The Āndhau Inscription of Rudrasimha I

Summary

In this article Rasesh Jamindar publishes and analyses an inscription discovered at Āndhau in Kachchh, Gujarat. The stone inscription, written in Brahmi script with some Prakrit features, commemorates the erection of a memorial pillar in the year 114 of the Śaka era (equivalent to 192 A.D.) under the reign of the Western Kshatrapa Mahākshatrapa Rudrasimha I. The text records that the pillar was raised in memory of an individual whose name is partly lost, and it names a line of Western Kshatrapa rulers including Rudrasimha, his father Rudradāman, and his predecessor Jayadāman. Jamindar offers a careful transcription and translation, noting that while Rudrasimha and Rudradāman carry titles like Rājā and Mahākshatrapa, Jayadāman is simply called Rājā and Kshatrapa—evidence that he never assumed the higher title. The article compares the letter forms with other inscriptions from Andhau and Girnar, highlighting unique features such as the absence of the horizontal head‑line typical of later scripts and the crescent‑shaped vowel signs. These palaeographic features help date the inscription to the early second century. The author discusses the historical context of the Western Kshatrapas, a dynasty of Saka rulers in western India, and points out that Andhau has yielded several inscriptions that elucidate their genealogy and territorial control. He emphasises the significance of the newly published inscription for reconstructing the political history of Kachchh, as it confirms the reign of Rudrasimha I and provides additional evidence of succession. Jamindar urges further archaeological exploration at Andhau to uncover more inscriptions and material remains that could shed light on the cultural and political milieu of the region. The article thus combines epigraphic analysis with historical interpretation, adding a valuable piece to the corpus of Western Kshatrapa inscriptions and illustrating how single inscriptions can refine our understanding of ancient Indian history.