Epigraphia Indica Vol 12

Author(s): Sten Konow
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 83

EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
[Vol. XII.
No. 11.- KINSARIYA INSCRIPTION OF DADHICHIKA (DAHIYA) CHACHCHA,
(VIKRAMA) SAMVAT 1056. BY PANDIT RAMAKARNA, JODHPUR.
This inscription was discovered in a temple dedicated to the goddess Kêviy māta and situated on the summit of a hill in the vicinity of a village named Kinsariya,1 4 miles north of Parbatsar, the principal town of the district of the game lame in the Jodhpur State. It is ingised on a stone fixed in the wall of the sabhā mandapa. The inscription is edited from two estampages kindly supplied by Mr. D. R. Bhãņdārkar, Superintendent, Archäological Survey. Western Circle.
The inscription contains 23 lines of writing covering a space of 1' 104" broad by 119" high The writing is in a rather poor state of preservation, and lines 1, 22 and 23 are well-nigh destroyed. The characters of this inscription belong to the northern class of alphabets. The letters a, a, kri, s, ksh, and bh are exactly identical with those of the Bijapur inscription of the Rashtrakāta prince Dhavala. Attention may be drawn to the somewhat archaic form of s occurring for instance in sa-chittra-kriyaḥ in line 6. The language of the inscription is throughout Sanskrit, and the text is in verse excepting a few words in line 22, which contain the date. In respect of orthography the following points deserve notice : (1) all consonants following have been invariably doubled ; (2) rules of para-savarna have not been observed in their entirety; (3) the sign for v is also used for b; (4) y has been wrongly doubled in-yyödha(1.3). It is worthy of note that the letter chh has been used in lines 5 and 12 to indi ate the conclusion of a subject in hand.
Tbe first verse has altogether peeled off. The next four verses invoke the blessings respectively, of (1) # goddess whose name is lost (v. 2), (2) Katyayani (v. 3) and (3) Kali (v. 4-5). Verse 6 bestows praise on the Chāhamāna race. There lived & prince named VÅkpatirija (v.7) who, as we know from & copper-plate grant of V.. 1219,9 ruled over Śākambhari (Sambhar). Verse 8 is in praise of Vákpati, but contains nothing historical. He was succeeded by his son Simharāja (vs. 9-10) who is spoken of as naya-sūtra-yuktah, which expression probably bere means that he was well versed in Logic. From Simharaja sprang Durlabharāja (v. 11) who earned the epithet of Durlanghyamēru, as none of his enemies could transgress bis orders. Verse 12 represents him as having conquered the country called Asõsittana (perhaps Rasosittana). Verse 13 narrates the exemplary philanthropy of Dadhichi ķishi who gave away the bones of his own body, and then informs us that princes descended from him were known by the name of Dedbichika, which, no doubt, is the same as Dahiyaka of line 22. In this race there was a person named Mēghanada (v. 14). Verse 15 bestows nothing but conventiooal praise upon him. The name of his wife was Mäsata (v. 16). He was succeeded by his son Vairisimha (v. 17-18). His wife was Dunda (v. 19). From him sprang Chachoba (v. 20). The verse following is purely eulogistic, and verse 29 is in praise of dharma or religion. Then in verse 23 we are told that he built "this" temple of Bhavini, "this," of course, referring to the edifice where the inscription is engraved. Chachcha had two sons named Yasahpushţa and Uddharana (v. 24). Verse 25 expresses & wish for the permanence of the temple. The prasasti was composed by a Gauda Kayastha named Mahādēva, Bon of Sri-Kalya, who was a poet (v. 26). The date of the insoription given in line 22 is. the 3rd of the bright fortnight of Vaišākha of V.S. 1058. As this line has been injured, &
1 This village was formerly known by the name of Sipahadiya, as we have been informed by Műtá Nēnsi, so old chronicler of Marwår.
Ep. Ind., Vol. IX, p. 88.