Epigraphia Indica Vol 24

SR No.: 032578
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hirananda Shastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1937
Total Pages: 472
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

Page 133

108
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
(VOL. XXIV.
statements show that the two kings must have measured swords before A. D. 1063 at the latest, each side claiming victory over the other. Verse 27 of the present inscription suggests that the battle may have been fought even before A. D 1048-9.
The object of the present inscription appears to have been to record the construction of a temple of Siva by a minister of Karna, who belonged to the Käyastha caste. Verse 34, with which commences the second part of the record, states that the twice-born caste undertook the work of a minister to augment the mantra-sakti (power of good counsel) of kings who are possessed of the other two powers, viz., the utsäha-śakti (personal energy) and prabhu-sakti (power derived from their royal position). We next get an account of the origin of the Kayastha caste. There was a great sage (mun-indra) named Kachara who derived his holy birth from the threeeyed god Siva. He made the town Kulāñchā an ornament of three worlds. A person of the fourth caste (turiya-janman) respectfully propitiated him on the bank of the heavenly river (ie. Ganges). The next verse, which is partly mutilated, seems to describe the boon granted by the sage apparently to the Sūdra who had been serving him, that he would have a son of well-known and righteous deeds, who having his head sanctified by the dust of earthly gods (i.e. Brāhmaṇas) would become almost like the councillor of the lord of heaven (ie. Bțihaspati). The sage next declared that his caste would thereafter be known by the name of Kayastha, since he had innumerable merits in his kāya (body). Verse 39, which is only partially preserved, refers to the birth of a son apparently to the Sūdra) from whom sprang the caste of the Kāyasthas. We are next told that in his race were born wise, grateful, virtuous and meritorious diplomats, who gave security from fear to (all) beings. Verse 41 describes a personage of matchless prowess, who was distinguished among the rest as the Kaustubha is among all the gems produced from the milky ocean, but unfortunately his name is lost in the damaged portion'. Verse 43 also mentions a person whose name again is illegible, but who was apparently an object of veneration to the illustrious king Lakshmanarāja as Vishnu is to the three worlds. This personage seems to have been eulogized in the next two verses (44 and 45). The preserved portion of v. 46 states that Somēśvara who dedicated himself to the welfare of the people was born from the aforementioned personage. The next verse seems to have described some achievements of his through intelligence and personal prowess. From 1. 26 the record has unfortunately been too much mutilated to yield any useful information. We have consequently lost even the names of the descendants of Sõmēśvara, of whom the last one mentioned in the present inscription seems to have been a minister of Karna. From the description of the white splendour of a temple in v. 54, that it was as it were due to the laughter of Siva who rejoiced to have such an excellent abode, it seems that it was a temple of Siva at which the present inscription was put up. This surmise receives confirmation from the statement in v. 58 that tho person, who had caused the temple of the enemy of Smara' (i.e. Siva) to be constructed, himself composed the present prasasti. The last verse seems to name him as the great poet Kachara, but the reading is not free from doubt. The record closes with the date 800 expressed in numerical figures only. This must evidently be referred to the Kalachuri-Chēdi era and corresponds to A. D. 1048-9. In the absence of the necessary details it does not admit of verification.
As already observed, the present inscription, if it had been in a state of good preservation, would have proved valuable for the history of the Kāyastha caste. Even as it is, it clearly shows that the Kayasthas had crystallized into & caste in the beginning of the eleventh century A. D.; but we have still earlier records which unmistakably prove the existence of the caste two centuries
1 His name ended in kara and may have been Prabhakara. * The first two figures of the date are certain. The third also is cloar in one of the impressions.