Research Paper
New Brahmi Inscriptions from Maukalan, Panchmukhi, Ahraura, and Lekhahia Pahar in Chandauli, Sonbhadra and Mirzapur Districts, Uttar Pradesh
Authors: Ajay Pratap, T.S. Ravishankar, J.T. Rapheal, Ajit Kumar Singh & Shyam Janam Dubey
Year: 2024, Volume: 15, Page/Article: 151-163, DOI: https://doi.org/10.47509/AA.2024.v15i.09
Abstract
Visual symbolic material has been reported from the Eastern Vindhyas for a long time (Cockburn 1883, Ghosh 1932, Kenoyer et al. 2015). Much of this is rock art (Pratap and Kumar 2009, Pratap 2016, 2024). This article discusses finds of unreported early Brahmi and early Nagari inscriptions of the early medieval period. These were discovered during rock art-related fieldwork from July 2021 onwards. This extends our earlier findings of unreported inscriptions in Southern Uttar Pradesh (Pratap and Singh, 2020). In this paper, we discuss a boulder inscription in Maukalan Village, in South Chandauli, and a stele inscription stored in the Maukalan Village Museum, established by the Directorate of Archaeology, Uttar Pradesh. We also discuss this little-known village as an early centre for sculpting, mentioning a Vaikuntha Vishnu statue and an early medieval temple. It is likely this ancient Gond village of Maukalan, existed as a centre for the manufacture of idols, the writing of inscriptions, and other types of stone craft, under the patronage of the nearby fort called Vijaigarh. We also discuss some graffiti at Ahraura (Mirzapur) next to Ashoka’s Minor Rock Edict-I (the Ahraura Version), and two painted inscriptions inside caves at Panchmukhi, in Sonbhadra District, and at Lekhahia Pahar, in Mirzapur. Decipherments and analyses are in a cultural-historical framework. The inscriptions are donative issued by lay people, or itinerant pilgrims and ascetics, while on religious pilgrimage. The spread of Buddhist culture was significant in our study area, due to its proximity to Rajagriha, Sarnath and Kaushambi, Kashi and Mathura.