Inscription on the Pedestal of a newly found Visnu Image
By Haridas Mitra
Summary
The newly found Vishnu image inscription (No. E(a) 50) is a two-line votive inscription in fairly correct Sanskrit using the Anugudha script. It was discovered in Rajshahi and attributed to the late 12th century. The inscription, dedicated by Nagnoka (daughter of Srimad-Adipatatma), commemorates the installation of a Vishnu image. The text shows minor corrections and apabhramsa forms, such as "Adipat" for "Adipati" and "imam" (corrected from an earlier "im"). The script exhibits intermediate features between Gopala I's Manda inscription and the Dacca Image inscription. A separate inscription (No. E (a) 43) on a black stone pedestal from Deopara (Godagadi) dates to the late 9th to early 10th century. Its two lines, in incorrect Sanskrit, were emended to read: "Nakayin, son of Visnudasa, installed this suspicious Vishnu image, lasting till the Sun and Moon, in this white shrine." The inscription displays grammatical errors and retrograde script features. The text also references historical accounts of Indian literature's introduction to China via the Later Han Dynasty (65 AD), mentioning embassies and key figures like Kaśyapa-Ma't'an-ga and Dharma-raksa. The Varendra Research Society’s collection in Rajshahi houses rare inscriptions and images, including those discussed.
Conclusion
This newly discovered Vishnu image inscription provides significant insights into 12th-century religious patronage and Sanskrit epigraphic practices. The inscription, dated to the Lakshmanasamvatsara era, showcases a unique blend of devotional purpose and historical documentation, as seen in the votive dedication by Nagnoka, daughter of Srimad-Adipat. The text reveals regional linguistic tendencies, including apabhramsa forms and inconsistent visarga usage, offering a window into the period's linguistic landscape. Additionally, the inscription's paleographic features, such as retrograde letter forms and correction marks, highlight the evolving nature of Sanskrit script during this transitional period. Its discovery enriches our understanding of Vishnu worship and epigraphic traditions in medieval Bengal, while also contributing to broader studies on religious inscriptions from the region.