The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c16.188

v1.c16.188

(7) *Saranath stone inscription.*—Discovered in digging stones at Sarnath at about 520 ft. to the west of great tower, of Dhamekh. The inscription consists of only two lines, and is incised on the pedestal of an image of Buddha, which is now broken above the hips. "The historical part of the inscription is engraved below the statue.'' Then follows a band of sculptures of seven panels. The central panel contains the *Dharmacakra*, the 3rd and the 5th two antelopes (exactly as in Pāla seals), the 2nd and the 6th two tigers, and the 1st and 7th two kneeling male figures, which support the stone above with their hands, like the giants in front of Cave III at Nasik. The inscription begins with *Oṁ namo Buddhāya*. Then we are told that "The illustrious Sthirapāla and his younger brother the illustrious Vasantapāla, whom the lord of Gauḍa, the illustrious Mahīpāla, caused to establish in Kāśī hundreds of precious monuments of his glory, such as *Iśānas* (*i.e.*, *Liṅgas* ?), paintings (*citra*) and bells (*ghaṇṭā*), after he had worshipped the feet of the *guru Śrī-Vāmarāśi* at Vārāṇasī……repaired the *Dharmarājika* and the *Dharmacakra* with all its parts and constructed this new *gandha-kuṭī* with stones coming from 8 different holy places (*aṣṭa-mahāsthāna-śaila-vinirmita*).'' The date (V.) *Saṁvat* 1083 (A.D. 1026) is given at the end.¹