No. 24. Kanheri Buddhist cave inscription. Prakrit.
| The inscription is on the left hand side-wall, outside the verandah of the Cave No. 59. The inscription is distinct but not deeply cut. It measures 99 cm. x 30 cm. Letters 3 cm. x 4.5 cm. Characters : Brаhmи, 200 A.D. Language: Prakrit. Orthography: The letters 'a', 'ka` have elongated forms. (ShG) |
| 1861 West, JBBRAS VI, p. 7 f., No. 25, and Plate; 1883 Buфhler, ASWI V, p. 83, No. 22; Luders list 1007; ShG No 35; |
| Lu: - Fragment. A cave (lенa), a cistern (pодhи) and a hall (koдhi), the gift of Kaнha (Kрiшнa) . . . . . . . of the elder (thеra) bhayata (bhadanta) Hаlaka. Also endowment for the benefit of the congregation of the monks (bhikhusagha). |
TEXT.
1. . . . тhoнakа[нa] [therа]нa[bha]yata Hа[la]kанa ma
2. . . . tisa Kaнhasa deyadhamaм leнaм p[o]дh[i]k[o]дhi [cha]
3. [pa]tiтhаpitа [|] akhaya nivi cha dinа kаhаpaнанa . . . . .
4. . . . . . . satа sa[ghe] eto cha bhikhusaghe chevarika dаtava bаrasa-
5. [ka . . . . . . . . . . . . . ] sa savalokahitasukhаya ti [||]
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Burgess has rightly restored the first two lines as follows: L1-2. (siddhaм
Kali)aнaka(na) (thera)na (bha)yata Hа(la)kaнa aм(tevasi) sa Kaнhasa. The name Kaнha
indicates the evidence for the worship of Kршнa in Konkan region. (ShG)