Indian Epigraphy c10.s4.1

c10.s4.1

A *maṅgala*, i. e. a benediction or an auspicious word, at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of a composition was believed to ensure its completion and preservation. The auspicious word *siddham* is found at the beginning of numerous early records.⁴ This word was in later times generally indicated by a symbol of varying shape. The symbol was sometimes followed by the auspicious word *svasti* which, in some cases, stands singly at the beginning of epigraphic records.⁵ Sometimes the *maṅgala*: *siddhir=astu*, having the same import as *siddham*, as also a bigger *maṅgala* sentence beginning with *svasty=astu*, is found at the end of the documents.⁶ In some cases again a symbol, which is apparently a variant of the *siddham* sign, appears at the end of a document and, in rare cases, also in the body of its text especially at the end of a section of it.⁷ Besides the *siddham* symbol, various other auspicious symbols also appear in inscriptions.