Indian Epigraphy

The most significant of India's contributions of the Civilization of the World was made in the Ancient period. Unfortunately, the History of this glorious epoch, which is an interesting chapter in the annals of human civilization, was lost, and we have been reconstructing it on the basis of information gathered from various sources. Of these, Epigraphy is the most important, since the major part of what we already know about ancient India is derived from the Study of inscriptions.

In the present work, Professor D.C. Sircar deals with various problems relating to Indian epigraphy, and it is expected to be useful to people interested in ancient Indian history in General and Indian inscriptions in particular. Some of the Topics discussed herein are: inscriptions and their evidence, languages in which the inscriptions are written, Writing materials, the preparation and preservation of documents, copperplate grants, stanzas on bhumi-dana, Indian epigraphy abroad, systems of dating and the different eras, Technical expressions including royal titles and official designations, taxes, land measures, nomenclature, etc.

There are thirty-six plates illustrating various types of Epigraphical records.

Dr. Dines Chandra Sircar was formerly Government Epigraphist for India in the Archaeological Surgey. Prof. Sircar has written on most aspects of early Indian history. Besides editing a Large number of volumes of different types, he has published twenty Books and monographs and more than a thousand papers, notes and reviews appearing in various periodicals in India and abroad.

Subject
Preface
List of Plates
System of Transliteration

Chap. I : INSCRIPTIONS AND THEIR EVIDENCE :
1. Indian Inscriptions
2. Reconstruction of Early Indian History
3. Historical Perspective
4. Merits of Epigraphical Evidence
5. Demerits of Epigraphic Evidence

Appendix

INDO-MUSLIM Epigraphy :
1. Study of the Subject
2. Nature of the Records
3. Language
4. Palaeography and Calligraphy
5. Historical Importance

Chap. II : Language OF INSCRIPTIONS

Section 1 : Prakrit and Sanskrit

Section 2 : Dravidian Languages :
i. Tamil (Tamil)
ii. Kannada (Kanarese)
iii. Telugu (Telugu, Tenugu)
iv. Malayalam and Tulu

Section 3 : NEO-INDO-ARYAN LANGUAGES :
i. Marathi
ii. Hindi and its Dialects and Allied Languages
iii. Gujarati
iv. Kashmiri and Allied Dialects
v. Oriya (Odiya)
vi. Bengali (Vangali) and Maithili
vii. Assamese (Asamiya)

Chap. III : Writing MATERIALS :
Section 1 : MATERIALS FOR WRITING OR SCRATCHING :
i. Palmyra Leaves
ii. Birch and Aloe Bark
iii. Cloth and Hide
iv. Paper
v. Wood

Section 2 : Materials For Engraving or Embossing :
i. Stone
ii. Earthen Objects
iii. Shells and other Non-Metallic Objects
iv. Copper
v. Gold and Silver
vi. Bronze, Iron and other Metals

Section 3 : Ink and Pen
i. Ink
ii. Pen and other Instruments

Chap. IV : Preparation and Preservation of Records :
1. Writing and Engraving
2. Illustration and Ornamentation
3. Omission, Correction and Pagination
4. Auspicious Symbols
5. Preservation of Copper-plate Grants
6. Treatment of Letters
7. Preservation of Manuscripts

Chap. V : COPPER-PLATE
Section 1 ROYAL CHARTERS AND CONNECTED PROBLEMS :
i. Raja-sasana
ii. Other Types of Sasanas
iii. Creation of Rent-free I

Section 2 : SPECIMENS OF Raja-Sasana :
i. Form
ii. Classification of Con ten
iii. Preamble
iv. Notification
v. Conclusion
vi. Seals

Appendices :
A. Meaning OF 'UPAGATA',ETC.
B. STANZAS ON BKUMI-DANA

Chap. VI : INDIAN EPIGRAPHY ABROAD :
1. Central Asia
2. Ceylon
3. Burma, Siam (Thailand)and Malay Peninsula
4. Indonesia
5. Cambodia
6. South Annam

Chap VII : DATING AND THE ERAS :
Section 1 : DATES IN INDIAN Epigraphs :
i. Nature of the Dates
ii. Numbers expressed by Words
iii. Numbers expressed by Letters
iv. Regnal Reckoning and Connected Problems
v. Introduction of Reckoning in Eras

Section 2 Some Current Reckonings
i. Vikrama Era
ii. Saka Era
iii. Jupiter's Sixty-year Cycle
iv. Kollam (Kolamba) Era
v. Nevari Era and other Reckonings of Nepal
vi. Laksmanasena Era and Allied Reckonings
vii. Christian Era

Section 3 : OBSOLETE RECKONINGS :
i. Parthian or Arsacid Era
ii. Kalacuri or Cedi Era
iii. Gupta or Valabhi Era
iv. Jupiter's Twelve-year Cycle
v. Ganga or Gangeya Era
vi. Harsa Era
vii. Bhauma-Kara Era
viii. Calukya-Vikrama Era
ix. Simha Era
x. Puduvaippu Era
xi. Cochbihar (Kocavihara) Era
xii. Ilahi Era
xiii. Sivaji's Coronation Era

Section 4 : HIJRI AND ITS INDIAN MODIFICATIONS :
i. Hijri Era
ii. Fasli Era
iii. Suhur, Shahur or Sur Era
iv. Vilayati Era
v. Amli Era
vi. Bengali Era
vii. Tripura Era
viii. Magi Era
ix. Malla Era
x. Bhatika Era
xi. Mavludi Era

Section 5 : FABRICATED RECKONINGS AND DOUBTFUL CASES :
i. Kali-yuga Era
ii. Saptarsi Era
iii. Jain Nirvana Era
iv. Buddhist Nirvana Era
v. Grahaparivrtti Cycle
vi. Sri-Harsa Era of 457 BC
vii. Maurya Era
viii. Nanda Era
ix. Era of Samprati
x. Aguptayika Era

Chap. VIII : Technical EXPRESSIONS :
1. Abbreviations
2. Royal Titles and Epithets
3. Official Designations
4. Administrative and Territorial Divisions
5. Royal Prerogatives and Taxes
6. Land Measures
7. Personal and Family Names
8. Miscellaneous Terms

Appendices :
1. Spurious Epigraphs
2. Interest in Epigraphic Studies