History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c16.s3.80

c16.s3.80

But the prosperity of the Ājīvikas, and their enjoyment of the patronage of the Kings of Magadha, may not have been long-lasting. The inscriptions of Aśoka and Daśaratha have been mutilated or defaced, most of them in such a manner as to indicate that the original inhabitants of the caves were evicted in favour of their religious opponents. Of the three Aśokan inscriptions of the Barābar caves that of the Karṇa Chopār (Pl. V, iii) has been so badly defaced as to be almost illegible; the Sudāma inscription has the word *s'ābhisitenā* in the first line and *ājīwikehi* in the second effaced (Pl. V, i); while of the Viśvāmitra cave inscription (Pl. V, ii) the *akṣaras ā, jī,* and *vi* only are effaced, while the rest of the inscription is remarkably clear and legible. Of the three Daśaratha inscriptions of the Nāgārjunī caves, that in the Vahiyakā (Pl. VI, i) has the whole word *Ājīwikehi* obliterated; the Gopikā cave inscription shows no signs of deliberate defacement, although some *akṣaras* are badly worn (Pl. VI, ii); while the Vaḍathikā cave inscription (Pl. VI, iii) is defaced in two letters—the *Ā* and *jī* of *Ājīwikehi*.