The Indian Museum inscription from Ratnagiri, Orissa
By Debala Mitra
Summary
This paper presents a detailed study of a fragmentary stone inscription from Ratnagiri in Orissa (present‑day Odisha) preserved in the Indian Museum in Calcutta. The slab is irregular in shape, measuring roughly 38 cm by 27 cm, and contains eight lines of text written in a script that resembles the eastern Brahmi of the tenth or eleventh century. The inscription opens with a benedictory formula and then reproduces part of the Pratītyasamutpāda-sūtra, the Buddhist doctrine of dependent origination. Phrases such as “from ignorance arise formations, from formations consciousness, from consciousness name‑and‑form” appear in sequence. This identification is confirmed by comparison with canonical versions of the text found in Sanskrit, Pali and Chinese sources. The article notes that inscriptions of the Pratītyasamutpāda-sūtra are rare; apart from a fragment at Sanchi and a slab from Srikap (in modern Pakistan), very few examples have been found. The Ratnagiri specimen is thus important evidence for the diffusion of Buddhist doctrine in eastern India. The author analyses the palaeographic features and concludes that the inscription dates from the early medieval period. The script shows looped terminals and conjunct forms characteristic of the post‑Gupta eastern variety. The article also considers the historical context. Ratnagiri is situated near Lalitagiri and Udayagiri, where extensive Buddhist monastic complexes flourished during the Bhauma‑Kara and Somavaṃśī dynasties. The presence of a Pratītyasamutpāda inscription at Ratnagiri suggests that monks used the site for ritual or didactic purposes. The article speculates that the slab may have been part of a railing or votive structure. The conclusion highlights the need for further exploration at Ratnagiri and calls for careful preservation of such inscriptions. By documenting and interpreting this rare piece, the study enriches our understanding of the spread of Mahāyāna Buddhist ideas and the regional variations in epigraphic styles.
Conclusion
The Ratnagiri inscription’s fragmentary verses of the Pratītyasamutpāda-sūtra attest to the wide dissemination of Buddhist philosophical texts in eastern India. Its palaeography places it in the early medieval period, aligning with the Buddhist renaissance in Odisha. Although similar inscriptions are known only from a handful of sites, this find confirms that Ratnagiri was a centre of Buddhist learning. Careful analysis of such fragmentary monuments not only supplements literary sources but also highlights the regional diversity of Buddhist epigraphy.