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Correlation of Jaina Inscriptions with
Sthavirāvalīs
U. P. Shah
While welcoming participants at the Seminar in Ahmedabad on the 'Aspects of Jaina Art and Architecture (Nov. 18, 1973), I had noted : "It is high time that all Jaina inscriptions from Mathurā are re-read and the old readings checked and revised wherever necessary. It is also necessary to have fresh verdict of the eminent epigraphers apropos the age of the script in each individual case, in the light of the advancement of our knowledge achieved during the past 50 to 70 years. The data from the Jaina sthavirāvalīs has to be correlated and we have to see if we can fix, with the help of these sthavirävalīs, the period of at least a few monks appearing in these inscriptions. For it is now becoming certain that there have been mistakes in the old readings.
“The reading "Vodve thupe" for instance was incorrect. Prof. Alsdorf had written to me that Lüders had revised it but could not publish the new reading in his life-time. Actually, the reading is pratimavo dve thupe devanirmited. In another instance K. D. Bajpai showed that the old reading "Arhat Nandyavarta" was wrong. The name, as he correctly read it, was Munisuvrata.....2"
"There are inscriptions, for example, which are dated around the year 30, the script in these inscriptions should be the same or very similar. There are inscriptions which are dated around 50, and around 90. The script of these inscriptions in each group must be identical. If this is not so, then the inscriptions are dated in different eras or with the sign for hundred omitted as earlier was suggested by Lohuizen-de-Leeuw."
With such fresh studies, we have to see whether the sthavirāvalis in the Paryusana-kalpa and the Nandi-sūtra can further help us in identifying
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