Epigraphia Indica Vol 02

SR No.: 032556
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1894
Total Pages: 596
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 116

SANCHI STUPA INSCRIPTIONS.
95
The names of various lay donors and, I may add, of a few monks furnish also some valuable information regarding the existence of the Paurâņik worship during the third and second centuries B.C. A very large proportion of the names, e.g. Araha, Arah aka, Arahadata, Arahadina, Arahadása, Arabadasi, Arahata pålita, Ara haguta, Dhamadata, Dhamaguta, Dhamarakhita, Dhamapalita, Budhila, Budhapålita, Bodhi, Sagba, Samghila, Sagbadina, Saghadeva, Saghamita and Sangharakhita, is decidedly Buddhist. Another considerable group of proper names, e.g. A sada, Mula (i.e. Múlá), Muladata, Phaguna, Pothaka, Pusa, Pusaka, Pusini, Pusagiri, Pusarakhita, Pothaka, Pothadeva, Rohiņi (Rohini), Sátila, Svatiguta, has been derived from the names of Nakshatras, and points to the conclusion that the rule of some Grihyasútras," which recommends the use of nakshatranámáni, was practically obeyed. The same inference may be drawn from almost all other collections of ancient inscriptions and from various ancient Brahmanical, Buddhist and Jaina works. There are further some names, such as A gisima (Agnisarma), A gido[de] vå, Bahadata (Brahmadatta), Mahida, Mita, Vesa manadata, Visvadeva, Yamarak hita, which are closely connected with the ancient Vedic worship; and some,
Någå, Nagila, Nagadatta, and so forth, bear witness for the existence of the snake• worship, which was common to the Brahmanists and the heterodox sects. Finally, the
names Vinhukå, an abbreviation for Vishnudattå or Vishnurakshita, Upidadata or Opedadata (Upendradatta), Balaka and Bala mitra (connected with one of the heroes of the legend of Krishna, Baladeva or Balarama, who is also called Bala), furnish evidence for the development of Vaishnavism, while Nadiguta (Nandigupta), Namdi. giri, Samidata (Svámi, i.e. Kumara-datta), Samika and Samika (Svámika, Svámiká), Sivanadi (Sivanandi) do the same service to Saivism. It is also possible that Isadata and Himadata are likewise Saiva names. If the former has been correctly read, it corresponds to Sanskrit Isadatta. The other two may be connected wth Hima, a name of Durga. They may, however, be also derived from Hima, "the moon."
The occurrence among the Buddhists of names connected with the ancient Vedic religion, as well as of such as are connected with Vaishṇavism and Saivism, in these early inscriptions, has no doubt to be explained by the assumption that their bearers or their ancestors adhered to these creeds before their conversion, and that they received their names in accordance with the established custom of their families. The rules regarding the giving of names were probably then as lax among the Buddhists as they are in the present day among the heterodox sects of India, which by no means restrict themselves to the lists of their particular saints or deities. Their historical value consists therein that they form a link in the chain of evidence which enables us to trace the existence, nay the prevalence of Vaishnavism and Saivism, not only during the third century B.C., but during much earlier times, and to give a firm support to the view now held by a number of Orientalists, according to which Vaishṇavism and Saivism are older than Buddhism and Jainism. By exactly the same method of analysis which has been here applied to the names on the Sànchi Stapa, it is possible
► See, e.g., Hir. Gri. S4. II, 4, 13.
* I would explain Nandigiri by "he whose mountain (i e. protection) is or may be Nandin," on the analogy of Dantidurga, for which Dame Dantivarman appears. Devagiri, Himagiri, Dhamagirika, Sibagiri may be explained similarly, though Dovagiri and Himagiri may also be considered as personal names derived from mountain Dames Vijba, i.e. Vindbya, furnishes a certain instance of the latter kind.
* Possibly the correct form may be leidata, i.e. Riskidutta, (compare Isiguta).