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What is Inscription
Epigraphy is the study of Inscriptions literally means any
Writing engraved on some object. In India, rock as well as lithic metallic
Earthen or wooden pillars ,tablets , plates and pots as also bricks , shells,
ivory, plaques and other object were generally used for incising inscription
often writing in relief such as we find in the legends on coins and seals
which are usually produced out of molds for dies ,and also records painted
on cave walls or written in ink on wooden tablets are regarded as
Inscriptions although these writings are not actually engraved as is usually the
Case with inscriptions in the pessio arabic script, the letters of certain late
Medieval records in the indigenous Indian alphabets are generally engraved but
are formed by scooping the space around them.7
Some what longer inscriptions may record the dedication of the images of
Deities or such curious social customs as the self immolation of a widow and
the head of a devoting.10
Epigraphical records may be broadly classicfied under
two groups . Those engraved behalf of the ruling authority and second those
incised on behalf of private individuals or organizations. The largest number of
epigraph of the second category record donations made in favour of religious
establishments or installation of images worship. They are usually incides on
the object that were donated or installed and are as rule ,small.11
The nature and purpose of the inscriptions are many
And various. Hundreds of them are merely label inscriptions which give out the
names of pilgrims, sculptures, stone masons and off course vandals. A large
number of inscriptions contain, in varying details and degrees, such
information as render them do native or commemorative in nature. Besides
we have also inscriptions which recorded political, religious, commercial
compacts, deeds of sale of land and labour, or which deal with matters of
trade and commerce many more pertain to the construction or renovation
and there adjuncts and annexes and to the lakes, tanks, wells and water is
terms cisterns, and to the making and renovation of images. There are also
inscriptions of a purely religious nature though religious orientation or
influence is also noticed in the most of the inscriptions.12
The study of the epigraphy, therefore is a matter of vital
importance, the inscriptions throw light on the life of sovereigns and the
people. Over whom they ruled important incidents are recorded in them.
Sometimes they supply or strengthen a work link in accounts of dynasties to us
from other literary sources. They help us to locate the sites of ancient places by
the geographical material recorded by them. The long and pompous descriptions
of the royal families known as prasasthis or meykirtis give graphic
account of various exploits.13
SCOPE OF EPIGRAPHY
These archaeival sources are more on paper and palm leaves etc.
And other easily perishable material the stones and the copper plates, which
were the order of the day.16
As far as the technicalities are concerned the first one
Is related with reading the script this is called Paleography .where in the paleo
means old and graphic means science or skill of identifying the symbols
(graphs). Hence , paleography in its totality may be taken as a science for
deciphering and Reading such script, which are very old not in use at present.
The second one is identifying the language which the epigraph is written in
prakrit, Sanskrit, Hindi, Telungu, Bengali and other distinctive vernacular were
in use.17
Hence the scope of the epigraphy divorce around the
Relation between the Indo-Aryan and Dravidian languages were in Prakrit
,Sanskrit, Bengali, Hindi, Bengali etc are Indo Aryan and Telungu,
Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam etc are Dravidian. After having an identifiable
relation established Between the script written or incised and the language
represented the third stage drags to identify the political , social, cultural,
economic and literacy details of the life .Thus the scope of epigraphical studies
is related with detailing different dimensions of life.18
16. ibid,p.2
17. ibid,p.3
18. D.C Sarkar,Studies in Indian Epigraphy,K.V Ramesh(Ed),Geetha Books
House,Mysore,1977,p.10
7
TYPES OF INSCRIPTIONS
On the basis of the basis of material used for wring of
epigraph
19.ibid, p.p,4-5
20 .ibid, p.6
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