No. 1. A.R. Ep., 1963-64, No. B 109; P. R. Srinivasan, EI, XXXVII, No. 24;
Of the three inscriptions edited here and referred as A [A.R. Ep., 1963-64, No. B 108.], B
[Ibid., No. B 109.] and C [Ibid., No. B 110.] for the sake of convenience, A and C were
discovered long ago, the former in the Bhuj District and the latter in the Kutch District,
while B, also from the Kutch District, was discovered recently. All the three epigraphs
are now preserved in the Museum at Bhuj. I copied them in November 1963 during my visit to
Bhuj, in connection with my annual collection work. Of these A has been edited in the
Journal of the Oriental Institute, M. S. University, Baroda, Vol. XI, pp. 237-38 with a
facsimile, B has been merely mentioned in Indian Archaeology-1961-62, A Revieiw
(cyclostyled copy) IV-8, item No. 21, and a tentative text of C has been published, in the
Annual Report of the Museum of Antiquities, Rajkot, for 1923-24, p. 13. Since these
publications and notices have not treated the inscriptions either fully or satisfactorily,
they are dealt with below in detail.
All the three records belong to different rulers of the family of the Kshatrapas of
Western India, established by Chaштana, the son of Ysаmotika. [This name is read as
Ghsamotika also. Macron over e and o is not used in this article.] This family is called
by some as the Kаrdamakas. [E. J. Rapson, Cat. of the Coins of the Andhra, etc.
dynasties, Introduction, p. ciii. Rapson, however, is inclined to think that the Kаrdamaka
princess, referred to as a daughter of the Mahаkшatrapa Ru[dra] and as the wife of Vаsiштhиputra
Sаta[karнi], in a Kanheri inscription (ASWI, Vol. V, p. 78, No. II; Luфders' List, No.
994) might have been indebted to her mother for this distinction (op. cit., note 2).]
B. Wandh Inscription of Rudrasiмha I, Year 105
This inscription was recently discovered at Wandh, Manavi Taluk, Kutch District, Gujarat
and, has been removed to the Museum at Bhuj where it is exhibited in a gallery, being
erected on a pedestal. As stated above, it has been briefly mentioned in the Indian
Archaeology - 1961-62, A Review, and is edited for the first time here. The record is
engraved on a rather thin stone slab of irregular shape. The slab was originally long but
was subsequently cut to suit the purposes of exhibition, in the Museum. It now measures
99.5 cm long and 37 cm broad, at its maximum, of which the writing occupies a space 32.5
cm high and 29.5 cm broad. The language of this inscription is Prakrit. Then, the date
would read as year 105, Kаrttika ba. 2. The year when referred to the Щaka era, would
yield 183 A. D. as its equivalent.
The object of the inscription was to record the erection, of the yaштi, that is the slab
on which the epigraph is engraved as a funeral monument in memory of a woman (name not
legible) who is described as the servant of the mother, as belonging to Atimutaka-gotra
and as an inhabitant of Kaщa-deщa, by a person, named Ajamitra. In all probability,
Ajamitra employed the woman to look after his mother and she discharged her duties loyally
and faithfully, but suddenly passed away. Having been moved by the devoted service that
this woman rendered to his mother, Ajamitra seems to have set up this stone memorial, in
grateful appreciation, to her memory. The importance of this record lies in the fact that
it is the second inscription of Rudrasiмha I known so far, besides being the only one
describing him as Mahаkшatrapa. The other inscription of the year 103 from Gundа
(Ibid., Vol. XVI, pp. 233-35.) belongs to the reign of this king when he was a Kшatrapa.
The only geographical name mentioned in this record is Kaщa-deщa which is the same as
modern Kutch in Gujarat.
TEXT
1 Rаjno Mahаkшa[tra]pasa svаmi-[Rudra]dаma-putra-
2 sa [rа]jгo Ma[hаkшatra]pasa svаmi-Rudrasiмha-
3 sa variщe 100 [5] [Kаrttika] ba[hula] divase bitipа-
4 ayам titthau mаtri-sevikae Goм . ndra-kaм[тhita] Atimu-
5 taka-sagotrаe[jaщтi] 24 [A]jamitreнa uthapita
6 Kaщadeщikae [||*]
______________________________________
From impressions.
L. 4. Read dvitиyаyам.
L. 5. Read yaштi.