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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
[VOL. XXVIII
charters according to regnal reckoning in preference to the Saka era, exhibits the influence of local practice. The same conservatism in regard to the method of dating is also noticed in similar other cases. Records referring to the rule of the Gurjara-Pratihara king Mahandrapala found in Bihar and North Bengal, temporarily occupied by the king after having defeated the Pala king Nārāyanapāla (circa 854-908 A.C.), are dated according to his regnal reckoning and not according to the Vikrama era as is the case with the official Gurjara-Prathāra charters as well as other records of their time found in other parts of their empire. Inspite of the fact, however, that the Sēnas did not use the Saks era in their official records, its growing popularity in Bengal during the Sēna age is proved by the use of this era in epigraphic and literary records of the period such as Vandyaghatiya Sarvananda's work, Tikäsarvasva (composed in Saka 1081=1159-60 A. C.), the Adbhutasägara (commenced in Saka 1089=1167 A.C. or Saka 1090=1168 A.C.) and Dānasägara (composed in Saka 1091–1169 A.C.), both ascribed to king Vallälasēna,' the Sundarban plate of Dommanapāla (Saka 1118=1196 A.C.), the Saduktikarnāmpita (composed in Saka 1127-1205-06 A.C.) by Sridharadasa, the Tipperah plates (Saka 1141-1219 A.C.) of Harikaladēva Ranavankamalla and the Chittagong plate (Saka 1165=1243 A. C.) of Damodara. Its introduction in Sylhet and Assam during the same age is indicated by such records as Vallabhadēva's inscription? of Saka 1107 (1185 A.C.) and the Kanaibarshi rock inscription of Saka 1127 (1206 A.C.). The introduction of the era in North Bihar may have been due to the establishment of the rule of the Karnata dynasty in that country referred to above. Yet these facts do not quite clearly explain the use of the Saka era in the Valgüdar inscription of the time of Madanapāla discovered in a village in the western part of the Monghyr District, not only because the cause of its infiltration in that area is unknown, but also because here we have one of the earliest amongst the epigraphic and literary documents dated in the Saka era so far found in East India.10 It has possibly to be suggested that the Brahmana brothers who were responsible for the inscription in question were not original inhabitants of the city of Ksimilā, but had hailed from a territory where the use of the Saka era had become or was becoming popular."
The only place name mentioned in the three inscriptions is that of the city of Krimila, the identification of which has already been discussed above.
Inscription No. 1
TEXT" 1 Siddham[HI] Sri-Dharmmapaladēva-rājyē Ksimil-adhishthānē Madhusrēņika[b] 2 Salo-dharmmapatni-Ajhūkēna dēva-dharmmo=yam kāritaḥ ||
1 Kalpadrukðka (G.O.S.), p. xviii.
History of Bengal, op. cit., pp. 230 ff ; 353 ff. 1.H.Q., Vol. X, pp. 321 ff. ; Ind. Cult., Vol. I, pp. 679 ff. Ray, op. cit., p. 363 ; History of Bengal, op. cit., p. 230. Bhandarkar, op. cit., No. 1112. • Ibid., No. 1114. The Mehar plate of this king has the date Saka 1158.
Ibid., No. 1107.
Toid., No. 1109. . Cf. ibid., No. 1126.
30 Theories tracing the use of the Saka era in Eastern India in earlier contarios (of. J. G. J. R. I., Vol. . Pp. 349. ff.) are unwarranted.
11 The form nripidh for nipatth in our insoription inay suggest Orissa. Senapt for senapati is fairly common in medieval Orissan recorda. Seo J. A. 8. B., Vol. LXIV, Part I, p. 162, line 8; J. R. A. 8. B. , Vol. XVII.
11 From impressions.
Expressed by a symbol. MGIPO-81-7 DGA-30-12-82-460.
