INSCRIPTION – Proof of Ancient Cultures

Inscription is a historical, religious, or other record cuts, impressed, painted, or written on stone, brick, metal, or other hard surfaces.

Carved into rock surfaces centuries ago, they stand as examples of the finest that Indian art has to offer.

Eye copy by Sykes of Naneghat Inscription

It showcases a lot about ancient cultures and their beliefs.
It gives information about birth, death, and other important events that took place in that century.
It also helped to study painting, sculpture, and literature.
It also gives us valuable and approximate information about the ancient kings and queens, their names, their food habits and also about flora and fauna in that place, during that time.
The language and the style of writing will throw light on their economic and cultural lifestyles.
For example, the Mandosore Stone Inscription during the reign of Kumar Gupta and Bandhuvarman of the Malwa dynasty indicates the use of seals for commercial purposes.

If we study these inscriptions carefully, we can collect information about the political-religious, social, historical, and economic conditions of ancient India as well as details, traditions, Literature, scripts and administrative system.

INSCRIPTION IN SAHYADRI

While exploring in the Sahyadri Mountains, we found a number of inscriptions carved at the walls of historical forts.

Marathi Inscription at left and Urdu Inscription on Right

Marathi Inscription at Salher Fort, Baglan

Persian Inscription at Sajjangad Fort, Satara

Let’s talk about some ancient inscriptions at the popular historical places of Maharashtra

NANEGHAT, Junnar

It was a part of an ancient trading route and is famous for a major cave with Middle Indic inscriptions in Brahmi script. These inscriptions have been dated between the 2nd and the 1st century BCE and attributed to the Satavahana dynasty era. The inscriptions are notable for linking the V e dic and Vaishnavism deities, mentioning some Vedic srauta rituals and of names that provide historical information about the ancient Satavahanas.

The inscriptions present the world’s oldest numeration symbols for “2, 4, 6, 7, and 9” that resemble modern era numerals, more closely those found in modern Nagari and Hindu-Arabic script.

Two long Nanaghat inscriptions are found on the left and right wall, while the back wall has small inscriptions on top above where the eight life-sized missing statues would have been before somebody hacked them off and removed them.

Sketch of Inscription at Right wall of Naneghat (Source: Wikipedia)

For more details about Naneghat’s Inscription

LOHAGAD, Lonavala

On the outside wall of a rock-cut cave on the eastern side cliff of the Lohgad fort, close to Lohgadwadi village, an Inscription in Brahmi script dating back to 2^nd century BC was discovered in September 2019 by a team of local trekkers.

The inscription is similar to, but more descriptive than, an inscription discovered at Pale caves which is the oldest inscription in Maharashtra

It starts with ‘Namo Arihantanam’ which is commonly used by Jains, pointing to the fact that the Lohgad cave is a Jain rock-cut cave.

The newly discovered inscription is 50cm-wide and 40cm-long and is written in six lines. The fort has been declared as a protected monument by the government.

For more details about Lohgad Inscription

RAIGAD Fort

The uniqueness of the Inscription at Raigad fort shows the symbol of loyalty, selfless and dedication towards work by Hiroj Indulkar who was the chief architect of Raigad fort. While constructing Raigad, He even mortgages his home and belongings as Raigad was facing a fund issue when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was in the confinement of Aurangzeb. For his sacrifices and loyalty, Shivaji Maharaj honored Hiroji Indulkar laterally by completing his wish which was

‘His name inscribed on the one of the tile of the entrance of Jagdishwar Temple so that whenever Maharaj visits this temple, his foot indirectly touches Hiroji’s Name’.

“Hiroji Indulkar is at the service of…..!!!” (Hiroji Indulkar Inscription at Raigad Fort)

Another inscription is made by Indulkar during the construction of Raigad fort.

Translation in English

“This majestic temple of Jagdishwar which brings happiness to all is built on the word of Shivaji Maharaj on the auspicious muhurta in the Hindu year of 1596. The architect by name Hiroji built all wells, ponds, gardens, roads, pillars, monuments and palaces. These will remain till the sun and moon are there in the skies…!!“

THOUGHT ABOUT INSCRIPTION

“Inscriptions are contemporary that’s why inscriptions are trustworthy.

This heritage is an indispensable part of our identity. World over, this heritage conservation should be viewed as a subject of utmost importance for national identity and also for preserving the knowledge and arts of the past..!!”

Want to know more about Inscription, Checkout following links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigraphy

https://www.ancient-asia-journal.com/articles/10.5334/aa.114/

https://www.livehistoryindia.com/cover-story/2020/02/02/mandagora-the-konkans-roman-connection

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-Wandering Mann