian Epigraphy c10.s1.31

c10.s1.31

Often illiterate or semi-literate stone-cutters or goldsmiths were entrusted with the task of engraving records on stone or copper plates, and this fact accounts for the numerous errors noticed in a large number of epigraphs, especially those engraved on behalf of private individuals.² We have also many instances of badly engraved records even among royal charters, particularly those issued by minor ruling chiefs.³ The Banaras plate⁴ of Kalacuri Karṇa (c. 1040-71) offers an instance of an imperial charter written and engraved by irresponsible and incompetent persons. But the grant was made when the king was stationed at Prayāga (Allahabad) in the course of a tour of pilgrimage and it is possible that the work of engraving the charter was entrusted to a local artisan who could not read the writing of the draft properly. Usually, however, powerful kings had in their service trained and competent engravers who performed their work creditably. The minor errors noticed in the records of imperial ruling families are due generally to the scribes and not to the engravers.