Inscriptions in Jharkhand: A Preliminary StudyNo. Inscription District Period 1 Saridkel Brahmi...
Transcript of Inscriptions in Jharkhand: A Preliminary StudyNo. Inscription District Period 1 Saridkel Brahmi...
Inscriptions in Jharkhand: 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, India (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
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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‐
20)
Khunti Circa 3rd cent.
B.C.
2 Kabrakalan Bramhi inscription (Aditya 2014:
22) (Figure 1)
Palamau C. 3rd – 2nd cent.
B.C.
3 Benisagar Seal (IAR 2003‐04: 119‐20) (Figure 2) West
Singhbhum
C. 4th – 5th cent.
A.D.
4 Benisagar Sealings (Aditya 2014: 23) West
Singhbhum
C. 4th – 5th cent.
A.D.
5 Two inscriptions from Belinigarh (ARE 1953‐
54: 34)
Godda C. 6th cent. A.D.
6 Vishnugupta Inscription of Kamleswari
including five others from same place of
different eras till 18th Century. (ARE 1958: 30)
(Figure 3)
Chatra C. 7th – 18th cent.
A.D.
7 Dudhpani inscription (Kielhorn 1894: 343‐47)
(Figure 4)
Hazaribagh C. 8th – 9th cent.
A.D.
8 Chandil inscription (Sircar 1959‐60: 297‐98) East
Singhbhum
C. 8th – 9th cent.
A.D.
9 Patkum inscription (Aditya 2014: 28‐29) East
Singhbhum
C. 8th – 9th cent.
A.D.
10 Aditya Sen inscription and twelve others from
same temple complex (Mitra 1883: 165‐203)
Deoghar C. 8th – 18th cent.
A.D.
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11 Buddhapur group of inscriptions (Patil 1963:
70)
Dhanbad C. 8th – 11th cent.
A.D.
12 Satgaon group of inscriptions from different
phases starting from 7th Century AD. (Patil
1963: 527)
Koderma C. 9th ‐16th cent.
A.D.
13 Mahendra Pal Itkhori Inscription (Patil 1963:
176‐77)
East
Singhbhum
C. 9th – 10th cent.
A.D.
14 Three inscriptions From Hapamuni starting
from 9th Century AD (Virottam 2006: 588‐89)
Lohardaga C. 10th ‐15th cent.
A.D.
15 Telkupi inscription (Patil 1963: 570) Dhanbad C. 10th cent. A.D.
16 Chakradharpur Grant (ARE 1964‐65: 41) West
Singhbhum
C. 10th cent. A.D.
17 Two inscriptions from Boram or Buram (Patil
1963: 73)
Chatra C. 10th – 14th
cent. A.D.
18 Itkhori copper plate inscription (Mohan 2007:
114)
Chatra Undated
19 Two Bamanghati copper plate inscription
(Ghosha 1871: 161‐69)
West
Singhbhum
C. 12th cent. A.D.
20 Two Bamanghati copper plate inscription
(Ghosha 1871: 161‐69)
Palamau C. 12th cent. A.D.
21 Eight inscriptions from Itkhori (Aditya 2014:
30‐31)
Chatra Undated
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‐
57)
West
Singhbhum
C. 13th cent. A.D.
26 Kamla Temple inscription of Rampal Hazaribagh Undated
27 Two inscriptions from Tapoban (Patil 1963:
561)
Deoghar Undated
28 Navagarh inscription Chatra Undated
29 Eight inscriptions From Alluara Bronze
Images (Akhtar 2001: 212‐14)
Bokaro C. 13th cent. A.D.
30 Eight inscriptions from Mohuldungari
(Figure 7)
East
Singhbhum
C. 13th cent. A.D
31 Bahragora stone Inscription East
Singhbhum
Undated
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:
590)
Hazaribagh Undated
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36 Two inscription new fort (Figure 8) Palamau 17th cent. A.D.
37 Three inscriptions from Harlajuri (Patil 1963:
161)
Deoghar Undated
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
Singhbhum
Undated
42 Bhandra Group of ins. including Copper
Plates of Land Grant
Lohardaga Undated
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:
134‐35)
Santhal
Pargana
C. 16th cent. A.D.
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:
55‐56)
East
Singhbhum
C. 16th cent. A.D.
51 Two inscriptions from old fort (Blochmann
1871: 111)
Palamau 16th – 17th cent.
A.D.
52 Two inscriptions from Panchet fort (Patil
1963: 358‐59)
Dhanbad 16th – 17th cent.
A.D.
53 Nagari inscription of Maina Bibi tomb (ARE
1975‐76: 40)
Sahebganj 16th cent. A.D.
54 Kuthar inscription (Figure 9) Ramgarh Undated
55 Three inscriptions from Borya (Virottam 2006:
594‐96)
Ranchi 17th – 18th cent.
A.D.
56 Six inscriptions from Doisa Nagar complex Gumla 17th – 18th cent.
A.D.
57 Three inscriptions from Chutia (Virottam
2006: 590‐91)
Ranchi 17th cent. A.D.
58 Jagannath temple inscription (Aditya 2014:
49‐50)
Ranchi 17th cent. A.D.
59 Borya Copper Plate Ranchi 17th cent. A.D.
60 Three inscriptions from Mahudi (Kesari 2008:
26)
Hazaribagh 17th – 18th cent.
A.D.
61 Three inscriptions from Tilmi (Haldar 1871:
108‐10)
Khunti 17th – 18th cent.
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:
480) (Figure 11)
Sahebganj C. 14th cent. A.D.
2 Satgaon inscription of A.H 936 (Blochmann
1875: 301‐02)
Koderma 1529 A.D.
3 Inscription of tomb of Qari Ibrahim Khan
A.H. 964 (Blochmann 1875:301‐02)
Sahebganj 1557 A.D.
4 Sangi Dalan Arabic inscriptions (Patil 1963:
475)
Sahebganj C. 16th cent. A.D.
5 Mahatpur inscription (Blochmann 1875:
301‐02)
Rajmahal 1674 A.D.
6 Inscription from mosque (Blochmann 1875:
301‐02)
Rajmahal Undated
7 Two Dawood Khan inscriptions (Virottam
2006: 603)
Palamau C. 17th cent. A.D.
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)
(Figure 12)
West
Singhbhum
2 Two Shell inscriptions from BijakPahar (Patil 1963: 55‐56) (C.
6th cent. A.D.)
EastSinghbhum
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
Figure 1: Kabrakalan Inscription
Figure 2: Benisagar Seal
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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
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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.
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