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Mahasthana Inscription: Difference between revisions
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*[https://puratattva.in/the-mauryas-30/ Edicts of Ashoka – Mahasthan Inscription by Puratattva] | *[https://puratattva.in/the-mauryas-30/ Edicts of Ashoka – Mahasthan Inscription by Puratattva] | ||
*[https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Mahasthan_Brahmi_Inscription Mahasthan Brahmi Inscription by Banglapedia] | *[https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Mahasthan_Brahmi_Inscription Mahasthan Brahmi Inscription by Banglapedia] | ||
===Books== | ===Books=== | ||
[https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Mahasthan_Record_Revisited/E0e1EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 Mahasthan Record Revisited By Susmita Basu Majumdar · 2023] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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| Mauryan Mahasthan Brahmi Inscription[1] | |
|---|---|
 Mahasthan Inscription | |
| Material | polished limestone |
| Writing | Brahmi script |
| Created | 3rd century BCE |
| Period/culture | 3rd Century BCE |
| Discovered | Coordinates: 24°58′N 89°21′E / 24.96°N 89.35°E |
| Place | Ancient India (currently in Mahasthan, Bogra District, Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh) |
| Present location | Mahasthangarh |
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The Mahasthangarh inscription, engraved on a semi-circular limestone in Brahmi script, dates to the 3rd century BCE and is the earliest epigraphic record in Bengal, specifically in Mahasthan, Bogra District, Bangladesh.[2][3] A 4.4 cm x 5.7 cm limestone slab bearing six lines in Prakrit in Brahmi script, discovered accidentally by a day labourer in 1931 was an important find. The text appears to be a royal order of Magadh, possibly during the rule of Asoka. It dates the antiquity of Mahasthangarh to 3rd century BC.[4]
Mahasthangarh is the earliest urban archaeological sites discovered thus far in Bangladesh. The village Mahasthan in Shibganj upazila of Bogra District contains the remains of an ancient city which was called Pundranagara or Paundravardhanapura in the territory of Pundravardhana.[5][6][7]
Geography
Mahasthangarh, the ancient capital of Pundravardhana is located 11 km (7 mi) north of Bogra on the Bogra-Rangpur highway, with a feeder road (running along the eastern side of the ramparts of the citadel for 1.5 km) leading to Jahajghata and site museum.[8]
Inscription
1. nena Sa[mi*]vamgiyanam [Galadanasa] | Dumadina-maha
2. mate | sulakhite Pudanagalate | e[ta]m
3. [ni*]vahipayisati | Samvamgiyanam [cha di*]ne [tatha*]
4. [dha*]niyam | nivahisati | da[m*]g[a*]tiyay[i*]k[e] d[eva*]-
5. [tiya*][yi]kasi | su-atiyayika[si] pi | gamda[kehi*]
6. [dhani*][yi]kehi esa kothagale kosam [bhara*]-
7. [niye]
—Translation by D. R. Bhandarkar[9]
To Gobadam (Goberdhana) of Samvamgiyas ……. (was granted) by order. The Mahamatras from the highly auspicious Pundranagara will cause it to be carried out. (And likewise) paddy to be granted to the Samvamgiyas. The outbreak (of distress) in the town during outburst of superhuman agency shall be tiled over. When there is an excess of plenty, this granary and treasury (may be replenished) with paddy and gandaka coins.
Importance
The inscription appears to be an order from a ruler (Ashoka or Chandragupta Maurya) to the mahamatra (official) at Pundranagara (modern Mahasthangarh) concerning famine relief, outlining measures such as the distribution of paddy and the provision of loans.[10] This inscription confirms the Mauryan authority over northern Bengal[11][12], specifically Pundravardhana, and highlights the prevalence of Brahmi script in the region. It also suggests the existence of social welfare measures, such as the storage of provisions for emergencies. The presence of Northern Black Polished Ware (NBP) at various sites in Bengal, including Bangarh and Chandraketugarh, further supports the region's integration into the Mauryan Empire.[13] Additionally, the Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang observed several monasteries established during Ashoka’s reign across Bengal, including in Samatata, Pundravardhana, and Tamralipta.[14] The Mauryans, who were ruling the Magadhan empire and had their capital in Pāțaliputra, created two major bases in the east-Mahasthan and Bangarh.[15]
See also
External links
Sites
Books
Mahasthan Record Revisited By Susmita Basu Majumdar · 2023
References
- Most Important
Mahasthan Record Revisited By Susmita Basu Majumdar · 2023 https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Mahasthan_Record_Revisited/E0e1EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1
Mahasthan, A Preliminary Report on Archaeological Excavations By Nazimuddin Ahmad · 1971
- ↑ Basak Radhagovinda. The North-eastern India. p. 330.
Mahasthana Inscription of the Maurya period
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sastri, Hirananda (1931). Epigraphia Indica vol.21. pp. 83–89.
- ↑ Hossain, Md. Mosharraf, pp. 56–60.
- ↑ Hossain, Md. Mosharraf, pp. 56–65.
- ↑ Hossain, Md. Mosharraf (2006). "Preface". Mahasthan: Anecdote to History. Dhaka: Dibyaprakash. ISBN 978-984-483-245-9.
Mahasthan is the earliest urban archaeological site so far discovered in the present territory of ... Bangladesh
- ↑ Brochure: Mahasthan – the earliest city-site of Bangladesh, published by the Department of Archaeology, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, 2003
- ↑ Majumdar, R. C. (1971). History of Ancient Bengal. Calcutta: G. Bhardwaj & Co. pp. 5, 13. OCLC 961157849.
- ↑ Hossain, Md. Mosharraf, pp. 14–15.
- ↑ Sastri, Hirananda (1931). Epigraphia Indica Vol.21. pp. 84–86.
- ↑ Kailash Prakashan. Studies In Skanda Purana ( Part 1) By Dr. A. B. L. Awasthi 1976 Kailash Prakashan. p. 256.
Mahāsthāna inscription refers to certain measures to be adopted by the State authorities to help the people in the case of urgency—dire need-(atyayika) caused by famine and fire. It tells us that in the koshthagara and kosa (i. e. granary and treasury respectively) food, fodder and money should be stored to meet the crisis. Similarly Sohgaura Copper Plate inscription also asserts the importance of storing essential commodities of life in koshthagaras. Thus these two inscriptions of the early Mauryan epoch uphold the importance of treasury meant for storing all kinds of articles required by the people and government.
- ↑ Dileep Kumar Kanjilal (1980). Kanjilal - A Reconstruction of the Abhijñānaśakuntalam (1980). pp. 145–146.
The Mahasthana inscription of the 3rd Cent B.C. points to the prevalence of Brahmi script in North Bengal.
- ↑ Raychaudhuri, Hemchandra (1996). Political history of ancient India : from the accession of Parikshit to the extinction of the Gupta dynasty. Internet Archive. Delhi ; New York : Oxford University Press. p. 275. ISBN 978-0-19-563789-2.
Mahasthan inscription which is usually attributed to Mauryan period
- ↑ Ram Charan Sharma (1978). Ancient India. pp. 96–97.
In Bangladesh, where we find the Mahasthana inscription at Bogra district in Maurya Brahmi, we find NBP at Bangarh in, Dmajpur district. NBP sherds have also bean found at some places, such as Chandraketugarh in the 24 Parganas, in West Bengal.
- ↑ Chakrobarty, Ashim Kumar. Life In Ancient Bengal Before The Rise Of The Palas. p. 14.
His authority over Pundravardhana is mentioned in the legend of Divyavddana. The famous Mahasthana inscription also confirms his authority over northern Bengal (Pundravardhana). A large number of monasteries had been established in different parts of Bengal (Samatata, Pundravardhana, Tamralipta etc.) during the time of Asoka. This is known from Hiuen Tsang who had seen them when he visited Bengal.
- ↑ Majumdar, Susmita Basu (2023-06-09). Mahasthan Record Revisited: Querying the Empire from a Regional Perspective. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-90518-2.