Mahasthana Inscription: Difference between revisions

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.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/lrpm_studies-in-skanda-purana-part-1-by-dr.-a.-b.-l.-awasthi-1976-kailash-prakashan/page/256/mode/1up|title=Studies In Skanda Purana ( Part 1) By Dr. A. B. L. Awasthi 1976 Kailash Prakashan|last=Kailash Prakashan|pages=256|quote=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.}}</ref> This inscription confirms the Mauryan authority over northern Bengal<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/kanjilal-a-reconstruction-of-the-abhijnanasakuntalam-1980/page/145/mode/1up|title=Kanjilal - A Reconstruction of the Abhijñānaśakuntalam (1980)|last=Dileep Kumar Kanjilal|date=1980|pages=145-146|quote=The Mahasthana inscription of the 3rd Cent B.C. points to the prevalence of Brahmi script in North Bengal.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/politicalhistory0000rayc/page/275/mode/1up|title=Political history of ancient India : from the accession of Parikshit to the extinction of the Gupta dynasty|last=Raychaudhuri|first=Hemchandra|date=1996|publisher=Delhi ; New York : Oxford University Press|others=Internet Archive|isbn=978-0-19-563789-2|page=275|quote=Mahasthan inscription which is usually attributed to Mauryan period}}</ref>, 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.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/ancient-india-r-s-sharma/page/97/mode/1up|title=Ancient India|last=Ram Charan Sharma|date=1978|pages=96-97|quote=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.}}</ref> Additionally, the Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang observed several monasteries established during Ashoka’s reign across Bengal, including in Samatata, Pundravardhana, and Tamralipta.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.461127/page/n13/mode/1up|title=Life In Ancient Bengal Before The Rise Of The Palas|last=Chakrobarty|first=Ashim Kumar|pages=14|quote=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. }}</ref> The Mauryans, who were ruling the Magadhan empire and had their capital in Pāțaliputra, created two major bases in the east-Mahasthan and Bangarh.<ref name="2023 MAHA">{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Mahasthan_Record_Revisited/E0e1EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1|title=Mahasthan Record Revisited: Querying the Empire from a Regional Perspective|last=Majumdar|first=Susmita Basu|date=2023-06-09|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-000-90518-2|language=en}}</ref>