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JANUARY, 1980
this era in literary sources from the earlier times.16 It can also be argued that the date of the inscription may pertain to some unknown era. We cannot say definitely on this point, so long no definite historical dates are known. D.C. Siscar's suggestion that the territory round about Badali was ruled by the Sungas is also not corroborated from any sources. 17 From Ahara (Udaipur) two seals bearing the legends "pālitasa” (3rd century B.C.) and "vihitamvisa (ya)” (2nd century B.C.) were noticed.18 The battle of the Sunga king against the Yavana king as mentioned in the Mālavikāgnimitram took place on the right bank of the Sindhu river (perhaps Kali Sindhu flowing in the northern Malwa and Hadoti). It has little concern with the area near Badali. In this way inference taken by D.C. Sircar requires further evidence.19 Thus we may conclude that :
(i) The Badali inscription is a Jaina record. It perhaps mentions the
construction of some structure for worship of Jaina Tirthankara Mahavira by Sali Malini, who might be the resident of Madhyamika.
(ii) The era used in this inscription is not clear. It may refer to the
Mahavira Nirvana era or some other unknown era. As we have mostly to depend upon the palaeographic details, no definite fact can be adduced.
"
16 History of Mewar by the Author, pp. 71-72. 17 D.C.Sircar, The Guhilots of Kishkindha (Calcutta 1950), p. 40/Journal of the Bihar
and Orissa Research Society, Vol. XXXVIII, pp.34-38. 18 H.D.Sankalia, The Excavation at Ahar (Poona 1959), pp.13-14. 19 History of Mewar by the Author, pp. 19-20.
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