Indian Epigraphy : Best Books

Indian Epigarphy -

   

                    The study of Inscriptions is called Epigraphy. Epigraphy is a sine qua non for constructing the political and cultural history of ancient India. Generally, any historical information is acknowledged as true blue when it is substantiated by an epigraphical record. So too in the study of the history of literature and language, epigraphy has a vital role to play. To go over the inscriptional data with respect to any discipline arudimentary knowledge of epigraphy is prerequisite. 

so far as the epigraphic developement in India is concerned, Sir James Pricep's contribution created a gratest vagour in the history of India. From the decipherement of Brahmi script upto the revelaed of Ashokan inscriptions Princep tried his best towards the development of inscriptions so thats why he is called the Father of Indian Epigraphy. Since the foundation of Asiatic society of Bengal in 1784 &

Epigraphical society of India (ESI) in 1974 there was lots of research in the field of Epigraphy.

Here are the some of the best books regarding the study of Inscriptions and particularly Indian Epigraphy for History students and scholars of Ancient indian history and culture & those who interested in India's ancient past. Let us discuss. 

 Books  

 1) D.C Sircar - Indian Epigraphy

 2) R.B Pandey - Indian Paleography

 3) George Buhler - A Guide to Indian Paleography

 4) A.H Dani - Kharosthi Script

 5) D.C Sircar - Select Sanskrit Inscriptions (vol.1 & 2)

 6) E. Hultz - Corpus Inscriptions Indicarum (Ashokan Inscriptions)

 7) D.C Sirkar - Inscriptions of Ashoka

 8) JF. Fleet - Corpus Inscriptions Indicarum ( Gupta Kings & Ashoka)

 9) Satya Shrava - The Sakas in India & their Inscriptions

 10) Richard Salomon - A Guide to Study Inscriptions

 11) MP. Rastogi - The Origin of Brahmi Script in India

 12) BM Barua - Ashoka Edicts in New Light

 13) G Ojha - Paleography of India

 14) AC Burnell - South Indian Paleography & Inscriptions

 15) SN Rajguru - Inscriptions of Orissa 

                                                                                                                                              Thank you

 

Ancient Indian Writing Materials, General Outline of Indian Epigraphy

Writing Materials:-

Before we discuss about the writing materials we must know about the general introduction of Indian Epigraphy. 

Defined as simply the study of inscriptions is called Epigraphy. The word Epigraphy for the study of inscriptions is derived from the 2 greek words-  "Epi" Means On Or Upon & "Graphy" means to write (engraving) something.  Sir James Princep known as the Father of Indian Epigraphy. Because he was the first person as an English antiquarian who deciphered the so called ancient Brahmi script in India. 

               Sir James Princep (1799-1840) 

There are various types of materials used for the engraving the stones from ancient times. But if we analyse on the basis of materials there are two dimensional ways . ... 

 • >Materials for Engraving/Embossing

 •> Materials for Writing/Scratching

1) Scratching materials _

* Bhurjapatra 

The Brich tree which grown in Himalayans were used as materials for writing in ancient times. In kumarasamvabam of Kalidasa there is a mention of Bhurjapatra as a writing material. 

             (Bark of the Bhurjapatra tree) 

* Talapatra

Mostly there are numerous Buddhist Jatakas which gives breif account on use of talapatras as writing materia specially Jataks are most enligteened one. These Palmyra leaves (Talapatra) popular in South India. 

* Wood

These are the first materials used for the beginners to learn alphabets in ancient times.

There are many references in kharosthi inscriptions written in wooden objects in Central Asia. 

* Paper

Perhaps the most easier way of writing since the modern era as an object.  It is believed that the Chineses first use paper as writing material and later it became spread to India. 

2) Materials for Engraving :-

*Stone

Stone was used in earlier times for engraving writing and also helpful for long durance. Inscriptions were often engraved on rocks,

stone pillars or slabs, stone images or their pedestals and stone articles such as jar or their covers etc. The earliest stone engravings belong to the days of the Mouryan emperor Ashoka(C 272 - 232 B. C). 

*Earthen Objects

There are numbers of Buddhist Sutras which are found on bricks for the purpose of its hardness they tried their best engraving on it. Clay seals and sealing, both burnt and  unburnt, have been discovered in various sites of north India. 

                 Engraving on hard bricks

*Copper & Silver 

copper is largely used for writing in ancient and medieval India. Official charters especially grants made by kings and subordinate rulers were generally engraved on copper-plates. For example - an early inscription from Sohgoura, in Gorkhpur district of Uttar Pradesh. 

Similarly, a few inscriptions were found to have written on golden and silver objects. A golden plate having a votive inscription in Kharoshthi script has been discovered in the ruins of Takshilla. 

                     Copper Plate Charters 

So at glance if we analyses and understand the ancient writing systems and the materials which they used it is still endurance in manner. There are various valuable inscriptions which we lost but inspite of that the epigrphical sources acts as the backbone of ancient Indian history and culture which not only narrates the political and socio-economic and religious aspects but also created a landmark in the historical annals of Indian Epigragy. 

                                                              Thank u🙏