Indian Epigraphy c10.s2.9

c10.s2.9

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.