Post-Mauryan Inscriptions

Post-Mauryan Inscriptions

Heliodorus's Besnagar Garud Pillar Inscription (Second half of 2nd century BC)

Location:

• This pillar inscription is situated in Besnagar village (Bhilsa district, Madhya Pradesh).

Details:

• This inscribed pillar was erected in front of the Vishnu Temple by Heliodorus (an ambassador sent by Antiolcides (115 BC–110 BC), the Indo-Bactrian ruler, to the court of Bhagabhadra, the Shung king).

• In this inscription, Heliodorus called himself "Bhagwat," which confirms he was a follower of the Bhagwat religion.

• This pillar was surmounted by a sculpture of Garud and was dedicated to the god Vishnu. It confirms the religious impact of India on the Greeks.

Dhanadeo's Ayodhya Stone Inscription (1 Century BC)

Location:

• It is encarved on a stone piece which is 1 km away from Ayodhyanagar in Basti district of Uttar Pradesh state.

Language and Script:

• It is written in the Sanskrit language and the Brahmi script.

• It is the earliest available inscription written in the Sanskrit language.

Details:

• This was inscribed by Dhanadeo of the Shung dynasty.

• It contains the information about Pushyamitra Shung, founder of the Shung dynasty, their capital, Ayodhya, Ashwamedha Yajnas performed twice by him, victory over the Greeks, etc.

Kharavela's Hathigumpha Inscription (1 Century BC)

Location:

• This inscription is inscribed on the upper part of Hathigumpha (Gumpha is an Odia synonym of the Hindi word Gupha, i.e., cave).

Language and Script:

• It is written in the Prakrit language and the Brahmi script.

• It was inscribed by Kharavela, the Cheti/Chedi or Mahameghavahan ruler of Kalinga.

Details:

• It throws light on the life of Kharavela, his acts, and the events of his reign year by year (from coronation to the 13th year of his rule).

• It described the Kalinga ruler Kharavela and his queen as the patron of the Jain religion.

• Kharavela was a follower of the Jain religion, and he took up the title "Bhikshuraj".

• This inscription describes how he invaded Magadh and made their king Brihaspatimitra (Shung dynasty) pay homage at his feet.

• He returned home (i.e., Kalinga) with the statue and the foot-marks of the first Jina (i.e, Rishabhadeva) which had been carried away three centuries ago by king Nanda.

Other Important Points:

• Extension of the old canal (excavated by King Nanda) up to the capital Kalinga from Tanasuliya

• Construction of the Mahavijaya Palace

• Construction of a large temple at Bhubaneshwar, etc.

• In this inscription, he called himself "Chakravart, ruler".

• This is the first inscription in which the word "Bharatvarsha" is mentioned.

Nagagnika's Nanaghat Cave Inscription (Second half of 1 Century BC)

Location:

• This inscription is found in a cave of Nanaghat in the Poona (Pune) district of Maharashtra state.

Language and Script:

• It is written in the Prakrit language and the Brahmi script.

Details:

• It was inscribed by Satavahana ruler Shatakarni's wife Nagagnika, who was a daughter of the Maharathi of Maharashtra.

• It throws light on the achievements of Shatakarni (20 BC...).

• In this Inscription, Shatakarni is called "Apratihatchakra", "Dakshinadhipati", "Dhan of Simuk Vansha ", etc.

• It mentions Yajnas (I.,e. sacrifices) - Ashwamedha Yajna (2 times), Rajasuya Yajna, Agnadheya Yajna, etc - performed by Shatakarni.

• It contains the information that at the time of the death of Shatakarni, both his sons - Shaktishri & Vedashri - were minors, so their mother Nagagnika held the power in her hands as regent.

Gautami Balashri's Nasik Cave Prashasti Inscription (141 AD)

Location:

• It is found in a cave of Nasiknagar in Maharashtra state.

Details:

• It throws light on Satavahana ruler Gautamiputra Shatakarni (106–130 AD).

• It was inscribed in 141 AD by his mother Gautami Balashri in the reign of Vashishthiputra Pulumavi (130–154 AD).

• Due to this reason, this inscription is sometimes known as Vashishtriputra Pulmavi's Nasik Prashasti Inscription.

• This inscription throws light on the victories of Gautamiputra Shatakarni and his devotion towards the religion.

Titles:

• According to the inscription, he took up the title of

  • "Khatiya-dap-man-madaras"

  • "Saka-Yavan-Palhav-Nisudanam"

  • "Khakharat Vas Niravases Karas"

  • "Satavahana Kula Yas-Patithapan-Karas", etc.

• He also took up the title of "Tri-Samudra-Toya-Pita-Vahana," I., one whose horses drank the waters of three seas in the East, West, and South (identified as the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea & the Indian Sea).

Mathura Stone Pillar Inscription of Huwishka's Time (106 AD)

Location:

• It is inscribed on the pillar found from a red well near Chaurasi Jain Temple at Mathura in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh state.

• At present, this inscription is conserved in the Mathura Museum.

Language and Script:

• It is written in the Prakrit language and the Brahmi script.

Details:

• It was inscribed by a donor, namely Sarakma, of Kushan ruler Huwishka's time.

• It states a chief who deposited money as an "Akshaynivi" (i.e., permanent amount whose interest only can be spent, not the principal) to a guild of floor millers for the maintenance of 100 Brahmanas out of the monthly interest on it.

• The last line of this inscription states that the pious fruit of this grant firstly goes to the king Huwishka—it displays respect for the king in the minds of the general people.

Ushabhadata's Nasik Cave Inscription (1 Century AD)

Location:

• It is inscribed in the Dhasami cave of Pandu Lena in Nasik city of Maharashtra state.

Language and Script:

• It is written in the Prakrit language and the Brahmi script.

Details:

• It was inscribed by Ushabhadata, son-in-law of Kshaharat, strap ruler of Nasik Nahpan.

• It defines the boundaries of the Nahpan state.

• It contains information about the guild system of that time.

• According to the inscription, Ushabhdata deposited 3,000 Kahapana (Karshapana) as an "Akshayanivi" (i.e., permanent amount), of which 2,000 Kahapana to the weaver's guild of Govardhana and 1,000 Kahapana to other weavers' guilds.

• The interest of this amount can be spent on clothes and other things for Bhikshus who reside in the Dhasami Cave of Pandu Lena.

Rudradaman's Junagadh/Girnar Inscription (150 AD)

Location:

• It is inscribed on a stone piece which is situated at Girnar hills near Junagadh city of Gujarat state.

Language and Script:

• It is written in the Sanskrit language and the Brahmi script.

• It is the first long Sanskrit inscription of India.

Details:

• It was inscribed by the Saka ruler Rudradaman.

• According to the inscription, Rudradaman defeated various kings and annexed their states —

  • Akara (East Malwa)

  • Avanti (West Malwa)

  • Anupa, Anart (North Kathiawar)

  • Saurashtra (South Kathiawar)

  • Subhra (the region on the Sabarmati)

  • Maru (Marwar)

  • Kuccha (Cutch)

  • Sindhu (East of the lower Indus)

  • Suvira (West of the lower Indus)

  • Kukura, Aparant (North Konkan)

  • Nisbada (West Vindhya & Aravali)

Historical Significance:

• From this inscription, we get the history of Sudarsana Lake.

• According to this inscription, the Sudarsana Lake, which existed from the time of Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka (Pusyagupta, the provincial governor of Chandragupta Maurya, built the Sudarsana Lake, and Yonraj Tusfak (Iranian), the provincial governor of Ashoka, repaired this lake), burst in the time of Rudradaman.

• There was a lot of destruction, and Sudarsana became Dudarsana.

• Rudradaman repaired this lake from his pocket and had not imposed no tax on the public.

• The repairing work was done under the supervision of Suvishakh, the provincial governor of Rudradaman.

• This is the first inscription in which for the first time Laxmi along with Vishnu is mentioned.

Final Thoughts

The Post-Mauryan inscriptions provide valuable insights into the political, religious, and cultural developments of ancient India.

They highlight the influence of Indian traditions on foreign rulers, the rise of regional powers like the Shungas and Satavahanas, and the spread of religions such as Jainism and Vaishnavism.

Written in Prakrit, Sanskrit, and Brahmi scripts, these records reveal key events—royal achievements, temple constructions, and public welfare activities.

As historical sources, they help bridge the gap between literary texts and archaeological findings, offering a clearer picture of India’s transition from the Mauryan to the early classical period.