The Badali Inscription of Samvat 84

Summary

Ram Ballabh Somani’s study focuses on a Brahmi‑script inscription discovered in the village of Badali (Badli) near Ajmer in 1912. Dated to Samvat 84 (A.D. 27), the stone record is among the earliest known Jain inscriptions from northern India and is preserved in the Rajputana Museum. The article begins by describing the physical characteristics of the inscribed slab and the circumstances of its discovery. Somani then transcribes the Prakrit text and provides an English translation, noting archaic spellings and linguistic features that link it to early phase of Jain epigraphy. The inscription records the erection of a stupa or memorial by lay donors. It names individuals—most likely merchants or householders—who contributed to the construction and mentions a monk or teacher who consecrated the monument. Somani analyses these names to identify their caste or regional origins and compares them with other early epigraphic records. He observes that the formulae used in the inscription, such as expressions of piety and reference to meritorious donation, anticipate later Jain records. The article pays special attention to the palaeography: the forms of the letters show transition between Mauryan Brahmi and later Gupta scripts, and certain orthographic peculiarities help date the record with greater precision. Somani situates the Badali inscription within the broader context of early Jain history. He argues that the presence of such a record in the Ajmer region attests to the spread of Jainism into western India by the first century A.D., likely along trade routes connecting Mathura and Gujarat. The inscription also reflects the role of lay patronage in establishing Jain religious monuments. Through meticulous linguistic and historical analysis, the article demonstrates how even a brief lithic record can illuminate patterns of religious diffusion, social composition of the Jain community and evolution of the Brahmi script.