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352
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
DECEMBER, 1885.
The era is not specified, but, from the locality of the inscription, it must be the era of the Malava tribe or kings, i.e. the Vikrama era. The date, accordingly, is A.D. 822-23.
J. F. FLEET.
THE CHANDRAGUPTA AND VIKRAMADITYA
OF THE UDAYAGIRI AMRITA CAVE INSCRIPTION
This inscription, published by me in this Journal, Vol. XIII. p. 185, is dated (Vikrama).Samvat 1093 (A.D. 1036-37). The object of it is to record the visit of a pilgrim named Kanha to the cave. But the really interesting part of the record is the statement, in lines 5 to 8, that the cave was mode by Chandragupta, and that the reign of Vikramaditya came after that event.
I quoted this as apparently a record of tradition of the eleventh century A.D.,-to be taken for what it may be worth, -to the effect that the reign of the Vikramaditya, after whom the Vikrama era was named, was at least subsequent to the time of Chandragupta II. of the Early Gupta dynasty.
At page 61 above, Dr. Burgess has suggested that the statement refers to the great Maurya king Chandragupta, of the fourth century B.C., and – Vikramaditya who is given as his son by one of the Mackenzie palm-leaf Telugu MSS. at Madras.
But, - judging by the lists in the Vishnu and other Purdnas (see Hall's edition of Wilson's
translation of the Vishnu-Purana, Vol. IV. pp. 186-190 and notes),- no such person was known of in Northern India. And there is nothing whatever to connect Chandragupta, the Maurya, with the Udayagiri hill. On the other hand, there are two inscriptions in other caves on the hill, which mention a name that is unmistakably that of Chandragupta II. of the Early Gupta dynasty-one of them recording that he actually came in person to the hill; on which occasion the “Tawa Cave" was excavated by the order of his minister Virasena, otherwise called saba, who accompanied him.
As regards the age of the "Amrita Cave," - there is no inscription to shew the period to which it must be allotted. But General Cunningham is of opinion,- from the more copious decoration of the pillars, and their new style, -that it is the latest of all the Udayagiri caves. At any rate, therefore, it is not earlier than the “ TÂwa Cave."
It is possible that the mention of the name of Vikramaditya, is due to nothing but a dim knowledge of the fact that this was a title of Chandragupta II. But whatever opinion may be held as to the identity of this Vikramaditya,all the circumstances of the case render it beyond a doubt that the Chandragupta who is referred to is Chandragupta II. of the Early Gupta dynasty.
J. F. FLEET.
BOOK NOTICES,
A SECOND REPORT OF OPERATIONS IN SEARCH OY SANS. Among the MSS. referring to the Rigveda those
KRIT MSS. IN THE BOMBAY CIRCLE.By Professor containing the sacred books of the bank hêyanas P. PETERSON. Extra Number of the Jour, Bo. Br.
are particularly valuable. It is very probablo R. As. Soc., 1884, pp. 183, 29.
that, as Dr. Peterson contends (pp. 4-7) the MSS. Dr. Peterson's Second Report follows the First of the Samhita contain the text which the after a reasonable interval, and is like the latter Sankhayanas at present study. Whether it is replete with matter both interesting and cal. the same as that to which their old Sutras refer culated to advance our knowledge of Sanskrit
is another question altogether and very doubtful. literature. Though Dr. Peterson spent the autumn Copies of the Kaushitakilrahmanabhdahya by vacation of the year under report, 1883-84, Vinayaka, which in the list stands erroneously on leave in Europe, he nevertheless found time as No. 36 under the heading Asvaldyana-Sakh to pay at Christmas a visit to the famous library
as well as of the fragments of Varadatta's and of the Maharaja of Alwar-a fact which speaks
Anartiya's commentaries on the Srautasitras highly for his energy and his zeal in the good ought to be procured for the Government colleo. cause. His trouble has been rewarded by a num. tion. The latter possesses only incomplete transber of important discoveries. The list of Vedic cripts of the Brahmanabhashya and nothing but works in the Alwar collection, given at pp. 167. the text of the Srautasútras (Nård yana's com183, as well as the remarks in the body of the mentary on the Grihyasdtra is represented by a Report, show that the fame of the library has not good old copy in the Collection of 1879-80). It been exaggerated, and that the Maharaja really will also be advisable to have Lakshmidhara's possesses a considerable number of rare books. Galitadipikd (No. 35, p. 168) copied. The question
Archæol. Suru. Ind. Vol. X. p. 52.
Boe, for instance, the silver coins, the logends of which are given at p. 65 f. above.
Reprinted from für den Orient.
the Oestreichische Monatsschrift
