________________
( 251
the earlier times.16 It can also be argued that the date of the inscription may pertain to some unknown era. We cannot say definitely on this point, so long no definite historical data are known. D.C. Sircar's suggestion that the territory round about Badali was ruled by the Sungas is also not corroborated from any sources.17 From Ahara (Udaipur) two seals bearing the legends "Palitasa” (3rd century B.C.) and “Vihitamvisa (ya)” (2nd century B.C.) were noticed.18 The battle of the Sunga king against the Yavana king as mentioned in the Malavikagnimitram took place on the right bank of the Sindhu river (perhaps Kali Sindhu flowing in the northern Malwa and Hadoti). It has little concern with the area near Badali. In this way inference taken by D.C. Sircar requires further evidence.19 Thus we may conclude that :
(i)
The Badali inscription is a Jain record. It perhaps mentions the construction of some structure for worship of Jain Tirthankar Mahavir by Sali Malini, who might be the resident of Madhyamika.
(ii) The era used in this inscription is not clear. It may refer to
the Mahavir Nirvana era or some other unknown era. As we have mostly to depend upon the palaeographic details, no definite fact can be adduced.
(b) Other-Inscriptions (i) From Noh, a broken bowl was discovered during the excava
tions20 in 1964-65. It contains some writing on its base in Brahmi attributable to the 2nd century B. C. The purport of the writing is not clear. Perhaps it records the name of a person with the expressions "Panchastavatiku” and “Negata". It seems that Negata stands for Nigatu or Nirgranth, a term very popular among Jains. Noh is in close proximity of
16. History of Mewar by the Author, pp. 71-72. 17. D. C. Sircar, The Guhilots of Kishkindha (Calcutta 1959), p.40Journal of
Bihar and Orissa Research Society, Vol. XXXVII, pp.34-14. 18. H. D. Sankalia, The Excavation at Ahar (Poona 1959), pp. 13-15. 19. History af Mewar by the Author, pp. 19-29. 20. Indian Archaeology-a review 1965-66 P. 67.
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