Epigraphy and Inscriptions

Epigraphic studies in the IJA range from detailed publication of new inscriptions to comprehensive catalogues of inscriptions at individual sites and in museum collections. Languages covered include Sanskrit, Prakrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Marathi, Persian, and Arabic. Topics include land grants, religious foundation records, dynastic records, donative labels, votive inscriptions, temple inscriptions, and royal proclamations.

Key Sites

• Kalinjar Fort (District Banda, U.P.) - the largest single epigraphic site in the corpus; a comprehensive catalogue published across Vols. 1 and 6 covers scores of inscriptions in Sanskrit and Nagari script spanning multiple dynasties
• Mundeshwari Temple (District Bhabhua, Bihar) - among the most important early inscriptions in Bihar
• Kannauj - newly discovered inscriptions published in Vol 3, No. 4 by Alok Ranjan
• Narasimhapatana - trilingual inscription (three languages)
• Maḍaī - Kalacuri-period stone slab
• Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka - pillar inscription studied for locational history
• Taḻegāon Ḍhamḍhere, Pune - seven Marathi temple inscriptions (1695–1877 A.D.)
• Sītāgārha (District Hazaribagh, Jharkhand) - 22 Buddhist image pedestal inscriptions, 9th–10th century A.D.
• Golkonda - inscribed brass plate of Sultan Abul Hasan (1681 A.D.) in Orissa State Museum
• Bolangir, Odisha - copper plates of Mahārāja Bhānu (7th century A.D.)
• Bahadurgarh Fort, Patiala - two Persian epigraphs of Saif Khan
• Wardha (Ashti) - three Persian inscriptions of Akbar and Jahangir’s reigns

Key Findings

1. Kalinjar Fort corpus: The two-part Kalinjar inscription study (Vols. 1 and 6) constitutes the most thorough publication of a single epigraphic site in the journal and documents Chandela and post-Chandela patronage over several centuries.
2. Chola period women (Vol 3, No. 4): The epigraphic study of the Chola period reveals women as significant donors, landowners, and religious agents, with inscriptions documenting their social and economic roles.
3. Kalacuri chronology (Vol 2, No. 1): The Maḍaī inscription of Gāṅgeyadeva, Kalacuri Year 781, contributes to fixing the Kalacuri era and the dating of that dynasty’s political history.
4. Gupta land grants and water (Vol 5, No. 2): A reading of Gupta epigraphs reveals references to waterless tracts alongside water-bodies, contributing to the historical environmental geography of the Gupta period.
5. Bolangir copper plates (Vol 7, No. 4): The 7th-century land-grant records a donation by Mahārāja Bhānu to the Brahmin Ailaśarman, adding to the corpus of post-Gupta records from Odisha.
6. Buddhist inscriptions at Sītāgārha (Vol 10, No. 2): 22 inscribed pedestals of 9th–10th century Buddhist images excavated from this Jharkhand site expand the corpus of Buddhist epigraphic remains outside established monastic centres.
7. Akbar’s Perso-Arabic seals (Vol 8, No. 2): Study of royal seals reconstructs Akbar’s administrative and cultural self-presentation through epigraphic material objects.

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