Old Brahmi Inscriptions in Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves: Language and Style.

Summary

Surveying a series of early Brahmi inscriptions, this paper analyses their phonetic, morphological and lexical features to shed light on the evolution of Prakrit and the spread of literacy in ancient India. The author collates fourteen inscriptions from sites such as Girnar, Kalsi, Isigili and other rock and pillar edicts, providing updated readings and corrections to previous publications. Particular attention is given to how certain sounds (e.g., s, r, and aspirates) were spelled, the use of avagraha and ligatures, and regional variations in vowel length and consonant clusters. The analysis compares spelling variants like Makhideva/Maghideva and terms such as ‘Ukkala‑vassa‑bhaṭā’ to identify dialectal influences. The article also discusses the formulaic openings and Buddhist precepts found in these inscriptions and points out cases where rhyming plays a role in longer sentences. By carefully examining these epigraphic details, the author argues that the Brahmi inscriptions reflect a variety of spoken dialects rather than a single standard language and that they offer valuable evidence for reconstructing the linguistic landscape of early historic India.