Epigraphia Indica Vol 20

Author(s): Hirananda Shastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 24

No. 1.)
PRAKRIT INSCRIPTIONS FROM NAGARJUNIKONDA.
The initial h in some personal names appears to have been developed from s. Examples: Hammasiri (C 4, line 5); Hammasiririka (C2, lines 5-6 and 7; C 4, line 7); Haghanna (F, line 2). Also, Ayira-hanghāna (C1, line 11; C 2, line 10) from Skt. Arya-sarghānām. But samghan (H, line 13) and mahābhikhu-sa[m]ghasa (E, line 2).
We wish also to draw attention to the following forms : ayira- (C 1, line 11; C 2, line 10) from Skt. ārya'; bhayā for the more usual bhariya from Skt. bhārya, and Chiläta (F, line 1) from Skt. Kirata.
LIST OF INSCRIPTIONS.
a. Inscriptions on the ayaka-pillars of the Maháchetiya. A. 2. East side, second pillar. One large and two small fragments. The large piece contains fines 1-7 (sidhań to -vachhalā ma-), line 7 being incomplete. Besides, there is a gap on the right hand side by which several aksharas at the end of lines 2-4 and 6 are lost. One of the smaller fragments supplies the initial aksharas of lines 6-10, and the other, a few aksharas of lines 7-8. The inscription, when entire, must have consisted of 10 lines, 244 inches long. It records the gift of a pillar by the Mahätalavari Chāṁtisiri (name lost), the sister of King Chămtamüla and the paternal aunt of King Siri-Virapurisadata. Date lost.
A. 3. East side, third pillar. Inscription in two pieces. One large piece contains the inscription almost complete except the middle portion of lines 1–2. This missing portion is supplied by the smaller fragment containing 17 aksharas of the first line. The inscription consists partly of 10 lines, 25 inches long. It records the donation of a pillar by Chāṁtisiri (cf. sub A. 2). Dato, the 6th year of King Siri-Virapurisadata in last short line.
A. 4. East side, fourth pillar. Two large and one smaller fragment. The one large piece contains 11. 1-3, incomplete and partly obliterated. The other contains lines 5-11, viz., the latter half of the inscription, almost complete, although partly indistinct. The small fragment supplies the initial aksharas of lines 1 to 3. The inscription must have consisted of 11 lines, measuring from 21-22 inches in length. Donation of a pillar by Chămtisiri (cf. sub A. 2). Date as above sub A. 3 in last short line.
B. 1. South side, first pillar. One fragment, containing lines 1-6 in their full length, but with central portion.completely obliterated. Length of lines 16 inches. Name of donor and date lost.
B. 2. South side, second pillar. Inscription complete in 7 lines, measuring 20 to 22 inches in length. Gift of a piller by the Mahätalavari Adavi-Châtisiri, the daughter of King Chămtamüla. Date as above.
B. 3. South side, third pillar. Complete in 10 lines, measuring 21 to 234 inches in length. A few akskaras at the end of lines 5-9 missing. Donation of a pillar by Chămtisiviņikā, evidently the same person as Chantisiri (cf. sub A. 2). Date as above in last short line.
B. 4. South side, fourth pillar. Complete in 7 lines, 171 to 22 inches. Gift of a stone pillar by the Mahasenapatini Chula-Cha[m]tisiriņikā. Date as abowe in 6th and short 7th line.
B. 5. South side, fifth pillar. Complete in 7 lines, 20 to 22 inches. Gift of a pillar by Mahadevi Rudradharabhat[&]rikā. Date as above in last short line.
Besides the ayuka-pillar inscriptions enumerated here, twenty-three small frugmonta have been found which must have belonged to this class of inscriptions