Epigraphia Indica Vol 21

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

Page 82

No. 11.] ADDITIONAL PRAKRIT INSCRIPTIONS FROM NAGARJUNIKONDA.
suttiya sect by Mahadevi Bhațideva (who is) the daughter-in-law of Mahārāja Vāseṭhiput[t]a Siri-Chamtamula, of (the house of) the I[k]khākus, etc., (see above, sub-G 2), (and who is) the wife of Mahārāja Māḍharlput[t]a Siri-Virapurisadat[t]a of (the house of) the I[k]khākus. In the second year of (the reign of) Raja Siri-Ehuvula-Chatamula, the [sixth] fortnight of Summer, the tenth day.
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Inscription on carved pillar found near Stupa No. 9.
Next we have an inseribed carved pillar found underground near stupa No. 9. This stupa, measuring 42 feet in diameter, is an isolated monument near a fortified hill which stands on the south-western side of the valley and not far from the river. The pillar which is rounded at the top is carved with five panels placed one above the other. The carving has suffered from exposure; but, as far as we can see, the subject of the reliefs does not appear to relate to the Buddha legend or to any of the jatakas. The uppermost panel contains a domed building. The next one shows a corpulent male person, perhaps a king, seated in the midst of four females, one of whom seems to hold a chamara. In the third panel there is apparently the same royal personage,1 attended by five women, of whom three seated on the floor seem to be making music. The fourth panel shows an elephant mounted by two persons and surrounded by four marching attendants. The man seated on the neck of the elephant must be a rājā, as is evident from the parasol visible over his head and held by the attendant sitting behind him. The scene exhibited in the fifth or lowermost relief is very curious. It shows a group of eight men; most prominent among them is a bare-headed corpulent person who seems to hold a staff in his left hand. He wears sandals, but for the rest his dress is remarkably simple. Notwithstanding the plainness of his attire, he must be a king, for behind him we notice an attendant holding a parasol, the emblem of royalty, over his head. On his right there is another attendant holding a vessel in both hands. The other persons of which, the group is composed have the appearance of monks. In the midst of the group there is what looks like a heap of stones. Possibly the supposed stones are intended to be seen in perspective, so that in reality they are meant to be placed in rows on the ground. In that case, however, there is no reason why the legs of the attendant holding the vage should be partly concealed.
The inscription, which we call L, is engraved immediately under the last-mentioned panel. It consists of thirteen lines of close writing. The letters are small and partly worn like the carvings above. The result is that in several places the reading is uncertain. The main purport, however, is perfectly clear. The. inscription records that the pillar was set up by the sisters, mothers and consorts of King Vasithiput(t)a Siri-Chamtamula. The names of these ladies, thirty in number, occupy lines 7-13 of the inscription. It is dated in the twentieth year of the reign of King Chamtamula's son, King Madhariput(t)a Siri-Virapurisadat(t)a.
As the pillar was evidently erected in memory of the deceased king Chamtamula, perhaps on the spot of his cremation, there is some reason to suppose that the five reliefs carved on it relate to that ruler and that we may recognise him in the corpulent personage who occupies a prominent place in three of the five panels. The royal elephant-driver in the fourth panel would then likewise represent King Chamtamula. In the fifth panel he seems to be shown in the act of performing some ceremony, perhaps a donation, as may be surmised from the vessel held by one of the attendants.
Pillar-inscription L.
Transcript.
(L. 1) Sidham Mahārājasa asamedha-yajisa aneka-hirana-koti-ipadaly isa (1. 2) SiriChamtamulasa, putasa raño Ma[dha]riputasa [Ikhākunam] Siri-Virapurisadatasa (1. 3)
See my remarks in 4. 8, B., 1929-30, Epigraphical Section, under Inscriptions from Nägärjanikonda. Ed. Possibly ingots or gift-money.-Ed.