Epigraphia Indica Vol 12

SR No.: 032566
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sten Konow
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1913
Total Pages: 464
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 25 MB

Page 382

No. 35.]
MANDASOR INSCRIPTION OF NARAVARMAN.
(5) Initial è occurs only once, in eka-, 1. 2; the medial form is expressed by a hook to the left; cf. -sirasē, 1. 1.
(6) Ai occurs only in the medial form and does not call for any remark.
Among consonants the only letters worth noticing are:
(1) Kha, cf. the form in -sikhachalam in 1. 6, where the base is triangular as in the Northern variety.
317
(2) Na, the form of this letter is peculiar as it consists of the na with a semi-circalar top-stroke; cf. -gan-āmnātē, 1. 1.
(3) Tha, where we may note the curvature of the crossbar; cf. -manorathe, 1. 4.
(4) In pa the vertical stroke on the left has been slightly bent inwards as in -paryyanka-,
1. 1.
(5) The curvature of the left vertical line is also noticeable in pha cf. phaladam in 1. 7. (6) Ma has retained its ancient form of the Scythian inscriptions. The only change in it is to be found in the base line which in certain cases has bent downwards. (7) In fa the lower part of the left limb curves in and not out, as is usual; cf. -sirasë,
1. 1.
(8) In sha the crossbar is strictly horizontal in all cases. The left shows a curvature to the right as in pa and pha.
(9) Sa retains its old form of the Scythian inscriptions.
(10) The left limb of ha also shows a curve to the right.
The record refers itself to a king named Naravarman, who was the son of Sinhavarman and the grandson of Jayavarman. This Naravarman is mentioned in the Gangdhär inscription of his son Visvavarman' of the Malava year 480, and Viśvavarman again is referred to in the inscription of his sou Bandhuvarman, who was a contemporary as well as the feudatory of the Emperor Kumaragupta I. In the Susunia rock inscription of Chandravarman, we find that the name of Chandravarman's father was Sinhavarman. It is spelt exactly in the same way as in this inscription, .e., Sinhavarman and not Simhavarman or Singhavarman. A comparison of the alphabets of the two inscriptions shows that they belong to the same historical period and can only be separated by a very few years. Up to this day epigraphists and historians have generally regarded the Meharauli pillar inscription of Chaudra as being a record of the early Gupta Emperor Chandragupta II. I think the Susunia inscription and the new Mandasör inscription have put a new complexion on the state of affairs. In the Susunia rock inscrip. tion we find a king named Chandravarman, the son of Sinhavarman, of the city of Pushkarana, dedicating one of the insigria of Vishnu, viz., a wheel. Pushkarana or Pushkaraṇā is undoubtedly the ancient name of the city of Pokharan in the Jodhpur State. An ancient city no doubt, as it has given its name to a sub-division of Brahma, as, named Pushkarand Brahmanas, as Dasapura, and Anandanagara (Wadnagar) and Śrimala have given their names to the Dasōra, Nagara and Srimali Brahmaras. Pushkarapa seems to have been the capital of the Kshatriya
I Fleet's Gupta Inscriptions, pp. 74 .
See Proceedings of the Beng. As. Soc., 1895, pp. 177 ff.
2 ibidem, p. 82.
Gusta Inscriptions, pp. 139 f.