Inscriptions in : A Preliminary Study

Lalit Aditya1

1. Shanta Villa, 1st Floor, Opp. Amrita Health Care, 1st by Lane, Jitin Chandra Road, Lalpur, Ranchi, Jharkhand – 834 001, (Email: [email protected])

Received: 25 June 2018; Revised: 01 September 2018; Accepted: 13 October 2018 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 6 (2018): 1067‐1079

Abstract: India is a country with its own history and cultural heritage spanning over thousands of years and thousands of miles. The fact that makes India a diverse nation is that each state of India has itsʹ own cultural uniqueness and historical background. But the focus of historians has mostly remained on main stream history away from tribal states like Jharkhand, which is located at such an important junction that connects Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh all of whom were historically important. Citing geographical location of Jharkhand would not be suggestible to ignore the role it may have played in Indian history. This article is a sincere effort, first of its kind, on the topic with the aim of expanding the horizon of research and development of new theories in history of Jharkhand as well as India.

Keywords: Inscription, History, Copper Plate, Shell Inscription, Ranchi, Sahebganj, Jharkhand

Introduction Jharkhand is well known for its natural resources, but very less is known about its cultural and historical heritage. Its geographical location puts it in the middle of various important cultures and regimes and many important traveling routes crisscross its beautiful wilderness. On these paths’ travelers left the footprint of their cultures in some form or the other. Most of the history of Jharkhand is undiscovered till date, the reasons being its inaccessible areas due to high mounting hills and dense forest where its history is lying since time immemorial.

Now with the development and spread of technology, fast growing population and increasing demand of local minerals & ores, the accessibility to its deepest corners has increased manifold. Naturally the history of Jharkhand is being written and rewritten with the help of new archaeological and historical finds. In this context most, important role is being played by inscriptions spread over the whole state which are a very authentic source of history of Jharkhand apart from the sources like folk songs and folklores. Inscriptions provide concrete information primarily on dates, people, events, culture and other features of that particular area. These inscriptions are found in and around temples where they provide information about the reign of particular ruler, the ISSN 2347 – 5463 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 6: 2018

time of building, name of donor, objects donated at the time of prayers, name of Priests, villages and revenue areas under them etc. They are found near various ancient religious shrines, civil structures, rocks and on copper plates etc.

Such inscriptions are also found engraved on statues which mention the name of the donor, period of its carving and other such information etc. Some inscriptions are also found on walls of Old forts, palaces and on other places such as temples etc. indicating existence and descriptions of fort and palaces.

The lack of veracity in history of Jharkhand, that is primarily based on literary sources or oral traditions increases the importance of these inscriptions manifold as they provide authentic information on the contemporary religious, social, political as well as economic conditions of the area concerned. Thus, the inscription can provide aid in identification, verification and explanation of relevant facts.

These inscriptions are scattered over the state of Jharkhand and hold valuable and authentic information about its history. Information about these inscriptions has been collected, at many places personally, from different parts of the state. The list of such inscriptions is given in Tables 1‐3.

Table 1: Inscriptions from Jharkhand No. Inscription District Period 1 Saridkel Brahmi inscription (IAR 2003‐04: 119‐ Khunti Circa 3rd cent. 20) B.C. 2 Kabrakalan Bramhi inscription (Aditya 2014: Palamau C. 3rd – 2nd cent. 22) (Figure 1) B.C. 3 Benisagar Seal (IAR 2003‐04: 119‐20) (Figure 2) West C. 4th – 5th cent. Singhbhum A.D. 4 Benisagar Sealings (Aditya 2014: 23) West C. 4th – 5th cent. Singhbhum A.D. 5 Two inscriptions from Belinigarh (ARE 1953‐ Godda C. 6th cent. A.D. 54: 34) 6 Vishnugupta Inscription of Kamleswari Chatra C. 7th – 18th cent. including five others from same place of A.D. different eras till 18th Century. (ARE 1958: 30) (Figure 3) 7 Dudhpani inscription (Kielhorn 1894: 343‐47) Hazaribagh C. 8th – 9th cent. (Figure 4) A.D. 8 Chandil inscription (Sircar 1959‐60: 297‐98) East C. 8th – 9th cent. Singhbhum A.D. 9 Patkum inscription (Aditya 2014: 28‐29) East C. 8th – 9th cent. Singhbhum A.D. 10 Aditya Sen inscription and twelve others from Deoghar C. 8th – 18th cent. same temple complex (Mitra 1883: 165‐203) A.D.

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11 Buddhapur group of inscriptions (Patil 1963: Dhanbad C. 8th – 11th cent. 70) A.D. 12 Satgaon group of inscriptions from different Koderma C. 9th ‐16th cent. phases starting from 7th Century AD. (Patil A.D. 1963: 527) 13 Mahendra Pal Itkhori Inscription (Patil 1963: East C. 9th – 10th cent. 176‐77) Singhbhum A.D. 14 Three inscriptions From Hapamuni starting Lohardaga C. 10th ‐15th cent. from 9th Century AD (Virottam 2006: 588‐89) A.D. 15 Telkupi inscription (Patil 1963: 570) Dhanbad C. 10th cent. A.D. 16 Chakradharpur Grant (ARE 1964‐65: 41) West C. 10th cent. A.D. Singhbhum 17 Two inscriptions from Boram or Buram (Patil Chatra C. 10th – 14th 1963: 73) cent. A.D. 18 Itkhori copper plate inscription (Mohan 2007: Chatra Undated 114) 19 Two Bamanghati copper plate inscription West C. 12th cent. A.D. (Ghosha 1871: 161‐69) Singhbhum 20 Two Bamanghati copper plate inscription Palamau C. 12th cent. A.D. (Ghosha 1871: 161‐69) 21 Eight inscriptions from Itkhori (Aditya 2014: Chatra Undated 30‐31) 22 Japla inscription (Aditya 2014: 35‐37) (Figure 5) Palamau Undated 23 Sanghat (Vishnu Icon) inscription Palamau Undated 24 Dato inscription of Tara image (Figure 6) Hazaribagh Undated 25 Kramaditya copper plate (Mirashi 1965: 55‐ West C. 13th cent. A.D. 57) Singhbhum 26 Kamla Temple inscription of Rampal Hazaribagh Undated 27 Two inscriptions from Tapoban (Patil 1963: Deoghar Undated 561) 28 Navagarh inscription Chatra Undated 29 Eight inscriptions From Alluara Bronze Bokaro C. 13th cent. A.D. Images (Akhtar 2001: 212‐14) 30 Eight inscriptions from Mohuldungari East C. 13th cent. A.D (Figure 7) Singhbhum 31 Bahragora stone Inscription East Undated Singhbhum 32 Khalari Buddha pedestal inscription Ranchi Undated 33 Jonha Buddha pedestal inscription Ranchi Undated 34 Orkosa Buddha Pedestal inscription Koderma Undated 35 Inscription form Rajrappa (Virottam 2006: Hazaribagh Undated 590)

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36 Two inscription new fort (Figure 8) Palamau 17th cent. A.D. 37 Three inscriptions from Harlajuri (Patil 1963: Deoghar Undated 161) 38 Kumhari inscriptions (Diwedi 2008: 250) Bokaro Undated 39 Kumhardag inscriptions (Diwedi 2008: 250) Bokaro Undated 40 Chechhauri inscription Palamau Undated 41 Surya Image pedestal inscription East Undated Singhbhum 42 Bhandra Group of ins. including Copper Lohardaga Undated Plates of Land Grant 43 Gholmara inscription (Virottam 2006: 24) Khunti Undated 44 Naagpheni Copper Plate of Land Grant Gumla Undated 45 Naagpheni inscription (Patil 1963: 299) Gumla C. 15th cent. A.D 46 Srikund Stone slab inscription (Sircar 1968: Santhal C. 16th cent. A.D. 134‐35) Pargana 47 Padampur inscription (Arif 2013: 07‐08) Godda Undated 48 Sri Samad gram inscription (Mohan 2007: 125) Latehar Undated 49 Satar Gram inscription (Mohan 2007: 122) Deoghar Undated 50 Two inscriptions from Bijak Pahar (Patil 1963: East C. 16th cent. A.D. 55‐56) Singhbhum 51 Two inscriptions from old fort (Blochmann Palamau 16th – 17th cent. 1871: 111) A.D. 52 Two inscriptions from Panchet fort (Patil Dhanbad 16th – 17th cent. 1963: 358‐59) A.D. 53 Nagari inscription of Maina Bibi tomb (ARE Sahebganj 16th cent. A.D. 1975‐76: 40) 54 Kuthar inscription (Figure 9) Ramgarh Undated 55 Three inscriptions from Borya (Virottam 2006: Ranchi 17th – 18th cent. 594‐96) A.D. 56 Six inscriptions from Doisa Nagar complex Gumla 17th – 18th cent. A.D. 57 Three inscriptions from Chutia (Virottam Ranchi 17th cent. A.D. 2006: 590‐91) 58 Jagannath temple inscription (Aditya 2014: Ranchi 17th cent. A.D. 49‐50) 59 Borya Copper Plate Ranchi 17th cent. A.D. 60 Three inscriptions from Mahudi (Kesari 2008: Hazaribagh 17th – 18th cent. 26) A.D. 61 Three inscriptions from Tilmi (Haldar 1871: Khunti 17th – 18th cent. 108‐10) A.D. 62 Maluti group of inscriptions Dhanbad 17th – 19th cent. A.D.

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63 Nagar Utari, Banashidhar Temple inscription Garhwa Undated 64 Two inscriptions from Zingi Lohardaga Undated 65 Ratu Megalith inscription (Figure 10) Ranchi Undated 66 Rampur Megalith inscription Ranchi Undated 67 Churia temple inscription Ranchi 1727 A.D. 68 Shiv temple inscription Khunti Undated

Table 2: Arabian and Persian Inscriptions from Jharkhand No. Inscription District Period 1 Maina Bibi Tomb inscription (Patil 1963: Sahebganj C. 14th cent. A.D. 480) (Figure 11) 2 Satgaon inscription of A.H 936 (Blochmann Koderma 1529 A.D. 1875: 301‐02) 3 Inscription of tomb of Qari Ibrahim Khan Sahebganj 1557 A.D. A.H. 964 (Blochmann 1875:301‐02) 4 Sangi Dalan Arabic inscriptions (Patil 1963: Sahebganj C. 16th cent. A.D. 475) 5 Mahatpur inscription (Blochmann 1875: Rajmahal 1674 A.D. 301‐02) 6 Inscription from mosque (Blochmann 1875: Rajmahal Undated 301‐02) 7 Two Dawood Khan inscriptions (Virottam Palamau C. 17th cent. A.D. 2006: 603) 8 Two Medieval inscriptions Unknown Undated 9 Palamau fort inscription Palamau C. 17th cent. A.D. 10 Tilmi inscription (Haldar 1871: 106‐10) Ranchi C. 18th cent. A.D.

Table 1: Shell Inscriptions from Jharkhand No. Inscription Place 1 Three Shell inscriptions from Benisagar (ARE 1961‐62: 58) West (Figure 12) Singhbhum 2 Two Shell inscriptions from BijakPahar (Patil 1963: 55‐56) (C. EastSinghbhum 6th cent. A.D.) 3 Khukhagarh Shell inscription Lohardaga 4 Bhandra Shell inscription Lohardaga

Conclusion From the list of scriptures listed here it can be concluded that the area of Jharkhand was a crucial gateway that linked many important trade routes and imperial kingdoms situated in Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. Further it also comes to notice that Jharkhand has come under the influence of Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. While it can be concluded from the deciphered inscriptions that Palas were the dynasty controlling major area of state, many scriptures which are mentioned in the

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Figure 1: Kabrakalan Inscription

Figure 2: Benisagar Seal Aditya 2018: 1067‐1079

Figure 3: Kamleswari Hill Inscription

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Figure 4: Dudhpani Inscription

Figure 5: Japla Inscription

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Figure 6: Dato Inscription

Figure 7: Mohuldungari Bronze Image Inscription

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Figure 8: New fort Inscription Palamau

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Figure 9: Impression of Kuthar Inscription

Figure 10: Ratu Megalith Inscription

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Figure 11: Maina Bibi Tomb Inscription

Figure 12: Shell Inscriptions from Benisagar list as undated are still to be deciphered and may bring a totally new picture to light. This paper is aimed at broadening the horizon for scholarly research in the area of cultural and historical past of Jharkhand which has been till recently, limited only to study of a few very famous historical sites and tribal folklores, whereas most of it has remained unnoticed due to lack of awareness about other important archaeological sites or deformation of archaeological evidences by amateurs. Keeping in view the importance of inscriptions in general for archaeological and historical studies, the discovery of a large number of inscriptions belonging to different ages, from extensive region of Jharkhand are remarkable and throw a considerable light on different issues of that particular phase of the history of Jharkhand. These finding indicate towards administrative and economic relationship between different kings and rulers of those

1078 Aditya 2018: 1067‐1079 days. It will also help in uncovering so‐called Dark Age of ancient history of Jharkhand because these inscriptions are first hand record of that particular period of time and can help in clearing the air of factual contradiction and it is to be noted that oral history may change over time whereas archaeological evidence may be destroyed but cannot be changed. Remains of these ancient periods are being discovered from time to time in Jharkhand by explorers. They help strengthen the archaeologically supported history of Jharkhand and the nation as well.

References Aditya, Lalit. 2014. Jharkhand ke Abhilekh. Unpublished M.A. diss., Ranchi University, Jharkhand. Akhtar, Naseem (ed.). 2001. Patna Museum Catalouge: Terracottas and Metal Images. Patna: Patna Museum. Annual Report on Indian Epigraphy. 1953‐54. New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India. Annual Report on Indian Epigraphy. 1958. New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India. Annual Report on Indian Epigraphy. 1961‐62. New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India. Annual Report on Indian Epigraphy. 1964‐65. New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India. Annual Report on Indian Epigraphy. 1975‐76. New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India. Arif, Abdul. 2013. Recent Archaeological Explorations in Jharkhand. Srijit, Vol. 2 (1). Blochmann, Heinrich. 1875. History and Geography of Bengal. JASB. Vol. XLIV. Part I. No. III. Diwedi, Umesh Chandra. 2008. Jharkhand ki Kala Evam Puratattva. Ranchi: Jharkhand Encyclopedia. Pt. I. Ghosha, P.C. 1871. Notes on, and Translations of, two Copper‐plate Inscriptions from Bamanghati. JASB. No. III, Pt. I. Haldar, Rakhal Das. 1871. Notes on Three Inscriptions on Stone Found in Chutia Nagpur. JASB. Vol. XL. Issue II. Indian Archaeology ‐ A Review. Keilhorn, F. 1894. Dudhpani Rock Inscription of Udayamana. Epigraphica Indica Vol. II, ed. Jas Burgess. Motilal Banarasidas. Kesari, B. P. 2008. Chhotanagpur ka Prahchin Kaal. Jharkhand Encyclopedia. Vol. I. Mirashi, V.V. 1965. A Copper‐Plate Grant of Kramaditya: (Vikrama) Year 1081. JBRS, Vol. LI, Pt. I‐IV. Mitra, Rajendralal. 1883. On the Temples of Deoghar. JASI, Vol. III, Pt. I. Mohan, Kumar Brijendra. 2007. Bharat ke Rajya: Jharkhand, New Delhi: Avishkar Prakashan. Patil, D.R. 1963. The Antiquarian Remains in Bihar. Patna: Kashi Prasad Jayaswal Research Institute. Sircar, D.C. 1959‐60. Chandil Stone Inscription. Epigraphica Indica Vol. XXXIII. Sircar, D.C. 1968. Srikund A Stone Slab Inscription of Saka 1503. Prof. Syed Hasan Askari Felicitation Volume. Ed. S.V. Sohoni. JBRS. Virottam, B. 2006. Jharkhand: Itihas evam Sanskriti. Patna: Bihar Hindi Granth Academy.

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