Indian Epigraphy c10.s2: 2. Illustration and Ornamentation

Indian Epigraphy c10.s2

Language: English

2. Illustration and Ornamentation

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Some medieval inscriptions contain illustrations of the artificial arrangement of the letters of verses in *bandhas* known as *padma-bandha*, *sarpa-bandha*, etc.⁴ In a few cases, the lotus symbol is found without letters in it.⁵ Sometimes the letters of an inscription, especially the signs above and below the letters, are given an ornamental shape.¹ In some cases, this was done in respect of only some of the letters.²

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⁴ See, e.g., *Ep. Ind.*, Vol. XXXI, Plate facing p. 85; cf. Plates facing pp. 28-29. See also ibid., Vol. XXXIV, Plate facing p. 82; Sreenivasachar, op. cit., Part II, Plate 49; Part III, Plates 22, 31.

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⁵ Sreenivasachar, op. cit., Part II, Plate 47.

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¹ See Ojha, op. cit., Plates XV and XXI.

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² Ibid., Plates XX and XXI.

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Sometimes the contents of the inscription are indicated by an engraved or sculptured representation. Thus the symbols of the sun and the moon or the stars are found incised on numerous medieval records in order to indicate that the epigraphs record grants made for as long a time as the sun and the moon or the stars would endure.³ Similarly the engraved representation of a female or a sow under a donkey on inscribed stone slabs indicates the curse that the father of a violator of the grant recorded would become a donkey and his mother a sow or that his mother would be molested by a donkey.⁴

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³ See, e.g., *Ep. Ind.*, Vol. XXXII, Plate facing p. 170; Sreenivasachar, op. cit., Part II, Plate 43. In the medieval records of the Andhra region, a figure of the Śivaliṅga is sometimes added to the above symbols. See Sreenivasachar, op. cit., Plate 52; ibid., Part III, Plates 28-29.

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⁴ See, e.g., *Ep. Ind.*, Vol. XII, Plate facing p. 28; Vol. XXXV, p. 187.

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The sculptured representation of one or more females with the right hands raised upwards or only of hands raised upwards (i.e. pointing to heaven) indicated that the inscriptions in question recorded the 'commitment of Satī by a lady or several ladies who went to heaven as a result of the meritorious act.⁵ Inscriptions recording the deaths of heroes in battle generally bear sculptures depicting a warrior sometimes as dead or as engaged in fighting.⁶ In many cases, the Satī- and hero-stones bearing such representations do not bear any inscription apparently because the meaning of the representations was easily understood.

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⁵ See, e.g., *Ancient India*, No. 9, Plate CXII, No. 1.

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⁶ See, e.g., *Ep. Ind.*, Vol. XXX, Plate facing p. 279.

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Some other kinds of memorial inscriptions also bear sculptured representations of the persons concerned.⁷ An interesting class of these records depicts devotees offering their heads to a god or goddess.⁸

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⁷ Cf. *SII*, Vol. IX, Part i, Plate facing p. 20. For inscribed chāyā-stambhas, see *Ep. Ind.*, Vol. XXXIV, p. 20. Cf. above, pp. 72-73.

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⁸ See, e.g., *Ancient India*, No. 9, Plate CXI.

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Besides the above kinds of ornamentation, some medieval records, especially copper plates, sometimes bear the representation of the royal crest instead of the regular seal¹ or the royal coat of arms.² Mention need not be made here of inscriptions which are labels to sculptures or are incised on the pedestals of images.