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THE TEXT OF THE SOHGAURA PLATE.
provincial government of Srāvasti, as the district of Gorakhpur was; but more likely it was another place between Trivëni (ghät) and Bhadra-between the districts of Gorakhpur and Champaran or thereabout. Nothing is known about Mödāma or Mudāma. Bhadra (Bhalla) was & common name. Manavasiti (Manavašiti) is to be looked for in the Tarai. Its name shows that it was a cool resort.
THE SOHGAURA AND KUMHBAR PILLAB SYMBOLS, Amongst the symbols the moon (Chandra) placed on a hill-like combination and next to it the large MO (like the ms in the inscription-in two separate parts) denote an imperial monogram for Chandra[gupta) Maurya). We have the same moon symbol on the Kumhrax pillar (ASR., 1912-13, p. 78, pl. XLIX) where it certainly means. Chandragupta'. The hilllike combination stands for gutta mi the upper loop is g and the lower loops are tta, and onthe top of the combination stands chanda or chandra. This monogrammatic method of writing is what is called Silpa-lipi (i.e., art-writing) in the text cited by Dr. Hirananda Sastri (Proceedings and Transactions of the 6th Indian Oriental Conference, p. 11). It will be seen from the plate published in the A.S.R. that in the centre, by the side of the central dot, there is the symbol for Chandagutta, then there is an abrasion in the stone (which I have examined and seen on the actual stone), then opposite there is in a somewhat cursive hand three letters-reading from right to left-Moriya'. This along with the symbol reads : MoriyaChandagutta.' That Chandragupta Maurya had his royal monogram is clear from the Kautaliya Arthas-, ch. 50, p. 129 ['rājānka' branded on royal animals] and ch.93, p. 249 ['narendrānka 'engraved on weapons and armours for the use of soldiers ).
The Mo on the Sohgaura plate is to the right of the monogram. For the full form of the - force, see electrotype.
The two trees probably signify the drought stage from leafsome to leafless, and the houses for stores.
THE DATE. Apart from the monogram, the date is to be gathered from certain ciroumstances. At the time, Srāvasti was under a Council of Mahāmātras. This will be true of the Nanda and Maurya times when Kösala was reduced to the position of a province of the Magadhan empire. The lettering will show an age about a century before Aboka. The document indicates that extensive measures were adopted by the State to meet threatened or repeated droughts, and the measures were largely advertised for the information of the public. This and the Māhästhān tablet seem to be contemporary documents of the reign of Chandra-gupta Maurya when repeated droughts ocurred, according to the Jains theological history. Both Sohgaura and Mahästhān inscriptions refer to atiyāyika' circumstances.
1 I reserve a fuller discussion on the Kumbrar pillar for a separate paper. It is sufficient to note here that the circles denote the plan of this pillar. My brother Mr. U. S. Jayaswal, who is an engineer by profession, without knowing anything of the actual position of the pillar said that it should be the 8th pillar in the third row according to these erection marks'. This agrees to the letter on Dr. Spooner's plan (XLI, p. 69). The sectional plan to the right on the pillar and its ciroles for the pillars and three lines before the letter mi constitute a copy of Dr. Spooner's plan of a group of 8 pillars on the site, reckoning it facing south wbere the main gate stood. What Dr. Spooner took to be Persian symbols are simply the direction for enection, noting mukha''face' gate'. M and kha (or, kho) cover tho whole of the sectional plan. The jotten by the circles read (left to right) "thabbha ; 3; 3."
