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# Indian Epigraphy c1: Front matter

Indian Epigraphy c1

- **Language:** English

### Front matter

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INDIAN EPIGRAPHY

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BY

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D. C. SIRCAR \*Carmichael Professor of Ancient Indian History and Culture,\* \*University of Calcutta\*

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MOTILAL BANARSIDASS DELHI :: VARANASI :: PATNA

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© MOTILAL BANARSIDASS BUNGALOW ROAD, JAWAHAR NAGAR, DELHI-7 NEPALI KHAPRA, VARANASI (U.P.) BANKIPORE, PATNA (BIHAR)

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FIRST EDITION 1965 Price Rs. 60-00

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Published by Sundarlal Jain, Motilal Banarsidass, Bungalow Road Jawahar Nagar, Delhi-7, and Printed by Shantilal Jain, Shri Jainendra Press, Bungalow Road, Jawahar Nagar, Delhi-7.

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Dedicated to the Memory of

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G. Bühler, F. Kielhorn, J. F. Fleet, E. Hultzsch

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\*and other Savants to whose writings the Author owes\*

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\*his little knowledge of Indian Epigraphy.\*

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CONTENTS

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| Subject | Page |  
| Preface | xiii |  
| Abbreviations | xv |  
| List of Plates | xx |  
| System of Transliteration | xxii |

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CHAPTER I

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INSCRIPTIONS AND THEIR EVIDENCE

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1. Indian Inscriptions 1  
2. Reconstruction of Early Indian History 7  
3. Historical Perspective 13  
4. Merits of Epigraphical Evidence 17  
5. Demerits of Epigraphic Evidence 23

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Appendix

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INDO-MUSLIM EPIGRAPHY

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1. Study of the Subject 31  
2. Nature of the Records 33  
3. Language 34  
4. Palaeography and Calligraphy 36  
5. Historical Importance 37

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CHAPTER II

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LANGUAGE OF INSCRIPTIONS 39

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SECTION I

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PRAKRIT AND SANSKRIT 39

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SECTION II

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DRAVIDIAN LANGUAGES

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1. Tamil (Tamiḷ) 46  
2. Kannaḍa (Kanarese) 48  
3. Telugu (Tĕlugu, Tĕnugu) 49  
4. Malayāḷam and Tulu 51

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SECTION III

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NEO-INDO-ARYAN LANGUAGES 53

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1. Marāṭhī 53  
2. Hindī and its Dialects and Allied Languages 55  
3. Gujarātī 56  
4. Kashmīrī and Allied Dialects 57  
5. Oriya (Oḍiyā) 58  
6. Bengalī (Vaṅgālī) and Maithilī 59  
7. Assamese (Asamīyā) 60

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CHAPTR III

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WRITING MATERIALS

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SECTION I

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MATERIALS FOR WRITING OR SCRATCHING

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1. Palmyra Leaves 61  
2. Birch and Aloe Bark 63  
3. Cloth and Hide 65  
4. Paper 67  
5. Wood 68

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SECTION II

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MATERIALS FOR ENGRAVING OR EMBOSSING

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1. Stone 70  
2. Earthen Objects 73  
3. Shells and other Non-Metallic Objects 74  
4. Copper 74  
5. Gold and Silver 77  
6. Bronze, Iron and other Metals 78

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SECTION III

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INK AND PEN

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1. Ink 79  
2. Pen and other Instruments 119

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CHAPTER IV

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PREPARATION AND PRESERVATION OF RECORDS

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1. Writing and Engraving 83  
2. Illustration and Ornamentation 88 3. Omission, Correction and Pagination 90  
4. Auspicious Symbols 92  
5. Preservation of Copper-plate Grants 97  
6. Treatment of Letters 99  
7. Preservation of Manuscripts 100

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CHAPTER V

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COPPER-PLATE GRANTS

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SECTION I

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ROYAL CHARTERS AND CONNECTED PROBLEMS

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1. Rāja-śāsana 103  
2. Other Types of Śāsanas 109  
3. Creation of Rent-free Holdings 114

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SECTION II

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SPECIMENS OF RĀJA-ŚĀSANA

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1. Form 120  
2. Classification of Contents 126  
3. Preamble 127  
4. Notification 134  
5. Conclusion 141  
6. Seals 150

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Appendix I

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MEANING OF ‘UPAGATA’, ETC. 161

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Appendix II

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STANZAS ON BHŪMI-DĀNA QUOTED IN RĀJA-ŚĀSANAS 170

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CHAPTER VI

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INDIAN EPIGRAPHY ABROAD 202

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1. Central Asia 205  
2. Ceylon 208  
3. Burma, Siam (Thailand) and Malay Peninsula 210  
4. Indonesia 212  
5. Cambodia 214  
6. South Annam 217

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CHAPTER VII

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DATING AND THE ERAS

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DATES IN INDIAN EPIGRAPHS

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1. Nature of the Dates 219  
2. Numbers expressed by Words 228  
3. Numbers expressed by Letters 233  
4. Regnal Reckoning and Connected Problems 235  
5. Introduction of Reckoning in Eras 242

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SECTION II

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SOME CURRENT RECKONINGS

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1. Vikrama Era 251  
2. Śaka Era 258  
3. Jupiter's Sixty-year Cycle 267  
4. Kollam (Kolamba) Era 269  
5. Nevārī Era and other Reckonings of Nepāl 270  
6. Lakṣmaṇasena Era and Allied Reckonings 271  
7. Christian Era 278

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SECTION III

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OBSOLETE RECKONINGS

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1. Parthian or Arsacid Era 281  
2. Kalacuri or Cedi Era 282  
3. Gupta or Valabhī Era 284  
4. Jupiter's Twelve-year Cycle 288  
5. Gaṅga or Gāṅgeya Era 289  
6. Harṣa Era 291  
7. Bhauma-Kara Era 297  
8. Cālukya-Vikrama Era 302  
9. Siṃha Era 304  
10. Puḍuvaippu Era 305  
11. Cochbihar (Kocavihāra) Era 306  
12. Ilāhī Era 306  
13. Śivājī's Coronation Era 307

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SECTION IV

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HIJRĪ AND ITS INDIAN MODIFICATIONS

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1. Hijrī Era 308 2. Faslī Era 310  
3. Śuhūr, Shāhūr or Sur Era 311  
4. Vilāyatī Era 312  
5. Amlī Era 312  
6. Bengalī Era 312  
7. Tripurā Era 313  
8. Magī Era 313  
9. Malla Era 313  
10. Bhāṭika Era 314  
11. Mavlūdī Era 316

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SECTION V FABRICATED RECKONINGS AND DOUBTFUL CASES

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1. Kali-yuga Era 318  
2. Saptarṣi Era 319  
3. Jain Nirvāṇa Era 321  
4. Buddhist Nirvāṇa Era 322  
5. Grahaparivṛtti Cycle 323  
6. Śrī-Harṣa Era of 457 B.C. 323  
7. Maurya Era 324  
8. Nanda Era 324  
9. Era of Samprati 325  
10. Āguptāyika Era 325

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CHAPTER VIII TECHNICAL EXPRESSIONS

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1. Abbreviations 327  
2. Royal Titles and Epithets 330  
3. Official Designations 351  
4. Administrative and Territorial Divisions 376  
5. Royal Prerogatives and Taxes 388  
6. Land Measures 407  
7. Personal and Family Names 420  
8. Miscellaneous Terms 425

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Appendix I Spurious Epigraphs 435

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Appendix II Interest in Epigraphic Studies 440

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